Some watches simply tell time, while others become inextricably linked to the legendary figures who wore them. In the world of vintage military horology and motorsport, few pairings carry as much authentic charisma as Hollywood icon Steve McQueen and his beloved Hanhart 417 ES chronograph.
Originally developed in the 1950s for the West German Bundeswehr air force, the 417 ES was McQueen’s personal watch of choice—worn relentlessly across film sets, motorcycle rallies, and racing circuits.
Paying homage to this enduring relationship, the Black Forest manufacture has unveiled the Hanhart x Steve McQueen Limited Edition No.1.
Priced at €2428 and strictly limited to 300 pieces worldwide, this 39mm reissue captures the spirit of the ‘King of Cool’ with remarkable fidelity.
Historic 39mm Proportions & Vintage Dial Architecture
Staying exceptionally faithful to the 1950s original, the Limited Edition No.1 is housed in a 39mm stainless steel case featuring a compact 46mm lug-to-lug span and a thickness of 13.3mm.
The case incorporates a smooth-operating bi-directional fluted bezel with a red alignment marker, alongside Hanhart’s signature red flyback pusher—historically painted red to prevent accidental timing resets in the cockpit.
The matte black dial serves as a high-contrast canvas for historical details. Positioned discreetly above 6 o’clock is Steve McQueen’s understated signature, marking the first time the actor’s name officially appears on a Hanhart dial.
The syringe hands and Arabic numerals are generously coated with Super-LumiNova® Light Old Radium GL, casting a warm, nostalgic glow that evokes decades of natural patina while providing optimal low-light legibility on or off the track.
Flyback Calibre & Shell Cordovan Bund Strap
Flipping the watch over reveals a sapphire crystal display caseback—a modern enhancement for the 39mm case size—exposing the hand-wound flyback chronograph movement within.
Operating at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz), the movement delivers a robust 58-hour power reserve. With the flyback function, a single press of the red pusher instantly resets and restarts the chronograph, perfect for timing consecutive lap intervals. Each movement is regulated in-house at Hanhart’s Gütenbach workshop to a tight daily rate of 0 to +8 seconds.
“By pairing historic 39mm Bundeswehr proportions with a flyback movement and a Shell Cordovan cuff strap, Hanhart delivers a €2428 homage to Steve McQueen’s ultimate tool watch.”
The watch is fitted to a dark brown Shell Cordovan leather cuff strap crafted by Italian tannery Comipel.
Traditionally vegetable-tanned for a supple handfeel and a natural lustre, the bund-style strap directly replicates the continuous leather construction McQueen wore during his desert motorcycle races under his pseudonym, Harvey Mushman.
Curated Collector Packaging & Family Legacy
To celebrate McQueen’s legacy, Hanhart crafted a deeply personal collector’s package. Each watch arrives in a special presentation box featuring an engraved edition plaque.
Hidden in a secret compartment underneath sits a bottle of red nail polish—a nod to the romantic legend that a pilot’s wife painted his chronograph pusher red so he would return home safely.
| Feature Specification | Horological & Historical Detail |
| Retail Price | €2428 EUR |
| Case Geometry | 39.0mm Diameter × 13.3mm Thickness (46.0mm Lug-to-Lug) |
| Case Metallurgy | Stainless Steel w/ Sapphire Display Back & Red HyCeram® Pusher |
| Dial & Lume | Matte Black w/ McQueen Signature & Super-LumiNova® Light Old Radium |
| Movement Engine | Hand-Wound Flyback Calibre (58-Hour Reserve / 28,800 vph) |
| Strap Hardware | Comipel Dark Brown Shell Cordovan Cuff Strap w/ Pin Buckle |
| Collector Extras | FIM Licence Card (Signed by McQueen’s Grandchildren) & Red Polish |
The presentation includes an international licence card inspired by McQueen’s 1964 FIM racing licence, bearing the real signatures of his grandchildren, Chase and Madison McQueen, alongside the Gütenbach watchmaker who assembled the timepiece.
At €2428, the Hanhart x Steve McQueen Limited Edition No.1 is a story-rich, masterfully executed tribute to a true icon of time and speed.
