Steve McQueen’s watch story is usually told through the Heuer Monaco of Le Mans and the Rolex Submariner that became part of his off-screen uniform.
Hanhart now brings another chapter into sharper focus with the 417 ES Steve McQueen Limited Edition No. 1, a 39mm chronograph tied to the actor’s documented love of motorcycles and competition.
It’s a small, purposeful watch with a big cultural hook, and the important detail is that McQueen’s descendants have approved the use of his signature on the dial.
At a glance
- Hanhart has introduced the 417 ES Steve McQueen Limited Edition No. 1 with the actor’s signature on the dial.
- The watch uses a 39mm stainless steel case, a matte black bi-compax dial, a red HyCeram pusher and a hand-wound flyback chronograph movement.
- Production is limited to 300 pieces, priced at EUR 2,890 including German VAT.
A Bundeswehr chronograph with a McQueen connection
The Hanhart 417 began life in the mid-1950s as a pilot’s chronograph for the German Bundeswehr, built around legibility, durability and ease of operation.
Its defining features were direct and functional, including a black dial, bi-compax registers, a fluted rotating bezel and a fluted crown.
The 417 ES added a stainless steel case, with “ES” standing for Edelstahl, and that metal-cased version has become the more coveted branch of the family.
McQueen wore a Hanhart 417 ES away from the studio system, particularly around his motorcycle racing life.
In 1964, he rode for the United States team at the International Six Days Trial in East Germany on a modified Triumph under race number 278.
He later entered events including the Baja 1000, sometimes under the name Harvey Mushman to escape the gravity of his celebrity.
That context matters because this edition doesn’t feel like a celebrity name dropped onto a watch at random.
Chase and Madison McQueen, the actor’s grandchildren, were involved in the project and approved the signature that now appears discreetly above 6 o’clock.
The 39mm case keeps the tool-watch character intact
The new 417 ES Steve McQueen Limited Edition No. 1 follows the proportions of the historic watch rather than inflating them for modern presence.
The stainless steel case measures 39mm across, 13.3mm thick including the highly domed sapphire crystal, and 46mm from lug to lug.
Those dimensions are a large part of the appeal, especially for collectors who liked Hanhart’s modern 417 ES revival but wanted the closest possible connection to the mid-century format.
The case mixes brushed and polished surfaces, while the fluted bidirectional bezel carries a red insert.
At 4 o’clock sits the red HyCeram chronograph pusher, a contemporary continuation of one of Hanhart’s most recognisable visual signatures.
The screw-down crown uses the brand’s historic “h” logo, and water resistance is rated to 100 metres.
Hanhart uses sapphire crystal front and back, with the screw-down caseback offering a view of the movement in this 39mm version.
A matte black dial with one restrained signature
The dial stays close to the 417 ES formula, which is exactly the right move.
White Arabic numerals, a 30-minute chronograph counter at 3 o’clock and running seconds at 9 o’clock preserve the balanced pilot-chronograph layout.
The hands and numerals use Super-LumiNova in a Light Old Radium tone, giving the watch a warmer period character without needing artificial wear.
Hanhart also keeps the slightly curved-down tips of the hands, a historic detail intended to reduce parallax when reading the time or elapsed minutes.
The McQueen signature is the most obvious new element, but it’s kept small enough not to overwhelm the dial.
That restraint is important, because the watch works best when it reads first as a serious Hanhart chronograph and only then as a McQueen edition.
A hand-wound flyback and a proper cuff strap
Inside is the AMT5100 M, a hand-wound chronograph calibre from AMT Manufacture, Sellita’s high-end department.
The movement uses Valjoux-derived architecture and has been substantially modified with a flyback function.
It runs at 28,800 vibrations per hour and offers at least 58 hours of power reserve, with hacking seconds for more precise time setting.
The strap is just as central to the watch’s personality as the case and dial.
Historic images show McQueen wearing his 417 ES on a dark brown cuff-style strap running beneath the case, and Hanhart recreates that look in Shell Cordovan supplied by Italian tannery Comipel.
The continuous leather construction includes a padded section under the watch and closes with a pin buckle carrying the historic logo.
The 20mm lug width also means the watch can take compatible 417 ES straps or Hanhart’s steel bracelet.
Each of the 300 watches is delivered with a booklet, numbered plaque, limitation card inspired by McQueen’s 1964 racing licence and a bottle of red nail polish.
That last detail nods to the lore around Hanhart’s red pusher, often linked romantically to a pilot’s girlfriend marking the reset button red, though its practical role was to make the control stand out and help prevent an accidental reset.
Details & Specifications
| Brand | Hanhart |
|---|---|
| Model | 417 ES Steve McQueen Limited Edition No. 1 |
| Reference | H705L.210-2110 |
| Case size | 39mm diameter, 13.3mm thick, 46mm lug to lug |
| Case material | Brushed and polished stainless steel |
| Bezel | Bidirectional fluted bezel with red insert |
| Crystal | Convex domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating |
| Caseback | Screw-down sapphire caseback |
| Water resistance | 100 metres |
| Dial | Matte black with Steve McQueen signature and historic Hanhart logo |
| Lume | Light Old Radium Super-LumiNova on numerals and hands |
| Movement | Sellita AMT5100 M hand-wound flyback chronograph |
| Frequency | 28,800 vibrations per hour |
| Power reserve | At least 58 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, small seconds, central chronograph seconds, 30-minute counter, flyback |
| Strap | Dark brown Shell Cordovan cuff strap by Comipel |
| Lug width | 20mm |
| Production | Limited to 300 pieces |
| Price | EUR 2,890 including German VAT |
The strongest thing about this 417 ES is that the McQueen connection enhances the watch without changing its nature.
For collectors drawn to compact hand-wound chronographs, military-adjacent design and motorsport history that feels lived-in rather than decorative, this is likely to be one of Hanhart’s most appealing recent editions.
