Steve McQueen’s watch legacy is usually condensed to a Heuer Monaco and a Rolex Submariner, but that version misses one of the more interesting chapters.
The Hanhart 417 ES was the chronograph he wore away from the film set, often in the orbit of motorcycles, competition and the kind of lived-in utility that suited him better than red-carpet polish.
Hanhart is now making that connection official with the 417 ES Steve McQueen Limited Edition No. 1, a 300-piece release approved by McQueen’s descendants and carrying his signature on the dial.
At a glance
- Hanhart has released the 417 ES Steve McQueen Limited Edition No. 1 in a run of 300 pieces.
- The 39mm stainless-steel flyback chronograph features a matte black dial, McQueen signature, red HyCeram pusher and hand-wound AMT5100 M movement.
- The watch is priced at EUR 2,890 including German VAT and comes on a dark brown Shell Cordovan cuff strap.
A Bundeswehr chronograph with a McQueen afterlife
The 417 began life in the mid-1950s as a pilot’s chronograph for the German Bundeswehr, with the emphasis placed on legibility, durability and simple operation.
Its defining elements were already present then, including the black bi-compax dial, fluted rotating bezel and fluted crown.
The 417 ES added a stainless-steel case, with “ES” standing for Edelstahl, and surviving examples are notably scarce.
McQueen’s link to the watch is not a loose stylistic association.
He wore a Hanhart 417 ES in his personal life and around his motorcycle-racing activities, including the era in which he competed for the United States at the 1964 International Six Days Trial in East Germany on a modified Triumph carrying race number 278.
His later racing life included events such as the Baja 1000, sometimes entered under the alias Harvey Mushman to keep the celebrity circus at arm’s length.
For this edition, Chase and Madison McQueen approved the use of their grandfather’s signature, giving the watch a direct family connection rather than a vague period mood.
The 39mm case keeps the proportions disciplined
The new model follows the compact profile of the historic 417 ES, using a 39mm stainless-steel case that measures 13.3mm thick including its highly domed sapphire crystal.
The lug-to-lug measurement is 46mm, which keeps the watch in the practical zone for a vintage-inspired chronograph.
Brushed and polished surfaces give the case a little lift without softening the tool-watch character.
The fluted bidirectional bezel returns with its red insert, while the red HyCeram chronograph pusher at 4 o’clock gives the modern 417 ES family one of its most recognisable visual cues.
A screw-down crown bears Hanhart’s historical “h” logo, and the watch is rated to 100 metres of water resistance.
Sapphire is used on both sides of the case, with the screw-down caseback exposing the movement in this 39mm configuration.
A restrained signature dial
The matte black dial stays close to the language of the mid-century 417 ES, with white Arabic numerals and a traditional two-register chronograph layout.
Running seconds sit at 9 o’clock, while the 30-minute chronograph counter is placed at 3 o’clock.
The hands and numerals use Super-LumiNova in a Light Old Radium tone, giving the watch warmth without pushing too hard into faux patina.
The minute and chronograph seconds hands retain slightly curved-down tips, a detail intended to reduce parallax when reading the indications.
The key addition is McQueen’s signature, positioned under the shockproof inscription and above 6 o’clock.
It’s small enough not to dominate the dial, which is exactly the right decision for a watch with this much built-in character.
Manual-wind flyback mechanics and a cuff strap
Inside is the hand-wound AMT5100 M, a Sellita AMT Manufacture calibre developed from the SW510 M and Valjoux-style chronograph architecture.
It runs at 28,800 vibrations per hour and delivers at least 58 hours of power reserve.
The movement also brings a flyback function, allowing the chronograph to be reset and restarted with a single action, along with hacking seconds for more precise time setting.
Hanhart has paired the watch with a dark brown Shell Cordovan cuff strap made with leather supplied by Italian tannery Comipel.
The continuous strap construction runs beneath the case, with a padded section under the watch and a historical-logo pin buckle.
The 20mm lug width also leaves room for other compatible 417 ES straps or Hanhart’s steel bracelet.
The presentation includes a booklet, a numbered plaque, a limitation card inspired by McQueen’s 1964 racing licence and a bottle of red nail polish.
That last touch nods to the enduring Hanhart red-pusher story, a detail often romanticised as a lover’s mark but rooted in the practical purpose of preventing accidental resets.
Details & Specifications
| Brand | Hanhart |
|---|---|
| Model | 417 ES Steve McQueen Limited Edition No. 1 |
| Model number | 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 |
| Crown | Screw-down crown with historical Hanhart “h” logo |
| Water resistance | 100 metres |
| Dial | Matte black with white Arabic numerals, historical Hanhart logo and Steve McQueen signature |
| Lume | Light Old Radium Super-LumiNova on hands and numerals |
| Movement | AMT5100 M hand-wound column-wheel flyback chronograph |
| Frequency | 28,800 vibrations per hour |
| Jewels | 23 |
| Power reserve | At least 58 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, small seconds, central chronograph seconds, 30-minute counter and flyback |
| Strap | Dark brown Shell Cordovan cuff strap by Comipel with padded underside |
| Lug width | 20mm |
| Production | Limited edition of 300 pieces |
| Price | EUR 2,890 including German VAT |
The 417 ES Steve McQueen Limited Edition works because the celebrity element isn’t doing all the heavy lifting.
It starts with a genuinely compelling pilot’s chronograph, then adds a well-documented McQueen connection, restrained dial treatment and the kind of compact, manual-wind specification that should speak to collectors who prefer their nostalgia with substance.
