Press release
The new models in the Primus collection, which are being launched by Hanhart at Baselworld 2011, are distinguished by their pure, cool style. The Swiss-German watch brand has opted for an elegant black design for its Pilot, Racer and Diver chronographs.
Hanhart is known for its high-precision, 100% reliable and robust instrument watches for use in the air, on the ground and in the water. 2009 saw the Swiss-German watch brand launch with Primus a collection of mechanical chrono-graph wristwatches which builds on the long standing tradition and expertise of the own-brand watch manufactory and combines this with the latest technology and progressive design. This year, the Pilot, Racer and Diver models are now being introduced with black ADLC-coated cases.
A contemporary take on tradition
Reminders of the watch manufacturer's tradition are deliberately made clearly recognisable on all three models in the Primus collection: one of the brand's distinctive features, the red button, underlines the relationship between Hanhart's first pilot's chronographs, its mechanical stopwatches and the new collection. It has been a distinguishing characteristic of Hanhart watches since 1939 and was previously intended to prevent pilots from unintentionally resetting the stop time. For the models featured in the Primus collection it has been finished with anodised aluminium. The striking fluted bezel with inlaid red marking is also reminiscent of the design of the watch manufacturer's legendary chronographs. On the Primus Diver, it was realised as a concave, unidirectional rotating bezel featuring a scale for calculating the dive time. It can be adjusted to an anticlockwise direction and has a detent set in steps of one minute. With its size and feel, even the crown harks back to the design of the early precision watches. It is easy to use, and its screw-in configuration not only prevents unintentional adjustment of the time but also ensures that the watch case is water-resistant to 100 m.
Top functionality, ease of use and maximum readability
In order to ensure safety and ease of use for the measurement of time intervals or for air and water navigation, or when using a stopwatch to measure interval times and end times or distances on dry land, the first priority was to ensure maximum functionality, ease of use and outstanding reading precision. There was no need for unnecessary gimmicks or design features on the case and dial, and Hanhart continues, as always, to stand by this maxim. To ensure an accurate time display and precision chronometry, the models in the Primus collection are equipped with a Valjoux 7750 calibre modified to a bicompax display, featuring a black PVD-coated rotor with a skeletonised Hanhart logo. This allows the small seconds to be clearly positioned at 9 o'clock and the 30-minute counter to be arranged at 3 o'clock – a configuration which Hanhart has customarily used from the very beginning. Perfect readability is guaranteed not least by the clear, generously proportioned design of the Arabic numerals, index marks, the minute-circle and the hands with Super-LumiNova® coating.
A new level of wearing comfort
The solid, elegant and high-quality case made from ADLC-coated stainless steel highlights the sporty, contemporary aesthetic of the Primus chronographs, while the flexibly screwed lugs, which can be moved across an angle of inclination of 45º to 50º, ensure optimum wearing comfort on all wrist sizes. The deep black dial is encased by a convex, internally anti-reflective sapphire glass, while a screwed-down sapphire glass case back allows the wearer to see the fascinating interplay of the movement and the rotor. The watches are finished off with a leather strap made from the finest calfskin with contrasting top-stitching or with a black strap made from vulcanised rubber with a moulded Hanhart logo and a practical, easily adjustable folding clasp, also made from ADLC-coated stainless steel, with inlaid red marking.
Primus Pilot
Movement: HAN38 automatic chronograph movement based on the modified Valjoux 7750 (bicompax) calibre; 28,800 vibrations per hour, 4 Hz; 25 jewels; black PVD-coated rotor with a skeletonised, incised Hanhart logo; power reserve of min. 42 hours
Functions: Small seconds at 9 o'clock, 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock, date display at 6 o'clock
Case: ADLC-coated stainless steel; anodised aluminium red button; fluted bezel with inlaid red marking; convex, internally anti-reflective sapphire glass; screwed-down, internally anti-reflective sapphire glass case back; large screw-in crown; flexible lugs (angle of inclination 45°-50°); diameter 44 mm, height 15 mm; water-resistant to 10 atm/100 m
Dial: Black; with Super-LumiNova®-coated, luminous Arabic numerals, index marks and hands
Strap: Calfskin; folding clasp with inlaid red marking (anodised aluminium) made from ADLC-coated stainless steel
Primus Racer
Movement: HAN38 automatic chronograph movement based on the modified Valjoux 7750 (bicompax) calibre; 28,800 vibrations per hour, 4 Hz; 25 jewels; black PVD-coated rotor with a skeletonised, incised Hanhart logo; power reserve of min. 42 hours
Functions: Small seconds at 9 o'clock, 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock, date display at 6 o'clock
Case: ADLC-coated stainless steel; anodised aluminium red button; fluted bezel with inlaid red marking; convex, internally anti-reflective sapphire glass; screwed-down, internally anti-reflective sapphire glass case back; large screw-in crown; flexible lugs (angle of inclination 45°-50°); diameter 44 mm, height 15 mm; water-resistant to 10 atm/100 m
Dial: Black; polished, applied Arabic numerals and index marks; Super-LumiNova®-coated, luminous hands
Strap: Calfskin or vulcanised rubber with moulded Hanhart logo, non-allergenic; folding clasp with inlaid red marking (anodised aluminium) made from ADLC-coated stainless steel
Primus Diver
Movement: HAN38 automatic chronograph movement based on the modified Valjoux 7750 (bicompax) calibre; 28,800 vibrations per hour, 4 Hz; 25 jewels; black PVD-coated rotor with a skeletonised, incised Hanhart logo; power reserve of min. 42 hours
Functions: Small seconds at 9 o'clock, 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock, date display at 6 o'clock
Case: ADLC-coated stainless steel; anodised aluminium red button; fluted, concave, unidirectional rotating bezel with inlaid red marking; convex, internally anti-reflective sapphire glass; screwed-down, internally anti-reflective sapphire glass case back; large screw-in crown; flexible lugs (angle of inclination 45°-50°); diameter 44 mm, height 15 mm; water-resistant to 10 atm/100 m
Dial: Black; Super-LumiNova®-coated, luminous Arabic numerals, index marks, hands and orange or yellow-coloured auxiliary dials for small seconds and 30-minute counter
Strap: Vulcanised rubber with moulded Hanhart logo, non-allergenic; folding clasp with inlaid red marking (anodised aluminium) made from ADLC-coated stainless steel
