Baselworld 2013: Hanhart Pioneer Racemaster, three extremely hard chronographs

Incontestably a subscriber to the universe of strong and resistant instrument watches, used in the air, on earth and on water, the Helvetic-German brand Hanhart, born in 1924, will celebrate its 130^th anniversary in 2013. Launching three versions of its Pioneer Racemaster at BaselWorld, it remains the unique horology brand in the world to use a stainless steel without nickel, a hundred times more resistant to scratches than normal steel, due to HDSPro®, a special patented refining process.

One should have seen Roderich Hess, director of sales & marketing, persisting, in public and with a great deal of blunt objects - a Swiss army knife – in damaging his case in vain! Given a post vintage look, directly in ascendance with the close connection between Hanhart and the 60's and 70's car racing, the Racemaster GT (2 push-pieces), Racemaster GTM (mono-pusher) and Racemaster GTF (flyback function) chronographs have had their share of buzz.


As for what goes on under the hood, the brand, used to play it both ways with Swiss Made and Made in Germany, seems to henceforth opt for claiming only the Germanic soil in order to achieve an agreeably accessible positioning. After all, when we have “essence in the blood”, it’s better to be the first stallion in one’s stable than the umpteenth horse of the Helvetic stud farm! 45mm in diameter, automatic HAN4212 Calibre with an exclusive reported module, 28’000 alternations per hour, 31 rubies, a minimum of 42 hours of power reserve, convex sapphire crystal antireflective on both sides, water resistant to 100 meters. Timepieces served on calf leather wristlet with Racing design, that is, punctuated by large holes revealing without complex the manly hair of the wearer.