Hanhart 417 ES Steve McQueen Limited Edition - 39 mm

Steve McQueen's restrained style of acting, relying more on looks and posture than dialogue, became his trademark and earned him the nickname King of Cool.

His legendary status was cemented through iconic roles in The Great Escape (1963) and the action thriller Bullitt (1968).  His celebrated filmography also includes the classic western The Magnificent Seven (1960), the stylish heist movie The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), and the gritty survival film Papillon (1973).

This era of major blockbusters culminated with Steve McQueen's starring role alongside Paul Newman in the 1974 disaster epic, The Towering Inferno grossing over $203 million ($1.3 billion in today's dollars).  In 1974 he was the highest-paid film star in the world.

But if you look beyond the movie roles, you'll find a collection of unscripted photographs that capture the man as he truly was. Whether he was kicking up dirt at the Baja 1000, racing his Triumph motorcycle in the 1964 ISDT, or just sharing quiet moments with his wife, one faithful detail remained consistent across these wildly different snapshots of his real life: the Hanhart 417 ES watch strapped to his wrist.

The original Hanhart 417 ES Chronograph was one of the most legendary watches produced in the history of Hanhart.  It is only fitting that it was often on the wrist of one of the most iconic actors in history.  The watch was a personal favorite of Steve's, and he bought it for himself rather than wearing the watch as part of a sponsorship contract.

Hanhart designed this new limited edition watch in partnership with Steve McQueen's grandchildren, Chase and Madison McQueen, to honor the historic DNA of the Hanhart 417 Series and its role in Steve's lasting legacy.

Photo credit: John Dominis

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Notable features of the new Hanhart 417 ES Steve McQueen Limited Edition:

Historic Dial

Hanhart is a German watch company that doesn't need to create an "artificial past" for marketing purposes - the company has been continuously producing watches since 1882.  The original Hanhart 417 ES Chronograph was one of the most legendary watches produced in the history of Hanhart, and it was the very first pilot's chronograph made for the German armed forces. 

The new Hanhart 417 ES Steve McQueen Limited Edition also incorporates some more subtle elements from historic Hanhart models, including hands that are curved at the ends to avoid parallax errors due to the domed sapphire crystal. 

The hour and minute hands, as well as both chronograph hands, feature Old Radium SuperLuminova for easy timekeeping in dark conditions.