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
Limited Edition of 300 Pieces
The limited edition number (XXX/300) of each piece is engraved into the steel perimeter of the case back. The words "KING OF COOL" and "STEVE MCQUEEN" and "LIMITED EDITION NO. 1" can be found around the perimeter as well.
Notable features of the new Hanhart 417 ES Steve McQueen Limited Edition:
- Manually wound flyback column wheel chronograph
- Old Radium SuperLuminova on hour numerals and hands
- Oversized sub dials inspired by the original 417 ES
- Steve McQueen's signature on the dial at 6
- Red HyCeram® ceramic chronograph reset pusher
- Dark brown shell cordovan cuff strap
- Domed sapphire crystal with interior AR coating
- Limited edition Steve McQueen presentation box
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.
The two register chronograph layout of this watch features a 30 minute register at 3 and a small seconds register at 9. This is the only model in the 417 Collection to feature an oversized sub dials, a design typically only found in vintage pilot watches.
In keeping with the original design of this historic watch, Hanhart has chosen to use the vintage Hanhart logo on the dial, crown and buckle, as well as the "shockproof" designation on the dial above Steve McQueen's signature.
Manufacture AMT® Calibre 5100 M
The original Hanhart 417 ES Chronograph featured a "Temposchaltung" (flyback complication) with column wheel construction, and Hanhart has been working with Manufacture AMT® to incorporate those same features into this new chronograph.
Powered by the manually wound AMT5100 M, the clearly visible blue column wheel ensures a smooth operation of the chronograph functions, while the flyback complication allows a quick reset while the chronograph hand is in motion.
This new movement beats at 4 Hertz (28,800 vibrations per hour) boasts an impressive 58 hour power reserve. Since the AMT5100 M is not produced with a date complication, Hanhart adds the date wheel in house.
Shell Cordovan Cuff Strap
To accurately pay tribute to Steve McQueen's legacy, Hanhart commissioned Italian tannery Comipel to create a dark brown shell cordovan strap inspired by the original leather cuff that Steve often paired with his Hanhart 417.
This special strap does an excellent job capturing Steve's personal style, and it includes with a tang buckle engraved with Hanhart's historic logo.
Presentation Box & Limited Edition Items
Hanhart includes some very cool extras with the presentation box for the 417 ES Steve McQueen Limited Edition.
The full collector's kit, complete with Steve McQueen's silhouette on the top, includes a numbered plaque and a special limited edition card modeled meticulously after McQueen's 1964 international FIM racing license.
The card also bears the signatures of Steve's grandchildren, Chase and Madison McQueen.
Hanhart 417 ES Steve McQueen...