Hanhart Flieger '39 by Poljot

[LHOOQ]

Here's a watch I've had in my sights for a long time. I've always loved the look of the early Luftwaffe chronos. The B-Uhr is a great design, but there's something about the coin-edge bezel and cathedral hands that really appeals to me. Unfortunately, reissues of these Fliegers retail at $3000-4500. Alternatively, I'd gladly take a Tag Heuer Targa Florio, but these are going for $2000-3000 on eBay.

I first read about Poljot's knockoffs of various German brands after seeing one of their 'legit' versions of the Flieger. (These are listed as Burans, Shturmanskies, and Kirovskies, if you're interested.) Since then, I've been regularly checking eBay for listings containing "Hanhart" or "Tutima", and "Poljot". One turned up in May, and I bid more than $200 for a used "Hanhart". Good thing I lost that auction, since it turns out that new ones are still being sold for that price. I just wasn’t looking in the right place!

Onto the watch, which I received last month. Let's start with the bad stuff: While the watch was in pretty good shape when it arrived, I was irritated by some specks of dust under the crystal, and half a thumbprint on the rehaut. (I guess they ran out of finger cots at the Poljot factory?) These flaws can only be seen at very specific angles and lighting, but it still bugs me. Also bugging me is the Poljot logo engraved on the oversize crown, which is a pretty big tell.

On the dial, there are differences between the fonts of this replica and the Tutima/Hanhart reissues. However, this isn't so big a deal when you consider the significant differences between the dials of the reissues and those on the original Fliegers. (If the Germans themselves couldn't get it right...) The final annoyance is a slightly tilted "Hanhart: 17 Steine" logo on my particular watch. Barely noticeable, but if I think about it long enough, I believe it will eventually drive me crazy. Best move on, then!

Other than the above, the watch looks very good. The bezel looks fantastic in the metal, and the red stripe is a beautiful touch. Timekeeping has been reliable enough, and I've got few worries about the Russian 3133. The caseback is nicely engraved, though I'd wanted to replace it with glass to show off the movement. Unfortunately, the seller sent me an exhibition caseback that was too small. (Still working on a replacement.) The strap was a mediocre hunk of black, plasticky leather that will be familiar to anyone on this forum. I replaced it with a very nice (and inexpensive) Stowa strap, which can be seen in these pictures. Lume was unevenly applied (great seconds dot, terrible hour hand!), but readable in most situations.

Overall, I'm very happy with this Flieger '39, and relieved that I can stop searching for this one replica. I'm just wondering whether I should also order the Poljot version of the post-war Junghans Bund chronograph…

 

[cazIRL]

Love all the gears and wheels showing in the movement really nice watch different from the norm here.

 

[LOUDERPLEASE]

I'd LOVE to see the photo's - they seem to have been removed?

 

[LHOOQ]

Hmm... There seems to be something wrong with smugmug today. Well, here are some freshly taken pictures, uploaded to a different server:

That last one's nice and creepy!

 

[James9]

Excellent photos and review of a great watch design. I, too, have been eyeing the poljots, especially those with that movement and with an exhibition back. Haven't checked ebay recently and your photos have wetted my taste buds. It is funny how some minor imperfection on any otherwise fine timepiece drives us bonkers. I once had a friend who would buy great pocketwatches only to have buyer's remorse the next day when he spied some tiny flaw. It would bother him so much that he would sell it -- usually to me -- for half of what he paid for it. If you happen to be of that ilk please drop me a line.

Jim

 

[PHicks]

That sure is a nice looking watch. I want one!

I especially like the size given my small wrists.

I searched for poljot, amongst many other combination's, and while I found plenty of poljot watches I couldn't find the Flieger 39. I saw references to the fact that it was a copy but no suggestion as to where I could pick one up.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[LHOOQ]

James: Nice try, but I'm finally over the tilt, especially when it looks like the other Hanharts on sale are also a bit crooked! Speaking of exhibition-backed Poljots, the eBay seller is now offering a 'deluxe' version of this Flieger for about USD 50 more. It has the same dial, but with a glass caseback and a red chrono button. I wish it had been available at the time I ordered this one.

PHicks: PM incoming. The seller does a pretty thorough job of hiding these listings (seriously, I was after this rep for several months), which is why I'm not naming him outright.

 

[LHOOQ]

[Whoops, should have been a PM]

 

[stolikat]

Very nice watch.

 

[PHicks]

PHicks: PM incoming. The seller does a pretty thorough job of hiding these listings (seriously, I was after this rep for several months), which is why I'm not naming him outright.

Thanks for the PM LHOOQ, I searched for about 2 hours last night and while I read stories of them being around I just couldn't pin down a source. I went with the red pusher version with the display back, as you suggested.

Interesting that the main photo has the hands near 12 o'clock obscuring the brand name.

Thanks once again.

 

[LHOOQ]

Here's a bit of a sneak preview for you, PHicks. Got a letter from Moscow today, but it turned out to be a caseback packed into a regular envelope...

Shame that the matte finish doesn't match the rest of the polished watch, and shame about losing the 'HERGESTELLT IN DEUTSCHLAND' and other etchings, but dang if that 3133 movement ain't a joy to look at. Anyone got a signed Valjoux 7734 bridge that they'd like to sell? Heuer-Leonidas would be nice!

 

[PHicks]

Thanks LHOOQ, I got confirmation that it's in the mail today.

Nice pictures by the way.

 

[russtang]

Shame that the matte finish doesn't match the rest of the polished watch, and shame about losing the 'HERGESTELLT IN DEUTSCHLAND' and other etchings, but dang if that 3133 movement ain't a joy to look at. Anyone got a signed Valjoux 7734 bridge that they'd like to sell? Heuer-Leonidas would be nice!

You could polish it up, but then it wouldn't match the movement finish.

Looks gorgeous regardless. Beautiful movement.

 

[LHOOQ]

Wow, has it already been almost a year since I first started this thread? (Uh, yeah... that's what the "07-17-2009" means.)

There have been two big things that have bugged me about this rep since I got it. First was the flat glass, which looked too modern-looking for a watch with styling that's otherwise firmly in the 1930s to 1940s. Second was the puke-green and weak-ass lume, particularly on the hands, which you definitely want to be brighter than everything else!

I hadn't been wearing this watch in the last few months as newer reps had taken its place. Then I started to read about Goin's relume services. Goin is meticulous about taking pictures of his projects, and detailing every step he takes in the process. After I read through a couple of his Panerai sausage dial relume threads, I was sold. Better still, he was in Taiwan, which is basically in my neighborhood!

Goin relumed the dial within a week of receiving the package. Better still, he was able to replace the mineral glass with one of the plexiglas domes I'd sent him. So why am I only posting today? Because I only received it today! My country's postal system really stinks!

On to the results, which are fantastic:

This is a much trickier dial, with many more digits than any Panerai, but the application was very precise:

In the dark, the lume shines as brightly as the indices on my gen Speedmaster. Very nice, considering the yellowed 'vintage' lume:

If you've ever considered a relume, send Goin a message. For now, the Flieger is going back on my wrist!

 

[nielsen]

Yep, gotta get me one of those! One question: I noticed some of the watches have one red pusher, others don't. What was the point of that--and was that original? I agree that the domed plexi really does work best--but then it scratches so easily, doesn't it? Where's the strap from? Looks great!

 

[LHOOQ]

From what I've seen, the red reset is much more common on the old 1MWF Kirovas from Russia -and on the Hanhart reissues- than they were on the original Hanharts. It could also be that the paint on the vintages have worn away. I'm not sure what the purpose of the red paint was, other than to differentiate functions. Omega did something similar on the Flightmaster, though that was a much more complex watch!

Most of my watches have plexiglas crystals, so it's not a bother. I have a tube of Polywatch ready if needed.

The strap is a Stowa calfskin. It's hard enough to find a 20mm with twin-riveted ends, but this is a well built strap for a very reasonable price.

 

[horologie_unitas]

as much as i like Hanhart, and hergestellt in Deutschland -

it has a bittersweet taste to see a russian movemenmt in this watch.

Hanhart....what the hell are you thinking ?

maybe in the future there will be a Porsche with a Moskwitsch engine.

other then that....a beauty.

 

[LHOOQ]

I was very lucky to pick up this little upgrade for just a few bucks. It's a tiny bit of metal, but what an improvement from the back!

The front still looks good:

 

[levelmanroger]

I absolutely LOVE this watch! Can you PM me the seller info?

 

[LHOOQ]

Seeing how RWI's all "members only" these days, I guess there's no need to be so secretive anymore! Start with the seller at this link.

Damn, that's a lot of Russian watches! Narrow it down by searching for "military chronograph". tommy_boy recently picked up one of the improved models. At $325, it's a bit more expensive than the one I bought, but the upgrades make it well worth the premium.