Hanhart Flieger '39 by Poljot

[LHOOQ]

After more than four years since this thread began, how about an update? Some of you already know that I was finally able to find the Junghans I mentioned briefly in the OP. During the long search for that watch, I also had a couple of near-misses for Hanharts--one for a wartime example, and the other for a post-war Hanhart 417 (aka one of Steve McQueen's real favorites). Unfortunately, prices for all vintage Hanharts have been steadily rising since then, so it's unlikely that I'll be adding one to my collection anytime soon. Too bad, as they're lovely watches.

How lovely? One of my friends has an amazing collection of vintage watches. It's mostly old Rolex, but also includes several Heuer Bunds and, more pertinently, a Hanhart 417 ES. The 'ES' denotes the rarer stainless steel model, as everything that came before was made of nickel-plated brass. I took a few pictures of his watches, along with my Junghans and my old Poljot rep.

The Poljot-Hanhart scores low in terms of outright accuracy, but it hits the right notes.

A good view of the difference in case profile and finish.

It really does look a lot older than most watches from the mid 1950s:

Wears comfortably on the wrist.

Three generations of Bundesluftwaffe chronographs. Too bad we couldn't find someone with a Lemania 5100-powered Orfina or Tutima to complete the series.

 

[SRower003]

Those are beautiful! Now I'm thinking I need to start moding my Poljots! I really love the Heuer.

Here are a few of my Poljots:

 

[Feuervogel]

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.

After WW II the russians took the machines for the movements to russia and let them make Poljot 3133

Everything is good

 

[LHOOQ]

To be precise, the machinery appropriated by 1MWF was used to make copies of the UROFA 59, which is why you still see some suspicious-looking, post-war Tutima fliegerchronographs with very legit-looking movements. The Poljot 3133 is an unlicensed, reverse-engineered copy of the Valjoux 7733, and that didn't show up until the early 1970s.

 

[Overport]

LHOOQ, Many thanks for this thread.

I was looking at Hanhart just the other day, but prices were making my eyes water - damn!

I have been in contact with the seller and am just about to pull the trigger on the Hanhart. Its no Junghans, but beggars cant be choosers.

Looks like it now comes with a curved glass, but is only available in the matte case.

I think I can live with a matte case, but prefer brushed.

 

[Overport]

It arrived today, very satisfied. I'll post pics when I get a chance.