Hanhart flyback chronograph WW2 German Kriegsmarine

This is a rare and intriguing German Hanhart chronograph from WW2 with wartime serial number 127765 and Kriegsmarine serial number 3230 on the caseback. This watch was produced towards the end of the war and my research indicates that it was destined for U-boat captains serving on the latest Type XXI model. Neither the submarines nor the watches saw any service because of the collapse of the German war effort in the later months of the conflict. Case: 40mm without counting the crown and 21mm fixed wires. The measurements are approximate but correct.

This is evidently a slightly larger case than the typical 39mm Luftwaffe models with 20mm lug size. An equally oversized fluted bezel with pointer is fitted on the case. The pointer bezel is unusual on the double pusher model but it was clearly made for this watch not only because of the atypical size but also because it has the exact same degree of wear as the rest of the watch. The unpolished case is wartime nickel plated (German silver) rather than chrome plated like post-war models.

Caseback stainless steel, serial number 3230. Konrad Knirim, the leading expert in German military watches illustrates a similar two pusher Hanhart in his 1998 book Die Uhren der deutschen Streitkr. Fte 1870 bis 1990 , at p. 137 with serial 3368 which he also attributes to the Kriegsmarine (picture included above). The numbers on these watches are in the similar range and they obviously belong to the same production phase.

Dial & hands original, unrestored Hanhart 17 Steine dial, with nice patina from degraded radium; some signs of tooling and hairline scratch from center to 11, only seen from a certain angle; hands and markers have original radium; minute hand missing some lume. Movement legendary flyback caliber, 17 jewels.

Serial number 127765 is well within the known range for wartime production, perhaps late 1944. The serial offers further confirmation for the Kriegsmarine connection. Databases of Hanhart serial numbers show examples with the "snail" Tachymeter scale in the same range and those are known to have been produced exclusively for the Kriegsmarine (picture included above). This movement was serviced after the war, as Hanhart continued to produce watches for the French Air Force and the German police and parts were replaced as needed (Made in Germany plates were not used during the war). The movement was last serviced in 2018.

Strap Period original pilot leather strap with rivets. In conclusion, a highly collectible military flyback chronograph in top condition, with strong connections to wartime production and continued service after the war. I hope I don't need to remind anyone that vintage mechanical watches don't have the accuracy of modern quartz watches, are not waterproof in the modern sense of the term and need periodic service and adjustment. No such guarantees are offered or implied. The item "Hanhart flyback chronograph WW2 German Kriegsmarine" is in sale since Sunday, March 8, 2020.

This item is in the category "Jewelry & Watches\Watches, Parts & Accessories\Wristwatches". The seller is "vercingetorix52" and is located in Huntsville, Alabama.

This item can be shipped to United States.

• Gender: Men's
• Number of Jewels: 17 Jewels
• Country/Region of Manufacture: Germany
• Style: Pilot/Aviator
• Caseback: Screwback Case
• Movement: Mechanical (Hand-winding)
• Year of Manufacture: 1940-1949
• Band Type: Bund Strap
• Chronograph Type: Flyback Chronograph
• Band Color: Brown
• Lug Width: 21 mm
• Brand: Hanhart
• Case Size: 40 mm
• Face Color: Black

---