417 ES Moby Dick, 39 mm

Visit the brand's site for current pricing

THE CIVIL VERSION OF AN ICON 417 ES Moby Dick, 39 mm Frequently requested, finally available: with the new Moby Dick 39 mm, Hanhart presents the white-dial version of the historic 417 ES chronograph in its original size for the first time. Inspired by one of the rarest executions of the 1950s, this model stands for precise instrument aesthetics beyond military specifications – born civil, uncompromisingly functional. UNCOMPROMISINGLY FUNCTIONAL BORN CIVIL The thermally blued hands, whose deep blue tone comes alive depending on the angle of light, lend the watch remarkable depth. The anti-magnetic case reliably protects the movement from external influences, while water resistance of 10 ATM makes the chronograph fully suitable for everyday use. Instead of the classic red bezel marking, the Moby Dick 39 mm features an ivory-colored Super-LumiNova® insert. Perfectly matched to the dial numerals and hand inlays, this iconic chronograph ensures excellent legibility even in daylight. SWISS-MADE QUALITY PRECISION CALIBER To ensure that our latest stopwatch not only looks good but also runs precisely, the reliable hand-wound SW510 caliber in the best Swiss-made quality works behind the screw-down stainless steel case back. In addition to the stop-seconds function, it offers a power reserve of at least 48 hours when fully wound. DARKNESS? NO PROBLEM SUPER LUMINOVA® The hands and numerals of the Hanhart 417 ES Moby Dick are coated with Super-LumiNova® to ensure optimum readability by day and night. MOBY DICK THE WATCH AND ITS HISTORY The designation Moby Dick traces back to an exceptionally rare version of the historic Hanhart 417 ES chronograph from the 1950s. While the 417 model is predominantly known with a dark dial, a small number of examples featured a white dial with blued hands. This execution deliberately departed from the instrument-style appearance common at the time, focusing instead on maximum legibility and a distinct civil aesthetic. Due to its limited availability and distinctive design, this white-dial version gradually became a highly sought-after collectors piece. Among collectors, the nickname Moby Dick emerged as a reference to the white whale from Herman Melvilles novel and became a symbol of rarity and recognizability. The name was never an official historical model designation, but rather a term that evolved over time within the international collectors community and was later consciously adopted by Hanhart. The Hanhart 417 ES chronograph was used in various professional fields where precise time measurement was essential. Versions with light-colored dials were aimed in particular at users outside standardized military requirements, such as in civil aviation, technical professions, or medical environments. The white-dial version thus represents a civil interpretation of the classic chronograph – factual, functional, and free from formal service regulations. CONTEMPORARY SIZE, MAXIMUM WEARING COMFORT Despite the heavily domed sapphire crystal, we have retained a height of just 13.6 mm. Our aim was to make the 417 ES Moby Dick as slim as possible in order to achieve a present but not disproportionate appearance on the wrist. THE ICON FROM THE PAST THE LEGENDARY 417 In the past, the 417 was intended to combine robustness, reliability and readability in one watch. Originally designed as a pilot's chronograph, there was also a version with a white dial and blued hands for use by the navy and in the medical service. The original historical model, of which only very few pieces still exist worldwide, is known in collectors' circles under the name Moby Dick. The few surviving examples of the historic 417 ES Moby Dick are now coveted vintage chronographs for collectors. UNIQUE COLORS THERMALLY BLUED HANDS The thermally blued hands give the 417 ES Moby Dick a special effect. The color changes in a fascinating way depending on the light. 10 BAR WATER RESISTANCE HAND-WOUND The historic 417 was also wound by hand, although its radius of action was severely restricted due to its limited water resistance. That's why our new 417 ES Moby Dick 39 mm can withstand pressures of up to 10 bar. ADDITIONAL SAFETY FOR YOUR MOVEMENT HANHART SHOCK PROTECTION The Hanhart shock protection was developed to withstand even the most extreme conditions. It offers additional protection against shocks in addition to the usual factory-fitted protection mechanisms.