Hanhart revives Steve McQueen’s racing chronograph in a 300-piece edition

Few watch-and-celebrity associations feel as organic as Steve McQueen and the Hanhart 417 ES. The actor and motorsport enthusiast was photographed wearing his own example from the early 1960s, long before celebrity watch collaborations became a marketing category. Hanhart's Steve McQueen Limited Edition No. 1 returns to that personal connection rather than simply borrowing a famous name.

The stainless-steel case measures 39mm in diameter, matching the scale of the historic 417, and spans 46mm lug to lug. Its deeply fluted, bidirectional rotating bezel includes a red index, while the lower chronograph pusher wears Hanhart's signature red HyCeram finish. The curved sapphire crystal gives the watch a notably vintage silhouette without sacrificing modern durability; water resistance is rated to 10 bar.

A matte black dial carries the historic Hanhart logo and a discreet Steve McQueen signature. Two contrasting chronograph registers and vintage-style numerals preserve the instrument's legibility, while the hands and markers use modern Super-LumiNova in a warm Light Old Radium tone. The lume is deliberately nostalgic in colour, not actual radioactive radium.

Inside is the manually wound Sellita AMT5100 M, a flyback chronograph beating at 4Hz, with 23 jewels and a 58-hour power reserve. The flyback function lets the wearer reset and restart the running stopwatch with a single press, a useful legacy of aviation timing. A sapphire display back shows the movement alongside each watch's individual edition number.

The dark-brown Shell Cordovan leather strap takes the form of a continuous cuff under the watch, reflecting how McQueen wore his 417 ES. Hanhart worked with his grandchildren, Chase and Madison McQueen, on the collector's presentation. Inside the box are a numbered plaque, a driving-licence-style card bearing their signatures and a small bottle of red nail polish, a reference to the lore surrounding Hanhart's red pusher.

Limited to 300 examples worldwide, this is a watch with a well-defined point of view: its restrained case dimensions and high-contrast dial keep it rooted in the functional 417, while a handful of carefully chosen details create a tangible connection with an enduring figure in motorsport and cinema.