It is said that during the Second World War this watch was commissioned by German intelligence. Rumor has it that Hanhart craftsmen even built in miniature microphones and cameras in the case of chronometers, especially for spies, and the watch hands for pilots were covered with a special luminous compound, which was extremely radioactive. Moreover, until recently it was believed that German watch manufactures are very far from products marked “Swiss made”. But, as it turned out, foreign watches are not inferior to their Swiss counterparts, neither in quality, nor in accuracy of movement, nor in the filigree work, nor, sometimes, even in price ...
My interlocutor is Thomas Allenspach, chief executive officer of the Hanhart watch company, who arrived in Dubai to open a representative office of his company here and to re-introduce fans of good watches to this once-famous European watch brand.
Thomas, please tell me what brought you to Dubai right now?
Hanhart is still a small watch brand, despite the fact that it was created in 1882 in Switzerland. Although our business cannot be called large, we began to gradually expand our influence in international markets. In the past few years, we have paid more attention to the European market. We are very well known in Germany, since our headquarters are located on the territory of this particular country, even though nominally we are considered a Swiss watch company, thanks to the unique history of the creation of Hanhart. Now we are opening our office in Dubai, and very soon our office will be opened in Hong Kong, which will be responsible for the entire Asia-Pacific market. I believe that now is the right time to work actively in new markets. Sometimes, despite numerous challenges, it is much easier to find people who are ready to try their hand at a new country for themselves.
And what is the unique history of the company?
Hanhart is the name of the family that founded the company. Johann Adolph Hanhart was a watchmaker, and it was he who created the watchmaker's workshop in 1882 in a small Swiss village near Schaffhausen, which produced only a few hours a year.
In 1902, Johann Adolf moved to Schwenningen, in southern Germany. The company at that time was mainly engaged in the manufacture of wall clocks, there were no watches in the world then. In 1924, a turning point came in the history of Hanhart, when the first mechanical watches with a stopwatch were made. This watch was affordable, which immediately made the Hanhart brand widely known. In 1934, the first pocket and wrist watches were created at Hanhart workshops in Gutenbach in Black Forest, and in 1938 the first chronograph, which was controlled with a single button, was introduced to the world. It was the first such watch in 1938 in Germany. And although today the company is wholly owned by Swiss investors (its main owner is a native of Switzerland, Klaus Eble, working at Hanhart since 1966), the history and fame of Hanhart has always been created in Germany. Thus, Hanhart is a German brand with a Swiss history. And this is truly a unique combination.
Over time, the Hanhart brand gained popularity thanks to its chronographs for pilots and sailors, who since 1939 were supplied to the German army. At the end of World War II, the workshops of the company were captured by the French, and most of the equipment was taken to France. After the war, in 1947, Johann Adolf Willy's son returned first to Switzerland, and later to Germany, and resumed his family’s business, again starting to produce watches with stopwatch. In 1948, the famous Admiral chronograph was born. Three to four years later, Hanhart again became a leader in the production of chronographs with stop watches, and in 1952 he first presented his watch at an exhibition in Swiss Basel.
Please tell us more about the famous "red button" ...
One of the most recognizable elements of Hanhart corporate identity is the stopwatch head painted in red. The appearance of this element is based on two stories. The first tells of the beloved girl of a military pilot. During the war, all pilots had to stop the chronograph of their watches at the time of take-off in order to be able to control flight time, the amount of remaining fuel and other parameters. Time was very important, and each pilot knew at what point in time he had to turn back in order to safely get to the airfield. So, the pilot’s girl painted the button stopping the chronograph in red with her nail polish so that her beloved would always remember about it. According to the second version, the scarlet button is really an element necessary for pilots to accidentally not click on it while you are in the air. And since the watch was hidden by the sleeves of flight jackets and gloves, the red button was clearly visible to the pilot, and he could control it.
Since 1938, this famous red button has appeared on all watches manufactured by Hanhart. And if you look at our latest collection, you will see that each model, regardless of the materials from which it is made, is equipped with the same red button. Thanks to this element, Hanhart watches are recognizable all over the world today. At the beginning of the 20th century, the button was not always in the same place, everything depended on the model, today it has a certain mounting location - in the upper right part of the case. The red color is also repeated at 12 o'clock, on the rotor and on the strap buckle.
Today, when more than 600 brands of various watches are presented in the world, it is necessary to distinguish them somehow. The red button is Hanhart's brand name and business card.
How and when did you join Hanhart?
I accidentally met Klaus Eble in 2006. Then I flew with my father on the plane, and Klaus sat in the chair next to us. It so happened that my father had a Hanhart watch on his hand. You know, for older people, this brand is something, but it means. In general, Klaus started talking to us, and said that he was the owner of Hanhart. We exchanged business cards and agreed on a new meeting. I officially started working at Hanhart on January 1, 2008. Together with the team, we reviewed all existing strategies, developed new ways of business development, which we now follow.
What is Hanhart doing today?
Today we are developing two areas of business. The first is the production of stopwatch. And we are the world's largest and only manufacturers of mechanical watches with stopwatch in the world. This is a fairly narrow market segment. Our watch is designed for those who seriously play sports, play polo, participate in car races, and play other games. The second direction is the release of chronographs, since we realized that this segment has high potential.
We can safely say that today Hanhart brand has its own unique face. In 2003, we considered that it was time to introduce a new chronograph to the market, which is based on past achievements, but at the same time, is directed to the future. So there was a chronograph Primus. This year we launched three new watch lines on its base: Primus Pilot's Chronograph, Primus Racer's Chronograph and Primius Diver's Chronograph. The collection includes 9 models in stainless steel and gold cases. Under the same name, we are now preparing to release several models of 2010, with the same mechanisms, but with a different appearance.
What else is unique in our watches?
If you noticed, the case of our watches is very large, but now it has become fashionable, and even women like to wear large watches. That is why we made the strap mount movable, so our watch can be worn on the wrist of any thickness. All people have different wrists, as well as fingerprints. And this is also an exclusive element in the entire watch industry, since the manufacture of mobile fasteners for straps is a very difficult task. But we successfully coped with it.
So Hanhart doesn’t release special female models of watches?
Not. This makes no sense. Those women who like our watches are pleased to wear them, despite the conventions. We also never produced classic watches, which is uncharacteristic of our brand. Today, all Hanhart models are available in 44 mm diameter cases. All watches are numbered, dials are protected by sapphire crystal, and our own mechanisms are installed inside.
How many hours a year are produced at Hanhart workshops?
We have nine basic models of watches, and a year the company is able to produce about 2000 copies. In the future, we will be able to increase our productivity, but everything will depend on demand. You need to keep track of which model is best bought. We do not position ourselves as a company engaged in the mass production of watches. We clearly set ourselves goals, and calculate everything in advance.
Where can I buy a Hanhart watch in Dubai?
In the stores of the Rivoli group. We held special seminars for sellers there.
Which consumer group are Hanhart watches primarily for?
For men aged 35 to 60 years: athletic, dynamic, cosmopolitan, self-confident. For people who travel a lot. For those who want something special. Our customers are certainly not those who buy Rolex. Or those who already have Rolex, and they want something else. Our customers value hand-made mechanical watches. Here is our target audience.
So Hanhart is a watch for those who choose true values?
Yes, and today our watches are widely represented in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Greece. Now we are concentrating our efforts in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, but I think that the day is not far off when we will present our products in Russia and the CIS countries.
Thank you Thomas. We wish you success.
