Hanhart, a watch manufacturer with deep roots in Germany's Black Forest, is introducing a surprising and refreshing burst of color to its lineup. The brand, often celebrated for its rugged pilot's chronographs and precision stopwatches, is expanding its Silva collection with two new dial variants: Silva Rosé and Silva Pistachio. These timepieces shift the focus from tactical instrumentation to everyday expression, offering a purist design in soft, modern pastel tones. They represent a clear, unisex aesthetic built on balanced proportions and the brand's long-standing commitment to quality.
The name "Silva" itself is a direct nod to the brand's heritage and location. Taken from the Latin word for "forest," it references the Black Forest, where Hanhart has been producing timepieces in Gütenbach since 1882. This connection to its origin underscores the watch's grounded, essential nature, stripping away complications to focus on pure form and function.
Courtesy of Hanhart
The Hanhart story began in 1882, when Johann Adolf Hanhart opened his business in Diessenhofen, Switzerland. The company relocated to Schwenningen, Germany, in 1902, setting the stage for its future as a German watchmaking staple. A significant turning point arrived in 1924 when Wilhelm Hanhart, the founder's son, introduced the world's first affordable mechanical stopwatch. This single innovation cemented Hanhart's reputation for precision timing and set the company on a path of technical expertise.
This expertise naturally evolved into wrist-worn timepieces. In 1938, Hanhart released its first chronograph, the single-pusher "Caliber 40," which was quickly followed by the two-pusher "Caliber 41." This era defined the brand's most iconic image, particularly from the 1950s onward with the Model 417 ES. This "Kal. 42" flyback chronograph became the first pilot's chronograph for the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) in 1957, securing Hanhart's legacy in aviation history.
The company even managed to successfully navigate the quartz crisis of the 1970s and 80s by developing its own high-volume quartz movement, the "Caliber 3305." However, with the mechanical watchmaking revival, Hanhart wisely returned to its roots. In 1997, it launched a faithful replica of its legendary 1939 pilot's chronograph, a move that revitalized the brand and led to its modern "Pioneer" and "Primus" collections, which draw heavily on this robust, historical DNA.
The Silva, however, pulls from a different, earlier chapter of the Hanhart archives. Its design is not based on the pilot's chronographs but on a Hanhart model from the 1930s, the Caliber 36/39. This historical piece was known for its clean design language and reduction to the essentials. The new Silva models capture this purist spirit, reinterpreting that vintage clarity for a contemporary audience. It’s a link between the brand's past and present, executed with modern techniques.
Courtesy of Hanhart
The case of the Silva Rosé and Pistachio is a study in balanced proportions. Crafted from polished stainless steel, it measures 38.5 mm in diameter. This moderate size is complemented by a remarkably slim profile of just 10 mm in height and a contained lug-to-lug dimension of 44 mm. These measurements are key to the watch's unisex appeal, ensuring a high degree of wearing comfort and a versatile fit for nearly any wrist.
Visually, the case is simple and refined. A smooth, polished bezel frames the dial, and the case flanks are rounded and unassuming. The crown, signed with the historic Hanhart "h," is proportionate and easy to grip, maintaining the watch's functional, uncluttered lines. The entire case is polished to a high shine, giving the watch a bright presence on the wrist that works well with the new, softer dial colors.
The dials are, without question, the main attraction. The Silva Rosé features a pastel pink dial, while the Silva Pistachio offers a subtle, light green. Both colors are rendered in a flat, matte finish, which prevents them from appearing overly bright and gives them a modern, sophisticated character. These colors provide a soft, welcoming backdrop for the high-contrast dial elements, which are designed for clarity.
The dial layout is tidy and functional. It features crisp, black-printed Arabic numerals at the even-numbered hours (12, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10), a design choice that adds a touch of retro character. These are balanced by striking, black-filled dots at the odd-numbered hours. A simple black minute track lines the periphery, ensuring precise time-reading.
Courtesy of Hanhart
The handset is equally straightforward, consisting of thin, black baton hands for the hours and minutes and a simple stick hand for the seconds. This high contrast of black against the pastel pink or green dials makes readability exceptionally easy. Completing the look is the historic Hanhart logo printed below the 12 o'clock position, a clear nod to the 1930s inspiration.
Protecting the dial is a convex, or domed, sapphire crystal. This shape subtly distorts the edges of the dial when viewed at an angle, adding to the watch's vintage-inspired feel. To ensure clarity and reduce glare, the crystal features an anti-reflective coating on its inner surface. This is a practical and high-quality touch that enhances the view of the colorful dial.
Turning the watch over reveals a screwed-down sapphire crystal case back, which allows a clear view of the movement inside. The case back itself is engraved with a consecutive serial number. This exhibition window showcases the reliable Soprod SOP P024, a high-quality, Swiss-made automatic movement. Hanhart uses the TOP version of this caliber, which stands for precision and longevity.
The Soprod P024 is a robust, workhorse three-hand movement that beats at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz) and contains 25 jewels. It provides a power reserve of at least 38 hours when fully wound. This movement is known for its reliability and is a well-regarded alternative to other common Swiss calibers.
Hanhart's choice of the P024 includes several technical upgrades. The movement features a Glucydur balance, which is more stable across temperature variations, and an Incabloc shock protection system. These components work together to ensure maximum rate stability and protection from the bumps and jolts of daily use.
Courtesy of Hanhart
A notable feature for watch enthusiasts is that this is a "genuine" three-hand movement, meaning it was designed without a date function. This avoids the "ghost" or "phantom" date position in the crown that plagues many no-date watches using date-equipped movements. The movement also features hacking seconds, allowing the second hand to be stopped for precise time-setting.
Through the case back, the owner can observe the skeletonized rotor, which has been customized with the Hanhart logo. This level of finishing underlines the brand's high standards of craftsmanship and adds a visual point of interest to the watch's mechanics.
Hanhart also applies its own famously strict standards to the regulation of these movements. Reflecting what they call "the German virtue of punctuality," each watch is tested and adjusted by Hanhart's watchmakers in Gütenbach. The brand's specification for accuracy is 0 to +8 seconds per day, averaged across six positions. This is a very tight tolerance, and importantly, Hanhart does not allow a minus second deviation in the main positions, ensuring the watch will never run slow from the factory. A maximum delta of 10 seconds is also permitted between the various positions.
To complement the watch's versatile character, Hanhart offers two distinct strap options. The first is a classic calfskin leather strap, available in black or dark brown. This strap is thoughtfully designed with Alcantara on the inside lining, a material known for its softness and durability, which provides maximum wearing comfort. The leather strap is secured with a simple stainless steel pin buckle.
Courtesy of Hanhart
The second option, which completely changes the watch's personality, is a stainless steel Milanaise, or mesh, bracelet. This fine, woven steel bracelet attaches to the 20 mm lugs and is secured with a classic folding clasp. The mesh design provides a sleek, retro-modern look that pairs exceptionally well with the polished case and pastel dials, offering a comfortable and breathable alternative to the leather.
The Hanhart Silva Rosé (SKU: 782.230-9428) and Silva Pistachio (SKU: 782.290-9428) are available now. When configured on the Milanaise steel bracelet, both models are priced at $1,153. These new additions offer a compelling and colorful option for those seeking a well-built, comfortable, and distinctive everyday watch with legitimate historical roots.
Case: Polished stainless steel, 38.5 mm diameter, 10 mm height, 44 mm lug-to-lug. Smooth bezel, convex sapphire crystal with internal anti-reflective coating. Screwed sapphire crystal case back. Water resistant up to 5 bar / 5 ATM.
Movement: Soprod SOP P024 (TOP version), automatic winding. 25 jewels, 28,800 A/h (4 Hz), min. 38-hour power reserve. Features Glucydur balance, Incabloc shock protection, and hacking seconds. Skeletonized rotor with Hanhart logo. Regulated to Hanhart specifications (0 to +8 seconds/day).
Dial: Available in pastel pink (Rosé) or pistachio green. Features the historic Hanhart logo. High-contrast hands with striking dots and Arabic numerals.
Strap: Choice of black or dark brown calfskin leather (Alcantara lined) with pin buckle, or a Milanaise steel bracelet with folding clasp. Lug width is 20 mm.
Price: $1,153 (on a steel bracelet)
Reference Number: Silva Rosé (782.230-9428), Silva Pistachio (782.290-9428)
Notes: The Silva's design is inspired by a historical Hanhart model from the 1930s, the Caliber 36/39. The name "Silva" is Latin for "forest," referencing the brand's home in the Black Forest.