Not too long ago Hanhart announced the release of their first ever dive watch, the Aquasphere Freefall exclusively in blue with a 42mm case. This was quite the surprise, seeing that most of the watches we’ve ever reviewed from the renowned German watchmaker have been pilot inspired designs like this Primus Nautic and this S-Series S 105 OE GMT. What’s quite interesting with this release is Hanhart’s exploration into an entirely new domaine, unlike for example a watch brand releasing a re-issue from vintage catalogues.
Hanhart has traditionally specialized in pilot and motorsport watches, they’ve innovated in this category with some of the most interesting chronographs we’ve seen, like the Monopusher of the Pioneer MonoControl. I feel quite privileged to have gone hands on with some those models in the past, and even more so today being able to review their new Aquasphere Freefall dive watch – which I’ve spent over one month with.
Initial Impressions
This type of release can be compared to a sports car brand releasing their first ever body on frame SUV. Hanhart may have extensive expertise in the domain of watchmaking, but they’ve never dabbled with the aspects of a functional dive watch that needs to both be functional at extreme depths under water, and also play the part of a sporty casual watch out on dry land – just like the Rolex Submariner is known for and is truly the role model of the industry.
Of course, inspecting the press release and seeing the watch in person can be vastly different experiences. You can get an overall idea from the press release, but handling and wearing the watch for an extended period draws out the truth. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the stated 42mm on paper translated to a conservative size in reality. A 42mm dive watch can be quite large in some circumstances, but in the case of the new Aquasphere Freefall the sizing feels toned down, which could be due to its very slim and partially hollowed out lug design combined with the aggressive downward curvature of the lugs. It seems like most aspects of this new diver have a reduced aesthetic, the crown guards are also minimized, and the width of the downward slopping bezel is not exaggerated.
As most professional dive watches are, the rotating bezel is unidirectional for safety reasons. The gripping teeth along the bezel look great, and have definitely benefitted from Hanhart’s watchmaking skills when it comes to its polished and sculptured finish. I will say that the gripping teeth could have been made a touch sharper to allow for a more sure grip, as even without gloves on I do get some slide when operating the bezel. The rotational action is very tight which I like, and the bezel clicks into place with authority and little to no play at all.
So, for a first time foray into the dive watch sphere, my initial impressions right out of the box are very positive for this watch. Considerable time must have been spent examining competitors offerings before producing this model, as most of the growing pains seem to have been worked out on their first iteration.
Daily Wear
It’s always interesting moving away from my daily wear Rolex collection to test new brands, and new models such as the Aquasphere Freefall here. I like to use Rolex as a sports watch benchmark when I test other sports watches. This new Hanhart offering actually feels very similar to my Submariner 114060 on wrist, even for extended periods of wear it’s extremely comfortable on my 6.5 inch wrist. Actually, I’ll go as far as to say that the steep curvature in the lugs allow this watch to fit slightly more fitted than my Sub which was very surprising to me considered the 42mm case size on paper.
The case does not feel thick at all, and without looking at official specs, I’d guess it to be around the 12mm mark, but according to Hanhart it rings in at an official 12.95mm. That extra millimetre must be coming from the caseback that seems to protrude slightly but is virtually unnoticeable once the watch is secured snugly on wrist. The crystal lays perfectly flat with the bezel, which is apparent when gliding your fingers across the top of the watch to feel the seamless transition.
I think Hanhart went out of their way to keep the weight down on this watch as well, as it’s very reasonable and does not feel clunky in the slightest – but it does still maintain a very high quality German feel when simply resting in your hand or while wearing it. The bracelet is a near copy of the venerable Oyster bracelet, which I don’t mind as there’s no point in attempting to re-invent the wheel in an area that’s already been perfected. Even the proportions of the bracelet seem identical, with a 20mm lug width connection and a graceful taper down towards the clasp. It’s also fully brushed, matching pretty much the entire watch, and the clasp uses thick metal and closes with a reassuring click.
For a modern 42mm dive watch, I’m very surprised at the excellent fit this watch provides. Not only does it feel fantastic on wrist but it looks phenomenal for everyday wear.
Dial and Movement
You’ll have no issues reading the time on this watch. All of the markers are what I’d consider oversized, and they’re filled with Superluminova C1 as well. The sword shaped hands are easy to spot with their extra width, and the seconds hand has a nice red tip, allowing it to stand out against the muted color tone of the watch. That brings me to the blue color choice on this watch, which I find to be a really nice medium blue. I get a “French Navy” kind of vibe from the hue of the blue, just a touch darker than the blue Tudor Pelagos. It’s very subdued but also adds a layer of complexity to the watch, it seems to go well with a variety of everyday attire so matching this watch with your style should be no issue.
The dial is well sized and does not leave any unwanted open space due to the size of the markers. The inner chapter ring is silver, and really catches your attention when reading the watch. No date window is to be found on the dial, which keeps in tradition with true dive watches. Hanhart put emphasis on their water resistance rating which is rated at a whopping 300 meters, and the watch also incorporates a helium escape valve. Two metrics that are incalculably more valuable to a diver than the convenience of a date.
Capping off our review of the Aquasphere Freefall is its movement, which happens to be a Sellita SW200 with 38 hours of power reserve. I see this as the only compromise of the watch, and an aspect that could keep some potential collectors at a distance simply due to the weak power reserve. All other aspects of the movement are adequate, especially its robustness and serviceability. It’s not visible through a display window as the watch is sporting a solid engraved caseback which is fine and to be expected on a serious diver like this.
Overall I’m very impressed with Hanhart’s first swing at a proper dive watch. I was excited to see their press release on this, but I have been impressed everyday I spent wearing the watch. I look forward to following along with any updates they make to this new line, and I highly recommend you take a closer look at this model if you’re in the market for a new “out of the box” dive watch.
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