Hanhart has been known as a brand that specializes in creating well-built, robust and vintage-inspired chronographs. Moving away from the production of their classic collections like the Pioneer MonoControl, they decided to make a more modern watch.
The PRIMUS Racer is a modern take on Hanhart’s manual stopwatches which have played a major role in motorsports events as some are still used in classic rally motor events. Though this timepiece is a modern watch, it retains some features and enduring traits of a typical Hanhart watch.
Modified Valjoux 7750
Inside the Hanhart Primus Racer is a HAN3809 automatic chronograph movement based on the modified Valjoux 7750 (bicompax) caliber. These modifications were done by La Joux-Perret (a renown movement constructor) to create a movement that proportionally fits the size of the dial.
Technically, the movement features a black PVD-coated rotor with a skeletonized incised Hanhart logo,25 jewels and a 42-hour power reserve at a beat rate of 4 Hz and 28,800 vibrations per hour. The Valjoux 7750 is a unidirectional movement that free spins in one direction due to its relatively large oscillating weight. This spinning movement can be felt on the wrist when the watch is swayed.
This movement is very precise, robust and reliable, used by most watchmakers. Part of the modifications made by Hanhart includes the integration of a date wheel at 6 o’ clock, and also a single pusher button that has the start-stop-zero function.
The beautiful movement is visible through the sapphire caseback; sometimes I wish I could look at the case back and the dial simultaneously.
ADLC-Coated Case
The 44mm wide and 15mm thick stainless steel case is coated with Black DLC (diamond-like carbon) and water resistant up to 100m. The internally anti-reflective sapphire glass offers you a great viewing experience of the dial even when viewed in daylight.
A prominent feature of the Hanhart Primus Racer is the flexible lugs which move along an angle of inclination 45°-50° allowing it to hug the wrist to ensure comfortability for wrist sizes from 6.3 inches(16cm) up to about 7.9 inches(20cm).
The watch features a fluted bezel with inlaid red marking, a trademark red pusher and a large screw-in crown with the Hanhart logo embossed on it. The red pusher has been a distinctive feature found in Hanhart watches originating from Hanhart’s first pilot’s chronographs used to prevent pilots from accidentally resetting the stopwatch.
In the Primus Racer, the red pusher is coated with anodized aluminum which makes it durable and prevents the coating from peeling off.
Dial and Hands
The Dial comes with the right shapes and proportions and there should be no difficulty in reading the time; the precise adjustments and printings on the dial are very legible whether you’re reading the chronograph indications or the time. All functions (Small seconds at 9 o’clock, 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock and date display at 6 o’clock) are visually balanced on the dial, giving the watch a neat and elegant look.
With Super- LumiNova generously applied to the Arabic numerals and index marks, reading the time in low-light conditions shouldn’t be a problem. I find the white and grey hour and minute sword-shaped luminous hands and the arrowhead seconds hand to be classic.
The only feature that calls for mixed feelings is the date window, some people like it while others don’t but I can say it balances the ‘hanhart 1882’ embossed below the 12 o’clock.
The Dial comes in three different colors; Silver, Anthracite or Black.
Primus Racer Strap
The strap is made from the finest calfskin or vulcanized rubber (as displayed in our photos) with a molded Hanhart logo on it, and an easily adjustable folding clasp also made from ADLC-coated stainless steel with inlaid red marking also anodized.
Final Thoughts
It has a highly detailed and well-balanced dial with luminous hands that ensure maximum readability. The red button is distinguished from other buttons and makes the watch easy to use. I have to give credit to the precise movement modified from the Valjoux 7705 which has been improved, adjusted and tested for decades.
In general, I’m quite pleased with the Hanhart Primus Racer because it matches the expectations of a good chronograph and Hanhart did a great job in retaining the character of the classic Hanhart watches, integrated with modern features that are well proportioned.
Lastly, the watch comes in such a nice presentation package, a leather travel case display pouch with nice little details on it rather than the traditional box most watches come in. Considering the Hanhart Primus Racer is priced at EUR 3,690 with all the elements that come with it like the flexible lug, the movement, and the strap, it’s definitely a good bargain.
To have a look at more specs and photos of the Primus Racer you can visit the official Hanhart website here.
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