Introducing the Hanhart Preventor HD12 with scratch-resistant HD12 steel

0 0 Wednesday, 4 September 2024 Edit this post

German watchmaker Hanhart has released the new Preventor HD12, an all-rounder three-hand wristwatch which sets a new benchmark in scratch resistance for steel cases, thanks to the adoption of HD12 steel.

This new feature, combined with a compact 39 mm diameter, 15 ATM (150 metres / 500 feet) water resistance, and excellent readability, makes the Hanhart Preventor HD12 a perfect companion for daily wear.

Hanhart spent more than two years developing a two-phase production process that preserves the fine details of the case while ensuring optimal scratch resistance. As a result, the new Preventor HD12 not only has an extremely hard surface, but also a refined finish with brushed, matte, and glossy surfaces.

In the first step, carbon is diffused into the steel, hardening the surface without causing brittleness, unlike standard coatings. A transparent PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) hard coating is then added for added protection.

This process results in HD12 steel achieving a surface hardness of up to 1200 HV (Vickers hardness), significantly harder than the 220 HV of standard 316L steel.

Measuring 39 mm x 10.5 mm, the case is equipped with a large screw-down crown embellished with an embossed ‘h’ reproducing the historical Hanhart logo.

Protected by a convex, internally anti-reflective sapphire crystal, the dial is available in dark blue (ref. 792.870) or black (ref. 792.810).

The minute and second hands are curved at the end to avoid parallax errors while the second hand features a distinctive red tip, enabling precise reading.

Both the numerals and the hands are coated with Super-LumiNova C1, which makes them glow in the dark for excellent legibility even in low-light conditions. The historic Hanhart logo at 12 o'clock emphasises the historical background.

Behind the screwed solid case back, the reliable SW 200 automatic movement from the Swiss manufacturer Sellita operates at a frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour) with a power reserve of 38 hours.

The Hanhart regulation of this movement offers a timekeeping accuracy of 0 to +8 seconds per day, as an average across all positions.

The watch is offered with a choice of black, dark brown, or light brown leather straps featuring a steel pin buckle, or a durable steel bracelet coated with a transparent PVD layer, achieving a surface hardness of up to 1000 HV. The lug width is 20 mm.