What do a brand that made the first affordable stopwatches, a brand whose iconic chronograph was worn by Steve McQueen, and a brand that was one of the pioneers of selling watch NFTs have in common? Believe it or not, they’re all one brand – Hanhart. The historic German watchmaker is most often lauded for their pilot’s chronographs, such as the McQueen-associated 417, but the Black Forest outfit has a uniquely forward-looking perspective in an industry that is often too reliant on the past. The new Square by Square is another proof of that, and not just because of its unusual shape, but also the way Hanhart is treating the launch. Here’s all you need to know about these six prototype wristwatches that you can (read: will be lucky to) actually buy.
What is it?
Created to meet the challenge posed by Grail Watch and Dubai Watch Week for the fair’s 2025 running, Hanhart tapped German designer Marcus Wiedemann, with the topic being “innovative yet viable shaped watch design”. This is the same designer that penned the CXD NFT, Hanhart’s blockchain-based watch design from 2021 that went on to sell for nearly €45,000, granting its new owner the opportunity to design a piece unique alongside owning the NFT. For all you crypto-sceptics (trust me, I’m with you), the Square by Square is much more tangible, and was one of the three finalists of the aforementioned DWW competition, eventually losing out to the much more conceptual Machina Solis pocket watch by Fam Al Hut.
Housed in a 38mm x 40mm paraboloid case, Wiedemann took to Hanhart’s past catalogues for inspiration, but rather than just copying one of the many non-round case shapes, took the Square by Square in a space-age, experimental direction. Aside from very impressive the Pringles chip-domed crystal (that’s the scientific name they taught us in engineering school, I promise), it’s also vertically symmetrical, with the lug-adjacent protrusions coming to a sharper point than the sides, giving it an elegant, ever so slightly elongated shape. Three prototypes feature an all-polished case, with the other three in a sandblasted finish.
The dials use concentric engravings to slowly transition from the case shape to a rounded (though still oval) central dial medallion, with these ridged sections housing the best set of numerals you’ll see all year. The typography is a brilliant mixture of minimalist and functional, and the razor-shaped hands are the icing on the cake. Notice how they’re not centrally mounted on the pinion, meaning that at 12 o’clock, they perfectly align into a larger lozenge shape. Your choice of case finish will also determine the dial you get, as the all-polished watches get mosaic mother-of-pearl, while a sunburst blue is paired with the matte cases.
Covered by a hexagonal caseback that matches the shape of the recessed crown is a Sellita SW1000, which is the smaller sibling most akin to the SW300, and a notable upgrade over Sellita’s other small form factor calibre, the SW100. It’s 3.9mm tall despite sporting a full winding rotor, allowing the Square by Square to sit under 11mm, and offers a 4Hz beat rate with a 46-hour power reserve.
First impressions
I’m astonished that it took Hanhart this long to do something with the Square by Square in a buying climate that rewards uniquely shaped watches. One only needs to look at the success the likes of Toledano & Chan and Anoma have had with their takes, but there’s something welcomingly refreshing about this design coming from a more established brand usually known for one particular design. I’ve already said plenty about my affinity for the design, and while I’ve not had the opportunity to try one on in person, the on-wrist proportions look fantastic.
Any type of prototype watch is bound to get people excited, and with such limited numbers available, there will be enough dedicated Hanhart fans out there who would’ve bought one simply for the novelty. That said, the Square by Square is more than just a quicky collectors’ piece, and clever launch campaign aside, I think it could usher an all-new crowd of fans that are getting introduced to Hanhart from a different perspective. Don’t be surprised if you see the Square by Square back as a standard-production model – I know I won’t be.
Hanhart Square by Square pricing and full specifications
The six Square by Square prototypes can be purchased by contacting Hanhart directly. Price: €1,890 (~A$3,000)
