By Brent Robillard
A royal wrist
Hanhart has always had a knack for creating watches that feel simultaneously rugged and refined. When the original Preventor HD12 debuted in August 2024, it surprised many by becoming one of the brand’s strongest sellers—a compact, steel-clad tool watch that carried Hanhart’s history into a thoroughly modern package. I spent time with that first iteration and found it to be a perfect everyday companion: tough, legible, and proportionally spot-on at 39mm. Now, a year later, Hanhart is adding a burst of colour to the Preventor line in a collaboration with German magazine Armbanduhren, introducing the Preventor HD12 “Silk Purple.”
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The Colour of Boldness
Purple isn’t often a colour you see on a serious tool watch, but that’s exactly what makes this edition intriguing. Limited to just 200 pieces (150 earmarked for Germany), the Silk Purple doesn’t shy away from making a statement. The dial is a deep, matte purple backdrop, with crisp white Arabic numerals coated in Super-LumiNova C1, glowing green when the lights go down. The skeletonized hands–a nod to historic military pocket watches–are also filled with lume, as is the finely tipped seconds hand with its signature red accent. It’s an outdoor-ready colourway that doesn’t compromise legibility.
Built to withstand more than a glance
Underneath the dial, nothing has changed—and that’s a good thing. The HD12 steel case is the star here: a hardened stainless steel alloy that Hanhart developed to take punishment without showing it. Through a carbon diffusion process, the metal reaches a surface hardness of 1200 Vickers, more than five times tougher than standard 316L. The transparent PVD coating adds another layer of scratch protection, and a screw-down crown and case back keep the watch secure to 15 bar (150m). Sized at 39mm by 10.5mm thick with a 46mm lug-to-lug, the proportions strike a balance between field-ready sturdiness and daily-wear comfort.
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Proven calibres
Inside, the Preventor HD12 “Silk Purple” houses either the Sellita SW200-1 or Soprod SOP P024, both proven Swiss calibres. In keeping with the minimalist intent of the line, there’s no date, and even the detent position on the crown is removed. It’s just hours, minutes, and central seconds—a purist’s setup, hacking for precise setting, and delivering a 38-hour power reserve.
Bracelet and Details
The watch is fitted to a satin-finished stainless steel bracelet that mirrors the case’s toughened construction. It features a folding clasp signed with Hanhart’s historic font and a hidden dive-style extension, a thoughtful addition that makes it easy to loosen the fit on the fly. Each link is screwed for security, and like the case, the bracelet is coated to resist scratches.
Final Thoughts
While I haven’t yet handled this specific edition, my time with the original HD12 leaves me optimistic. Hanhart’s attention to usability and wearability shines through, and the Silk Purple dial feels like an inspired way to add freshness to an already capable watch. It’s a bold move for a brand steeped in military and aviation heritage, and I suspect collectors will appreciate the rarity of colour and scarcity of numbers.
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Pricing & Availability
The Hanhart x Armbanduhren Preventor HD12 “Silk Purple” will officially release on September 8, 2025, and is limited to 200 pieces. Pricing is 1 295.00 EURO (incl. 19% VAT) on the steel bracelet. For more information, please visit the brand website.
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About the author
Brent Robillard is a writer, educator, craftsman, and watch enthusiast. He is the author of four novels. You can follow him on Instagram.
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Un orologio per tutti i giorni, che si distingue per la qualità dei materiali e che si contraddistingue per i dettagli di pregio.
If this watch had an all black version with the purple dial, that would have black panther vibes😈
Hanhart have a reputation for listening to their fans… 🤞🏻
The purple dial looks amazing
I think it’s a beautiful hue
I love the skeletonized look of the hands as well as the font for the numerals. Very classy indeed.
Very niice color!
I really like this watch with the violet dial. The color is unusual but very tasteful, and it gives the piece a fresh and modern look. For me, it’s a great balance between being different and still remaining elegant an sporty.
I loved that purple dial with those cathedral hands!
Very unusual colour, but I really like it! It’s good to see a manufacturer doing something different instead of following everyone else. Quite reasonably priced, too!
Don’t often see too many purple dials, very nice shade of purple though. I really like the styling of the numerals, with the logo and cathedral hands, all complement each other nicely.
I would really like to see/feel the HD12 steel. Really cool watch.