Back in 2017, long-time collector, Dan Henry, provided the watch world with a lovely assemblage of vintage-inspired, limited edition, chronographs, and an equally handsome automatic diver. Rather than being direct homages to any one model, the Dan Henry collection take their style cues from various eras, and, as such, are named after the years which influenced them. Since then, Dan Henry has developed quite a following among enthusiasts, becoming synonymous at once with quality and affordability.
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One of the first of these watches to sell out its run was the 1963 Pilot Chronograph. In fact, it was a watch I, myself, once counted among my collection. The original timepiece measured 42.5mm in diameter and came in a black dial with either a black or a steel bezel. In the end, for me, it was the size that was an issue–certainly not the aesthetic. In fact, I must admit that I have repurchased essentially the same watch…now that it has been made available in a 40mm package. What a difference 2mm can make!
This new 40mm version comes in both a black and a blue dial, with a choice of matching bezels or steel. But if 42mm is your thing, worry not. The new blue variant will be made available in the original size, as well. And now everybody’s happy.
The all-new 40mm black dial (pictured here) is a beautiful thing. Like the original, it harkens back to 60s era masterpieces like the Heuer Autavia and the Breitling Co-Pilot. It employs a sandwich dial where the numerals and indicators have been cut away to reveal the rich Swiss Super-LumiNova underneath. Its subdials, too, have been recessed to provide more depth. Here, though, there are subtle differences. The timepiece still uses a running seconds, but it now has a 24-hour dial to accompany its 60-minute register. The deep black dial is reflected in a matte 12-hour aluminium bezel with five-minute clicks–perfect for tracking a second timezone–and the sapphire dome offers subtle distortions.
In addition to the 40mm diameter, the lug to lug has been reduced to a svelte 46.8mm. The watch, however, remains a chunky 14.2mm thick, like most chronos. The caseback is screwed down and embossed with an attractive rendition of the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird. It has 50m of water resistance.
The 1963 uses the Seiko VK63, which is a quartz movement overlaid with a mechanical module for operating the chronograph. The previous version employed the Miyota 6S20. The benefit of the new movement is a “flyback” reset which mimics a mechanical chronograph.
The 1963 comes on a vintage-styled black leather strap with brushed steel hardware. The buckle is signed and the pins are quick release.
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SPECS
Case | 316L Stainless Steel 40mm Diameter 46.8mm Lug to Lug 14.2mm Thick 12-Hour Bi-directional Bezel Screwed-down Caseback 50m Water Resistance |
Dial & Crystal | Sapphire Dome /w AR Sandwich Dial 3 Subdials Super-LumiNova |
Movement | Seiko VK63 Meca-Quartz |
Strap | Leather /w Quick-Release |
Of Interest
I have written about Dan Henry’s Timeline.watch before, but it bears mentioning again here. The online database that began as a catalogue of his vast personal collection of vintage timepieces, has grown significantly since its inception. Users are able to contribute to the collection by uploading pictures and descriptions of their own watches, which are then slotted into the right chronology, type, and brand. One can browse the storehouse or even search it for specific models. Making this knowledge and experience available has become the guiding principle behind the Dan Henry brand. The watches produced by the company allow enthusiasts affordable access to robust renderings of vintage designs. They breathe new life into references that are quickly on their way to becoming museum pieces due to their scarcity and fragility.
Quibbles
The thickness of the 1963 is an aesthetic choice–one made as a nod to pilot chronographs of that era. As the modern version makes use of the much thinner VK63 movement, the case could have been more more attenuated and shirt-sleeve friendly. The “not-date” version also has a ghost position.
Some will wonder why Dan Henry has not made use of the mechanical Seagull movement for this latest version of the 1963. Without entering the meca-quartz debate, I would refer readers to Dan’s own justification in “Automatic vs Quartz.” For the sake of brevity, it comes down to reliability and cost. The ST19 is manufactured using outdated technology; the VK63 is accurate, cost-effective, and provides a similar visceral experience in chronograph usage.
Final Thoughts
Dan Henry’s enthusiasm for horology resonates in his watches. They are immediately arresting because they play on all the archetypical tropes of great watch design. Only someone who has owned and held and worn these vintage models could put together such a carefully selected collection that is at once referential and unique. The 1963 is no exception. Arguably, other than its size and movement, it does not bring anything new to the table that the original did not already offer. And yet I suspect it will sell quite well, because it was so well designed in the first place. It’s the sort of aesthetic that triggers dopamine receptors among enthusiasts (perhaps I am revealing too much of myself here!). The 1963 retails for $280USD, but it wears like a much more expensive piece. Its pushers are smooth and responsive. The flyback action is as you would expect from a mechanical piece. The quality of the finishing and the work in the caseback embossing are next to flawless. And I will tell you, there are a few Easter-eggs in the overall design that I will purposely not mention, so that you can enjoy discovering them for yourselves. Buy it. Wear it. Enjoy it. That’s what it’s meant for.
For more information, check out the brand’s website.
Off The Cuff articles are full-length, hands-on reviews of the watch (or strap…) in question and represent the opinion of the author only. All photos are original, unless specified otherwise. If you would like to have your watch reviewed on this site, contact us here.
Great review!
Thanks for your good work.
Just curious, 1) what do you think of this watch legibility? because it has white hands and white subdials. The photos are always out of the subdial areas. I would like to buy it but i am bit concerns on if it reads clearly or not. 2) Have you considered the steel bezel or blue background options too? wondering how the look in real life. They are great in the pictures but i guess the black bezel is the classic look. 3) Sorry i a new to this but what that is means “running seconds”? is it the third hand moving like seconds or it is in the subdial? Sorry for so many questions. Thanks again! 🙂
Thanks for the questions, Roberto. I have not seen the blue dial version up close, but I suspect it is just as attractive. I owned a steel bezel version of the original, and indeed it was very nice. Legibility is not an issue. The hands are edged in polished stainless steel. The bottom subdial is a “running seconds”–rather than the large hand which is traditionally used to tick off the seconds. Here, that large hand is the chronograph hand and is only engaged when you click the top pusher.
Hope this helps!
Thanks for the very interesting info!
Both version look indeed quite nice. Hard to choose now, haha.
Great data on the polished hands. So, no legibility concerns.
Too bad the large hand in the watch is not the “running seconds” it would be nice to have that smooth automatic movement look but the purpose of the chrono is a different one.
Thanks again 😉
dan henry has some fantastic pieces
Unbeatable for style and affordability
I initially thought dan henry pieces were cheap knock off/replicas but I now realize my own ignorance. Thanks for the eye opener again
This is just me nitpicking, but one aspect of DH I can’t get over is the boring all-text branding and just similarly-designed chronographs from their offerings. Build-wise, they’re great.
The sandwich dial adds a hefty amount of depth to the Dan Henry 1963 Pilot Chronograph. Great watch!
A beautiful retro design
Nice review. It’s hard to see from the photographs but could someone confirm the colour of the sub registers?
They are silver
Thank you. I wish someone would make a vintage Heuer Autavia 2446 homage. This DH is in the right direction and I’ll certainly consider the range after reading your article.
Because of your excellent review I bought one of these. It arrived today and I think it’s great! Many thanks
Glad to hear it! Thanks for sharing
They are silver