Our Review of The Hanhart Chess Clock

Chess is an elegant game. 

The entirety of the game, from the way the pieces are constructed to the wonders that happen on the board, screams “elegance”.

We decided to embrace this spirit of elegance and do a review on one of the most aesthetically pleasing chess clocks out there: The Hanhart Analog Chess Clock. 

Keep reading to see our thoughts on it. 

Introducing The Hanhart 

The Hanhart Analog Chess Clock comes in a solid wood casing. This type of casing which is quite rare among chess clocks adds to the visual appeal of the clock. 

It has a stand at the bottom that provides stability for the clock so you don’t have to worry about it being wobbly during your games. 

The clock comes in the usual analog build, with the time-switching buttons on top, and the levers/knobs for adjusting and setting the clock behind. 

However, the other parts of the clock are nothing like other analog types. 

The display screen is covered by scratch-resistant mineral glass. This glass helps to protect the display and keep the clock from losing its luster and appeal. 

One has to be careful with it, however, as a hard fall could smash the glass or dent it. 

The display is made of twin clocks, one for each side. It has three dials, the minute and hour dials are joined together while the seconds dial is detached. 

The red arrow that symbolizes the flag can be found at the top of each player’s clock.  

After setting the time, the flag remains suspended and when a player’s time is up, the flag falls. 

The coolest feature on the display and what we think puts the Hanhart above many analog clocks is the inclusion of the Delay and Increment Timer. 

These timers can be found on each of the twin clocks on the display. 

The clock has a 24-hour period running time and needs to be winded regularly. 

We particularly would have loved it if we didn’t have to wind the clock on a regular basis. Analog clocks like the Diamond Quartz do not require constant winding and we think that’s very convenient. 

With the wood casing and other added parts, it came as no surprise to us that the Hanhart was quite heavy for a chess clock. 

It weighs approximately 730 grams, which is a lot compared to most digital and even analog clocks. 

The weight makes it a little challenging to carry about but you can fit it in a bag if you don’t mind some heavy-lifting workouts every now and then. 

One important thing to note about the Hanhart is that since it comes in a wood casing, you would need to take proper care of the wood so it doesn’t deteriorate. 

This wouldn’t be an issue with other analog clocks that are mostly made of plastic but hey, beauty is pain. 

You’ll need to put in some work to preserve that shiny appeal of the clock.

How To Perform The Set-Up 

The Hanhart is an analog chess clock. This means that it is mechanically operated by hand. 

To set the clock, you make use of the levers behind it. 

The levers control the dials on each side of the clock. To set a time control, you will have to manually set each dial. 

One shortcoming of the Hanhart and most analog chess clocks is the lack of accuracy when setting the dials to a specific time control. 

The reason for this lack of accuracy is that you will be using your hands to set the clock, unlike a digital clock that does it through pre-set instructions. And because humans are prone to errors, you might not get an exact match on both sides. 

To switch between the timers (yours and your opponent’s), you press the buttons on top of the clock. 

Features Of The Hanhart

The Hanhart clock is not all about eye service and aesthetics. It also comes with some impressive features. 

Delay And Increment (mentioned earlier)

The delay and increment options are quite popular among digital clocks, but not so much with the analog category. This is what makes the Hanhart stand out. 

This clock is one of the few analog clocks that come with the delay and Increment option. 

The delay option gives you extra time to think before your actual time begins to move. 

To give an example, if a delay option of 5 seconds is set, the seconds dial will not start to move until after the 5-second delay has elapsed. 

The increment option, on the other hand, adds a specified amount of time to the time you have on your clock after every click. 

So, if a 5-second Increment is set, you gain 5 seconds after every move. 

The Hanhart Clock v Quartz Analog Chess Clock 

The Quartz clock is a very good choice if you’re going for an analog clock. 

We decided to weigh it against the Hanhart to see how it’ll perform. 

After pitting the two clocks against each other, we arrived at an impasse. Both clocks are very good analog clocks. 

However, the Hanhart is better suited to tournament play as it comes with a delay and increment option while the Diamond Quartz is perfect for casual and everyday use. 

The Final Verdict

The Hanhart is a very impressive clock that’s arguably a front-runner in the analog clock industry. However, it does come with its own baggage, like the weight and constant care it needs.