Dan Henry 1972 Maverick Review
This just arrived yesterday, so this is a first impressions review. It was kind of an impulse buy (watching too many TGV videos lately I guess). This is my first experience with Dan Henry, and I'm really enjoying it so far.
This is the Dan Henry 1972 "Mavrick". Which is definitely a homage to the Orfina Porsche Design chronograph, as worn by Maverick in the 1986 movie, Top Gun.
The Dan Henry version is black PVD coated stainless steel, with a 41mm diameter case, 20mm lug width and 12.7mm thickness. Lug to lug is a reasonable 45.7mm. The crystal is flat sapphire with an inner AR coating. It has a Miyota 0S80 quartz movement with an alarm, date, and a total of 8 hands. The caseback features a Ducati 750 Imola Desmo with number 72 on the side.
Apparently this movement is known to occasionally have defects that cause the subdial hands to fail to properly reset. But I've been extensively testing my example and have seen no malfunctions of any kind yet. Accuracy is also excellent, with this watch running at about +6 seconds per month.
When not using the chronograph, you can choose to use the 6 o'clock subdial as a running seconds hand. Or turn it off to save battery when not wearing the watch. The red chronograph seconds hand ticks once per second, and the 6 o'clock subdial hand quickly circles for the first 30 seconds before stopping. When the chronograph is stopped, it will display the 10th of a second. The alarm is turned on or off via the pusher at 8 o'clock, with a small hand on the dial displaying the on/off status of the alarm.
The black bracelet looks great in my opinion, and is comfortable and well built. Though I wish it had more than 2 micro adjust holes. The alarm is also not all that useful due to its quiet beeping, and imprecision being set with a pointer hand. There is lume on all 8 hands of this watch, but unfortunately, it's not especially bright or evenly applied. The other minor negative for some might be its 50 meters of water resistance, but that's plenty for me.
Overall I'm really liking this watch so far. Its retro style is cool, and the 12-hour chronograph is a nice feature to have. This watch offers a lot of fun for the price. Now I'm going to go listen to some Kenny Loggins.
Dan Henry 1972 Maverick Review
Yes
No
- Looks great, cool retro style
- Well built case and bracelet
- Accurate quartz movement
- 12-hour chronograph
- Good size that will wear nicely for many
- Lume is not so great
- Only 2 micro adjust holes on clasp
- May be a possibility of a defective movement?
- Quiet alarm
I just got back into watches in 2021, after not wearing a watch for years. Glad to be here.
I had this watch in stainless steel but then I came across the Duxot Consilio which blew it out of the water.
I had this watch in stainless steel but then I came across the Duxot Consilio which blew it out of the water.
That Duxot does look nice.
That Duxot does look nice.
I had them both in my hand, I had listed after the Bulova Moon but after having two and finally realising it was simply too big I got the Dan Henry 1972, I was initially impressed but I had snagged the Duxot in the meantime for half the price of the Dan Henry and when it came I was so blown away I sold the Dan Henry and still have the Duxot. You can still get them abe for the money they are simply fantastic.
I have the silver dan hernry 1972 and love it. Im 54 and cannot hear the alarm
I love the retro 1970s military chrono revival. I passed on the Dan Henry as I already have a vintage period piece from LeJour that I picked up for a relative song at auction and a recent acquisition of a prototype made by Orfina for the unreleased Military MK III chrono.
Here are a couple of wrist shots:
Great review - really comprehensive.
And yes - I watch too much TGV as well - is it possible to watch too much TGV?
How do you still like the watch? Ordered one recently and will decide on keeping it after I get it in hand.
I feel like $350 is a lot for a quartz movement and a relatively new brand like DH. However, I'm really looking for this exact style so hard to find alternatives.
How do you still like the watch? Ordered one recently and will decide on keeping it after I get it in hand.
I feel like $350 is a lot for a quartz movement and a relatively new brand like DH. However, I'm really looking for this exact style so hard to find alternatives.
I like it, but it hasn’t seen too much wrist time. Mainly because there are so many others watches to wear. Let us know how you like it.
Just picked up another 1970s Le Jour in the Top Gun Orfina style...