In 1953, an Austrian mountaineer called Hermann Buhl became the first one to reach the top of the Nanga Parbat (8’126M). 31 Men tried to do this before him but didn’t return, which gave the Nanga Parbat the nickname “Killer Mountain”.  Hermann and the entire expedition crew were equipped with Hercules timepieces made by the watchmaking atelier Henzi & Pfaff. The watches proved to be reliable, robust, and precise timekeepers during their adventure. After none of the experimental clocks failed, Henzi & Pfaff successfully placed the proven reliability under extreme weather conditions at the center of its advertising. This was reinforced by the presence of the distinctive brand Hercules, which conveyed strength and resistance. The successful ascent and the worldwide attention of the expedition were marketed effectively by Henzi & Pfaff. As a result, Henzi & Pfaff equipped further expeditions with watches and thus developed the image of a reliable, robust and at the same time sporty watch.

There is also a book written about the adventure of Hermann Buhl climbing the mountain.
In 1953 Hermann Buhl made the first ascent of Nanga Parbat – the ninth-highest mountain in the world, and the third 8,000-metre peak to be climbed, following Annapurna and Everest. It was one of the most incredible and committed climbs ever made. Continuing alone and without supplementary oxygen, Buhl made a dash for the summit after his partners turned back. On a mountain that had claimed thirty-one lives, an exhausted Buhl waded through deep snow and climbed over technical ground to reach the summit, driven on by an ‘irresistible urge’. After a night spent standing on a small ledge at over 8,000 metres, Buhl returned forty-one hours later, exhausted and at the very limit of his endurance.Written shortly after Buhl’s return from the mountain, Nanga Parbat Pilgrimage is a classic of mountaineering literature that has inspired thousands of climbers. It follows Buhl’s inexorable rise from rock climber to alpinist to mountaineer, until, almost inevitably, he makes his phenomenal Nanga Parbat climb. Buhl’s book, and ascent, reminded everyone that, while the mountains could never be conquered, they could be climbed with sufficient enthusiasm, spirit and dedication.