Watch Alert: Glashütte Original Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date (Avocado Green )

Glashütte Original (GO) is an often overlooked brand because its sits in in a sort of no man’s land in terms of both pricing and watchmaking. It is priced higher than Rolex, but not high enough that to bring the level of watchmaking that allows it to really be noticed like A. Lange & Söhne. That’s a shame really because the brand has a rich illustrious history that traces back to 1843. Its latest release, the Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date, it’s a testament to what the brand can do if you give it a shot. Let’s get into it.

Design & Watch Specifications

Stainless Steel, 40mm x 40mm x 14.1mm rectangular case with rounded edges, 100m water resistance,

Varnished Fab Green Dial with Dégradé effect, Blackened hands & applied indices, White Panorama Date on Black Wheel, Power reserve indicator @ 9 o’clock sub-register,

Choice of integrated bracelet or leather or rubber strap

As its name suggests, the watch sits in the brand’s Seventies line-up that currently only consists of Panorama Chronograph Dates. The collection is one that offers a differentiated take on integrated steel sports watches with its rectangular case (with rounded corners) that flows seamlessly into the integrated strap or bracelet. At 40mm x 40mm it is would certainly be a larger wearing watch especially given its shape, and that wrist presence is further amplified by its rather thick 14.1mm height. That said given that this houses a chronograph movement, that thickness isn’t unreasonable.

Scottish Watches and TOCKR Watches

What stands out though, is the new dial that comes in a colour the brand has dubbed “Fab Green” that purportedly pays tribute to the funky interior design aesthetic of the 70s. In reality, it looks more like an avocado green and it even has the same slight fume effect as the flesh of a freshly cut avocado. Interestingly, the brand opted for a blackened colour for the applied indices and all its hands including those on the dual sub-registers at 3 and 9 o’clock. I think it works well though as the colour choice helps balance out the black date wheel. I do wish this came with a matching green colour but if they had to be black, then the hands and indices really helps make them seem less out of place. Nit picking aside, the dial works well with the case to give a unique spin on this category of watches, even if the overall proportions might be a tad too large for some.

Movement

In-house calibre 37-02, Column wheel flyback chronograph, 70 hours power reserve, 4Hz

Contributing to those proportions is the brand’s in-house calibre 37-02 which is a column wheel flyback chronograph with 70 hours of power reserve, which is pretty impressive overall. The movement is also beautifully finished, with anglage on its edges, blued screws and Glashütte stripes on its bridges which are shown off through the openworked rotor and display case back. All these features also make the 14.1mm seem far more reasonable than the absolute measurements.

Price & Availability

EUR 13,900, Regular Production

The features also make the price seem reasonable. At EUR 13,900, it is costs slightly more than a Daytona’s retail price, but I would contend that it also offers more than a fair amount of value, if we put aside the secondary market costs, after all, you don’t find many flyback chronographs at this price, and you certainly don’t find many that are as uniquely designed as this.

Concluding Thoughts

Overall, the dial and unique case design allows the watch to stand out amidst an increasingly crowded category of integrated steel sports watches. It may be relatively chunky, but that is not really an issue since it is a sporty watch and would work better with sleeves rolled up or a T-shirt than it would with a suit any way. Personally, I dig the look and would love to check it out in person.

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