Hands-On: The Glashütte Original Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date

The Glashütte Original Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date is easily one of the most distinctive chronographs on the market. While it’s not a new watch, having debuted in 2014, it still manages to separate itself from a sea of lookalike luxury competitors. With its bold retro lines, the watch is a cool choice. For our hands-on review, we take a look at two new limited-edition versions in purple and lime green.

I was living in Frankfurt when Glashütte Original introduced the Seventies collection. The time-only models debuted in 2011, and the Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date pieces came three years later in 2014. They were extremely different from the typical round watches that were in vogue at the time. Yet, I wasn’t sure about them. Fast-forward more than a decade, and I think that the styling has stood the test of time. These are classy watches, and I now appreciate the strong case design and retro looks. Today’s new versions maintain a high-end profile but bring some rather noticeable colors to the party.

The Glashütte Original Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date

The newest hues for this Glashütte Original are placed within a well-known case design. These stainless steel watches have a 40mm diameter, a 50.2mm total length with the integrated end links, and a 14.1mm thickness. The pieces also each have a screw-down crown, which bolsters the reported 10-bar water resistance rating.

Additionally, a sporty, polished, and brushed bracelet is offered with a push-button clasp and micro-adjustment. For those who like the more toned-down look, a black rubber strap is available with a push-button folding buckle.

Two brightly-colored dials

The latest Seventies Chronograph comes in two new colors. A purple version, Plasma, is joined by a lime-green dial called Fusion. Both are lacquered and feature applied indexes filled with Super-LumiNova. From a distance, the watches are highly symmetrical and extremely legible. A closer look, however, reveals a plethora of details. There are three cutouts in the dial. Each has a small, carved bevel before opening up to show a display. This lets us know that we’re viewing something slightly greater than a standard chronograph.

A host of functions

Each Seventies Chronograph contains two black inset sub-dials. The left register displays running seconds and a power reserve indicator. On the opposite side, the sub-dial has a 30-minute totalizer. In a subtle move that is relatively rare among modern watches, an arc-shaped window above the center indicates elapsed time on a 12-hour counter. On the bottom section, the brand’s customary twin-wheel panorama date display is shown in white on black. The final nice functional touch is invisible, but a click of the lower pusher once the central chronograph is running reveals a flyback function.

Using the caliber 37-02

Like most watches from Glashütte Original, the Seventies Chronograph has a display case back. This showcases the brand’s 37-02 caliber, an automatic chronograph movement featuring a column wheel and a 21K gold weight on the rotor. It’s an attractively finished power plant with subtle striping and inscribed gold lettering. It also boasts a frequency of 28,800vph, a silicon hairspring, and a minimum power reserve of 70 hours. Unsurprisingly, using it is smooth and buttery.

An imposing and recognizable wrist companion

Make no mistake about it: the Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date has a strong presence on the wrist. This is doubly so due to the bright hues of these newest limited editions. That said, I’ve always liked how this watch sits on the wrist. Yes, it could be thinner, but the case size works well on any wrist that borders on medium to large. Plus, Glashütte Original makes a beautifully finished bracelet with high levels of articulation.

The rubber strap works equally as well, and if anything, it makes the watch look slightly smaller. It’s certainly sportier, but it wouldn’t be mistaken for an inexpensive watch. If I were buying, I’d probably be tempted to own both because the watch looks different enough on each option. Aside from these observations, I keep coming back to the fact that the Seventies Chronograph is one of the more distinct propositions on the market. The case shape is unlike anything else. In fact, if I had to liken it to anything, it would be a vintage Heuer Silverstone. Needless to say, I’ve grown to truly appreciate these watches in any hue, but they do impress in bright colors such as purple and lime green.

Pricing and availability for the new Seventies Chronograph limited editions

Glashütte Original is offering both the Fusion and Plasma versions of the Seventies Original as limited editions of 100 pieces. Each is available with either the black rubber strap or stainless steel bracelet. Pricing for each is consistent at €15,900 / US$16,300 / £13,300 on rubber and €17,100 / €17,300 / £14,400 with the bracelet. This makes each a luxurious option in the same realm as, say, a Daytona. Of course, the watches aren’t overly comparable due to their different shapes. Then again, Glashütte Original produces a beautiful watch with an impressive movement. Needless to say, either of these would serve as informed choices that lie on the unbeaten path. Let us know your thoughts on these latest colors and which you’d choose.

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