Away with blue, here comes green. When Glashütte Original interprets green, the result is sensational. Never shy to play with colors in its Sixties and Seventies collections, GO created one of the most unusual green dials on the market with the Sixties Annual Edition in 2018. This year, the eye-catching green dégradé (gradient) dial enlivens the Sixties Chronograph Annual Edition 2021.
The Sixties collection takes its retro designs from some of the most flamboyant Spezimatic watches released in Glashütte during the 1960s under the GDR regime. Compared to the regular silver and black dials of the Sixties chronograph from the permanent collection, the Sixties Annual Editions veer off the beaten path of high-level classical Saxon watchmaking. A few years ago, the brand developed a new concept called “Annual Editions” - a more colorful and bold offering from the Sixties collection. Although not limited editions, the “Annual Editions” are only produced for one year. To date, we've seen Green, Fiery Orange, and Glacier Blue models.
Cool Green Dial
One of the advantages of using a GO dégradé dial in time-only watches is that you get the full gradient effect, transitioning from a lighter shade in the center to a richer, darker shade on the periphery. It's hard to describe, but the final green gradient effect reminds me of green raindrops trickling down a windowpane.
As one of the few manufacturers with its own dial production, Glashütte Original has the freedom to experiment. The textured green dial starts as a silver blank. To create the uneven ridged surface of the dial, a pattern is pressed onto the blank using a 60-ton press, followed by a second press to create the dial's distinctive domed shape. After galvanization, layers of green lacquer are applied to the dial. To achieve the gradient effect, dial makers in Pforzheim hand-apply black paint around the dial's perimeter before placing it in the oven.
Chronograph
The 42mm stainless steel case has a slim height of 12.4mm and is equipped with vintage-style piston chronograph pushers. The challenge of using an eye-catching gradient dial in a chronograph is that the sub-dials can interrupt the flow. However, the clean symmetrical arrangement of the two counters (small seconds at “3” and 30-minute counter at “9 o'clock” with inner snail trails) creates minimal disruption.
As with other Sixties Annual Editions, the indices are milled into the dial to reveal the silver base, and retro Arabic numerals at 12 and 6 o'clock and the white minute track are pad-printed. The indices and curved minute and central seconds hands echo the curvature of the dial. Conversely, the minute track and hand-applied Super-LumiNova dots are positioned on the slope of the domed dial, where the green intensifies to nearly black. The hour and minute hands also feature luminescent inserts.
Caliber 39-34
Thanks to the curved sapphire crystal on the case back, the watch not only sits comfortably on the wrist but also reveals the in-house automatic movement. Based on the GO 39 caliber, the modular chronograph movement operates at 28,800 vph and provides a 40-hour power reserve. The movement is decorated to GO's high standards, including the classic three-quarter plate with Glashütte stripes, precise swan-neck regulation, skeletonized rotor with double-G logo, and 21-carat gold rotor mass, beveled edges, and polished steel components.
Availability and Price
The Sixties Chronograph Annual Edition 2021 comes with a brown calfskin nubuck strap with beige stitching and a pin buckle. The watch will be available for one year and is priced at 8,200 euros (including VAT).
For more information, visit www.glashuette-original.com.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS – GLASHÜTTE ORIGINAL SIXTIES CHRONOGRAPH ANNUAL EDITION 2021
Case: 42mm diameter x 12.4mm height – polished stainless steel case – sapphire crystal front and curved sapphire case back – 30m water resistance
Dial: domed green lacquered and textured gradient dial – recessed hour markers – white Arabic numerals at 6 and 12 o'clock – luminescent hour and minute hands and dots above indices – small seconds counter at 3 o'clock, 30-minute counter at 9 o'clock
Movement: caliber 39-34, automatic modular chronograph in-house – 28,800 vph – 40-hour power reserve – hours, minutes, chronograph with stop-seconds, small seconds, and 30-minute counter
Strap: brown calfskin nubuck – stainless steel pin buckle
Reference: 1-39-34-05-22-04
Availability: available for one year
Price: 8,200 euros (incl. VAT)
