Introducing the Glashütte Original Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date

The Glashütte Original Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date is currently the premium option if you’re craving the squared-case and seventies-inspired Seventies collection. Slightly redesigned, finely improved and also offered in two exclusive limited series, including a vivid yellow-dialled model, the new Chronograph Panorama Date epitomizes the brand’s expertise in crafting rugged and refined integrated chronograph movements and works as its flagship in the fiercely-competitive luxury sports segment.

The Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date’s style

I like its design and believe it’s well-conceived; nonetheless, square cases are often polarizing. The TV Screen inspired case is smoothened, with rounded edges and pushbuttons; yet it’s quintessentially Saxon, as you can tell by the logo, the applied indexes, the font. It measures 40 x 40 mm and sports a 14-millimetre thickness, which proves as a constraint to many enthusiasts who’ll love to wrap a chronograph this refined around their tiny wrist.

By taking a quick look at the dial, you’ll spot all the main functions provided; at six o’clock is the signature Panorama Date; alone, it is a statement that this is a Saxon-made luxury timepiece and a feature you won’t easily find elsewhere. The pleasant, well-organized layout includes three counters, despite looking like a two-register chronograph instead. At twelve, a tiny arch works as a 12-hour counter, while the two oversized central registers elapse, left to right, the running seconds, and the first 30 chronograph minutes. In the running seconds’ counter, you’ll spot the power reserve indicator. The only feature you won’t discover that quickly is the integrated Flyback function.

The blue dial is, as usual, manufactured in the Pforzheim headquarters; as with previous iterations, we’re familiar with the superior date-green-dial-watches-hands-on-horbiter/">Glashütte Original Sixties collection’s craftsmanship, proved by several examples of their mastery in producing unique palettes and patterns. Overall, the execution is top-notch inside and out and flawless.

The Glashütte Original calibre 37-02

The mechanical movement is a close call to the most demanding and expert watch connoisseur. The 37-02 is an integrated chronograph with a Flyback function, a remarkable 70 hours power reserve, big date complication all encompassed with details and finishes you’ll hardly find in this class of products. The execution includes the Glashütte ribbon-finished bridges, a (fine) swan neck regulating system and a skeletonized rotor with oscillating weight crafted in solid 21-karat gold.

In this regard, the Glashütte Original Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date is a class of its own and the only sports chronograph in this price range with such refinement and engineering. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, the only letdown is its size; the brand design philosophy is about building solid and long-lasting calibres, which won’t usually come with ultra-slim mechanical movements.

Versions and final considerations

The Glashütte Original Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date comes in three options; you can choose it with a nubuck leather strap, a more traditional Louisiana alligator leather, a rubber strap or, finally, a steel bracelet. Unfortunately, you’re not offered a quick-change strap; it’s not possible to swap from one to another at the push of a button.

Add a 100-meter water resistance, and you can wear a Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date on any summer day. I’ll pick the full steel model, but I’m afraid it’ll weigh too much, while I believe the rubber option is perhaps the one-fits-all option. The Glashütte Original Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date is a superb timepiece, as “old-school” in design (which is a pro) as in overall size and weight. Prices begin at 13,600 euros if you’re opting for a rubber strap and jump up to 14,800 euros for the full-steel.

(Photo credit: courtesy Glashütte Original)

Gaetano C @Horbiter®

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