Glashütte Original Sixties Chronograph Annual Edition 2020
Swingin’ Sixties: Glashütte Original Presents New Cool Blue Sixties Annual Editions For 2020
The Saxon watchmakers again prove that they are the kings of color.
By Rhonda Riche
Editor-At-Large
In just three years, Glashütte Original has built up a lot of anticipation for their Sixties Annual Editions — a collection of time-only and complicated timepieces featuring audacious and colorful dials. And despite the upheaval of watch fair dates and everything else that’s happening in the world, the German watchmakers have once again delivered two stunning new entries into this collection — the icy blue 2020 Annual Edition classic Three-Hand and Sixties Chronograph.
FACE THE FUTURE
Glashütte Original first introduced the Annual Edition in 2018, but the collection’s roots go back to 1960s-era East Germany when the company introduced the iconic Spezimatic automatic watch. After the iron curtain came down, the brand took the signature characteristics of its Spezimatic – the domed sapphire crystal, curved hands, and Arabic numerals — and revived it as the Sixties line.
The original Spezimatic models also used dials created in the Black Forest town of Pforzheim, which has been celebrated for centuries for its jewelry-makers. Eventually, Glashütte Original bought its former Pforzheim supplier and integrated it into its manufacturing process. The result was the original 2018 Annual Edition. This mini collection of two timepieces — a time-only and a Sixties and Sixties Panorama Date — came with a stunning emerald green lacquered dial with a degrade texture. It was an immediate hit.
In 2019, Glashütte Original followed up with another Sixties And Sixties Panorama Date but with a radiant orange textured dial. To achieve this amazing effect, the Pforzheim team uses a 60-ton press from the 1960s to apply a low-relief pattern to the dial blank before the lacquer is painstakingly applied.
THIRD WAVE
The 2020 Annual Editions continue to delight and surprise. This year’s collection mixes things up with a new hue — a glacial blue — and a delicate shimmery surface. To achieve this fine finish, the dial blanks are first given a sunray texture before being pressed into a domed surface then given a galvanic nickel coating. Next, a coat of dark blue lacquer is applied to give the dial its distinctive degrade effect. And finally, the rest of the face gets a layered glacier blue lacquer to give each watch its unique gradient finish.
To complete the dial decoration, the plates are heated in an oven to bake in the color. And finally, the incised indices, printed numerals, and Super-LumiNova highlights on each hour marker are applied. The result is absolutely hypnotic with the layers of lacquer, domed surface, and incised numerals providing surprising depth, and the play of light on the sunray surface provides endless amusement.
IT’S WHAT'S INSIDE THAT COUNTS
In addition to the Sixties three-hander, the 2020 Annual Edition introduces a new Sixties Chronograph instead of a Pano-Date.
Both feature in house movements. The new Sixties is powered by Glashütte Original’s Calibre 39-52 automatic movement, while the new Sixties Chronograph features the manufactory’s Calibre 39-34. This year’s models also feature a 40-hour power reserve.
The Sixties Chronograph is equipped with a central stop-second along with two inset auxiliary dials for the small second and 30-minute counter. And if you think the dials are stunning, the domed sapphire crystal display case back on both models gives the wearer the pleasure of tuning into details such as the expertly turned out movement with its three-quarter plate, swan-neck fine adjustment, Glashütte stripe finish, and skeletonized rotor with 21-carat oscillating mass.
The three-hand model is presented in a 39mm diameter polished stainless steel case, while the chronograph appears in a 42mm stainless steel case. For an added 1960s touch, the 2020 Sixties and Sixties Chronograph are presented on handsome, brown-grey nubuck calfskin straps with lightly contrasting topstitching and a pin buckle. Both models in this annual edition are available for a limited time only from Glashütte Original Boutiques and selected authorized dealers worldwide.
(Images provided by Glashütte Original)
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