SWATCH GROUP 2019 RELEASE:

Glashütte Original Channels ’60s Sporty Style With New Spezialist SeaQ 1969 Dive Watch


Glashütte Original, the Swatch Group-owned firm that emerged from the end of Cold War-era nationalization of Germany’s top watchmaking companies, has had modern success with vintage-styled models like the Sixties and Seventies, which hearken back to the “Spezimatic” watches from those pre-unification decades. This year, the Saxon manufacture adds an entirely new and sporty collection called “Spezialist,” which launches with the new SeaQ line of dive watches. Of these, vintage-watch enthusiasts are most likely to home in on the most retro-inspired of the pieces, the SeaQ 1969. Here’s a close-up.

Glashutte Original SeaQ 1969 - reclining
The Glashütte Original SeaQ 1969 is limited to 69 pieces.

The SeaQ 1969, like the other new models in the collection, the mainline SeaQ and SeaQ Panorama Date, which we will be covering in the coming weeks, takes inspiration from the Spezimatic Type RP TS 200″, a watch developed for sports divers. It is distinguished from these other models in several regards, among them the historically accurate inscriptions on the galvanic black dial: “26 Rubies,” referring to the number of jewels in the movement, and “Shockproof,” touting the watch’s robust construction. Another vintage aspect is the use of colors: green, luminous hands and beige-colored “Old Radium” luminous treatment on the Arabic numerals and indices. Limited to just 69 pieces, this SeaQ 1969 has its limited edition number engraved on its baseplate, along with a period-appropriate trident maritime symbol, the Glashütte Original “Double G” logo, and a 20-wave motif representing the watch’s 20-bar (200 meter) water resistance.

Glashutte Original SeaQ 1969 - front
Vintage-look green and “Old Radium” beige lume enhance the hands and markers.

The polished and satin-brushed stainless steel case measures 39.5 mm in diameter and 12.15 mm thick, and is topped by a unidirectional rotating divers’ bezel. Inside the case, which meets the DIN 8306 and ISO 6425 international standards for diving watches, is the automatic Caliber 39-11, which holds a 40-hour power reserve, beats at a 28,800-vph frequency, and includes a stop-seconds function along with a date display at 3 o’clock. The SeaQ 1969 comes with two straps, one in embossed rubber and the other a water-resistant nylon mesh strap developed specially for this sporty new collection. The price is 8,500 euros.

Glashutte Original SeaQ 1969 - caseback
The caseback features special engravings and the watch’s limited edition number.
Glashutte Original SeaQ 1969 - dial CU
The dial’s inscriptions hearken to those of the original Spezimatic diver’s watch.
No Responses to “Glashütte Original Channels ’60s Sporty Style With New Spezialist SeaQ 1969 Dive Watch”

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  1. andrea valerio

    I like the case shape, and the markers are interesting (although the batons are slightly too long…). Unfortunately I believe that the hands’ color is absolutely hideous against the cream of the dial markers. It is a full no-go for me… What were they thinking???

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  2. Chronoman

    There is nothing wrong with the choice of the lume colours. The vintage examples have creamy lume on the dial and green lume on the hands. A good rendition of the original.

    Reply
  3. WatchMeGo

    Another day, another vintage diver reissue. This was fun at first but now is getting terribly unimaginative. Look forwards, not backwards.

    Reply
  4. TibFin

    The hands are ridiculously out of order!!! Looks like the original was lost and someone replaced with some cheap substitutes

    Reply
  5. Geoffrey Quickfall

    Nice watch but the hand lume should match the dial lume. Looks like a lazy watch maker re-lumped the hands.

    Reply
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