The SeaQ by Glashütte Original
More than just a new release, the SeaQ marks the beginning of Glashütte Original’s new collection. Since the 19th century, precise timekeepers from Glashütte have also been used as reliable instruments for navigation and for determining one’s position on land, at sea and in the air.
Numerous historic marine chronometers, observation watches, pilot and diver’s watches made in Glashütte, testify to the use of high-precision watches as instrument watches, which found widespread use in highly specific areas. Based on this rich fund of experience and its historic heritage, Glashütte Original presents a fifth collection: the “Spezialist”.
The SeaQ by Glashütte Original is available in two versions: as the SeaQ in both a limited and a regular production version, and as the SeaQ Panorama Date with black or blue dial. In this article, we will be looking primarily at the former version. Inspiring the design is the “Spezimatic Type RP TS 200”, developed specifically for sports divers.
On the dial, two lines ‘25 Rubies’ and ‘Shockproof’ are written. This is a homage to the Spezimatic Diver, a faithful recreation of the original.
The green hands and the “Old Radium” faux patina lume on the Arabic numerals and indexes are also representative of the vintage Spezimatic Diver.
The watch is water resistant to 20 Bar, made possible with modern dive-watch features like the screw-down crown. The case measures 39.5 mm wide and 12.15 mm tall, a well-sized retro-vintage timepiece with the bandwidth for water resistance through a thicker case.
As expected of Glashütte Original’s obsession with quality, the DIN and ISO tested diver’s watch meets the most stringent German and international quality standards in terms of water resistance, legibility, shock resistance, resistance to salt water and many other criteria.
The case features other elements of modern diver watches. A unidirectional, counter-clockwise rotating bezel with a minute marker click. The ceramic inlay bezel makes the surface of the bezel exceptionally scratch-resistant.
Under water, divers often have to contend with difficult light conditions. In such situations, the SeaQ offers superb visibility. The printed / applied hour markers and indexes are highlighted with Super-LumiNova, as are the hour, minute and second hands. Their blue radiance guarantees – through the antireflective sapphire crystal – optimal legibility and a secure diving experience, even in murky waters.
The SeaQ 1969 is available in a limited edition of 69 pieces; the limited edition number can be found on the engraved caseback. The engravings on the caseback features a trident maritime symbol and the Glashütte Original Double-G.
The SeaQ 1969 comes with two alternative strap versions: one with a striking embossed rubber strap, the other with a water-resistant nylon mesh strap specially developed for the SeaQ. The SeaQ is offered with three strap versions each: a stable, flat stainless steel bracelet with 8-step fine adjustment mechanism; a robust, water-resistant nylon mesh strap, and a distinctive rubber strap with embossed design. Both the SeaQ 1969 and the SeaQ are listed at EUR 8500, inclusive of German VAT.
