Glashütte Original Sixties and Sixties Panorama Date Annual Edition Fiery Orange

Following last year’s beautiful and successful “Annual Edition” of the vintage-inspired Glashütte Original Sixties and Sixties Panorama Date, which depicted a superb metallic green dial, the Saxon brand returns in 2019 with a new model. Again, these watches will be produced for just one year – and you can expect to have a new model for 2020. With the exuberant 1960s design codes in mind, the 2019 editions of the Glashütte Original Sixties and Sixties Panorama Date are presented with warm, bright and bold Fiery Orange dials.

Basically, no drastic changes here. The recipe used on the 2018 Annual Edition is repeated: a watch based on vintage-inspired Sixties models (with or without the signature Panorama Date), emblematic watches of the GUD-era (back when the brand was controlled by the GDR), a non-limited production (in terms of numbers) which will run for a year only, textured dials and bright, gradient colours. This started in 2018 with a surprising but accomplished green version and this year it will be followed by these Glashütte Original Sixties and Sixties Panorama Date Annual Edition “Fiery Orange”. And indeed, it is still bold, it is still different, but it is still very appealing.

The main attraction with these pieces is clearly their dials – and not only because they are bright coloured. The production process, controlled internally by Glashütte Original, required various steps to achieve a textured surface and a gradient colour. The dials are first stamped to get their pattern. This low-relief pattern is produced using the original tools and methods from the 1960s. Each dial blank receives its embossing with the aid of a 60-tonne press, which was already in use at the Pforzheim manufactory at the time. They will be later domed to follow the curvature of the crystal.

Then, the blanks will be painted – something that also requires multiple steps. This year, the choice was for a bright and warm orange tone, which is, without doubt, really “late-1960s”. Everything starts with a galvanic bath that gives the dial its golden yellow hue (and the metallic feel to the colour). The dial makers then carefully apply a series of layers in red, and then in black lacquer on the periphery to give this gradient effect. The result is an individual colour gradient that renders each dial unique. In a final step, the dials are heated in a kiln in order to burn in the colours. Finally, the indexes are diamond cut onto the surface and reveal the metal underneath.

The rest of the watch is identical to the model we reviewed last year. Two models will be available.

Glashütte Original Sixties Annual Edition Fiery Orange

The first is a classic time-only watch with hours, minutes and seconds. This Glashütte Original Sixties Annual Edition Fiery Orange has a 39mm x 9.4mm case in stainless steel, entirely polished and combined with a brown alligator strap. This time only-version of the Annual Edition Fiery Orange is powered by the Calibre 39-52, an in-house, solid automatic movement with 4Hz frequency and 40h power reserve. It is visible on the back side, under a nicely shaped sapphire crystal – see here.

Glashütte Original Sixties Panorama Date Annual Edition Fiery Orange

The second model, just like the 2018 Green version, is slightly more complex and bolder. First of all, this Sixties Panorama Date Annual Edition Fiery Orange has a larger case, at 42mm in diameter. Then, it features an extra date display, with a double disc –  the so-called Panorama Date. The discs are black with white numerals, to match the outer part of the dial. Powering this model is the calibre 39-47, which is the same base movement as the time-only version above. Power reserve is still 40 hours and the movement is automatic.

Price and availability

Glashütte Original Sixties and Sixties Panorama Date Annual Edition Fiery Orange will soon be available from Glashütte Original Boutiques and selected authorised dealers worldwide. They will be produced for a year only. Prices will be EUR 6,300 for the time-only model (ref. 1-39-52-13-02-04 – Sixties) and EUR 7,800 for the date version (ref. 2-39-47-09-02-04 – Sixties Panorama Date).

More details at www.glashuette-original.com.