Glashütte Original introduced a new watch collection named Spezialist in 2020, which comprised two diver’s watches at the time: the SeaQ and the SeaQ Panorama Date.
The inspiration for these functional debutants with an air of elegance came from the Spezimatic Type RP TS 200, the first diver’s watch created by Glashütte Original’s East German predecessor, Glashütter Uhrenbetriebe (GUB), in 1969 during the era of the German Democratic Republic.
The Replica SeaQ, SeaQ Panorama Date, and limited edition SeaQ 1969 were quite a surprise at the Time to Move fair since this Glashütte-based manufacture earned its reputation for first-class complications rooted in the 175 years of Saxon watchmaking history.
As to be expected from Glashütte Seaq Original, though, these new models represent excellent manufacturing and a tasteful design by fully complying with requirements of the diver’s watch genre.
The SeaQ models have been rigorously tested to meet the German DIN 8306 and international ISO 6425 standards for diver’s watches. The SeaQ and the SeaQ Panorama Date — both water resistant to 300 meters — sport a unidirectional, counterclockwise rotating bezel with ceramic inlay for increased scratch resistance and screw-down crowns.
The dials, executed in the tasteful retro style of their predecessors and enhanced by a sunray finish, offer excellent legibility under all lighting conditions thanks to the use of radiant Super-LumiNova on the distinctive Arabic numerals, indexes, and instrument-style hands.
The expressive look and feel are complemented by automatic manufacture movements: Caliber 39-11 for the SeaQ and Caliber 36-13 for the SeaQ Panorama Date.
The technical prowess of the 36-13, the flagship in the SeaQ fleet that initially arrived in 2015 in the Senator Excellence collection, is highlighted by a silicon balance spring and a generous power reserve of 100 hours stored in a single barrel.
The exquisitely finished and decorated movement is proverbially “hanging tight” in the case thanks to what the manufacture calls bayonet mounting for improved shock resistance.
Following the successful launch of the new diver’s collection, which according to Glashütte Original was exceptionally well received, the brand recently added two new variations of the SeaQ Panorama Date to the family, one in red gold and one in a two-tone case combining red gold and stainless steel.
Their black dials with fine sunray finish give an elegant twist to the no-nonsense instrument style of a diver, bridging the gap between tool watches – which they definitely are – and classically elegant timepieces.
You would not look underdressed pairing one of these with watches with a suit. A stylish gray synthetic textile strap is also available that is a beauty in itself.