Glashütte Original turns the retro vibes up to 11 with a panda-dialled Seventies Chronograph
Tom Austin- Glashütte Original has unveiled their first-ever North America exclusive watch, a special edition of the ultra-cool Seventies Chronograph.
- Limited to just 100 pieces, the Seventies “X” Chronograph takes inspiration from the renowned architecture, fashion and culture of the US in the 1970s.
- Presented in the retro TV-style shape, the muted panda dial references watches of the past, with a subtle detail celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Seventies Chronograph range.
You’re in the middle of the 1970s. The snarling V8 of your Chevy Camaro burbles beneath you, the dash glowing soft orange as you cruise home from a midnight screening of Jaws. The air smells like gasoline and leather, and Springsteen’s on the radio, telling you, baby, you were born to run. Billboards blur past for Levi’s, Camel filters, and Marlboro Country – man, what a time to be alive. Back then, it all felt so normal, but looking back now, there’s a kind of effortless cool in the simplicity of it all. German brand Glashütte Original is here to capture that 70s Americana and take you on a journey back in time with their latest Seventies ‘X’ Chronograph.
A decade has passed since the brand introduced the Seventies Chronograph range, and while it wasn’t a direct resissue of a vintage model from the era, it certainly managed to capture the look. Its stainless steel TV-shaped case is a perfect rendition of watches from that era, blending that 40mm rounded-off square into a lovely tapered integrated bracelet. There’s nothing fussy about the case; the chronograph pushers are subtle and follow the case’s contours, while a simple polished bezel frames the dial, lacking any complicated tachymeter scales that you’re never going to use.
At 14.1 mm thick, it’s a tad on the chunky side, but it’s the kind of watch that demands presence. You could imagine it on the wrist of someone like James Caan or Steve McQueen, and it would not look too far out of place, even back then. It’s also rated to 100 meters of water resistance, making it the perfect poolside partner when attached to the supplied rubber strap.
We’re suckers for panda dials, and Glashütte Original have a habit of making some very cool ones for the Seventies Chronograph. This particular variation is a cracker, with its lacquered white contrasting with the charcoal black galvanised sub-dials. It’s perfectly balanced, with just two major subdials sitting on either side, and an oversized panorama date window at 6 o’clock. There’s also a cleverly hidden power reserve indicator lurking in the running seconds at 9, and at 12, there’s a subtle 12-hour indicator.
Interestingly, I feel like at first glance, you don’t see these details unless you really look for them, which is a testament to clever design. Looking even closer, the minutes subdial at 3 o’clock contains a subtle nod to the 10th anniversary of the watch, with the 10-minute marker being finished in red lacquer, another detail that many of us go crazy over. Finally, the blackened dauphine hands are contrasted with a bright red chronograph hand, for a sporty, retro feel.
It goes without saying now that Glashütte Original’s watches are more than just a German alternative to something Swiss, and while a lot of effort has gone into the aesthetics of the Seventies ‘X’ Chronograph, even more has gone into what you can’t see. The movement inside is the Calibre 37-02, a finely finished automatic flyback column-wheel chronograph calibre that beats at 4Hz and offers a 70-hour power reserve.
Some may argue that the integrated bracelet game is played out now and that there are too many options on the market. However, I’d argue that paired with the TV-shaped case of the Seventies Chronograph, GO offers something different. The stainless steel bracelet is made up of three links, with the centre pieces highly polished to bring some contrast and a luxurious finish. Unlike several integrated bracelets, it features a fine adjustment mechanism, which is great to see. However, the Seventies ‘X’ Chronograph comes supplied with an alternative black rubber strap, which gives the watch a whole new look and brings some practicality and additional comfort, too.
Glashütte Original Seventies ‘X’ Chronograph pricing and availability
The Glashütte Original Seventies ‘X’ Chronograph is available now, exclusively from authorised dealers in North America. Price: US$17,900
| Brand | Glashütte Original |
| Model | Seventies ‘X’ Chronograph |
| Reference | 1-37-02-18-02-70 |
| Case Dimensions | 40mm (D) x 14.10mm (T) x 46.4mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 100 meters |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Dial | White lacquer, black subdials with red details |
| Bracelet | Stainless steel integrated bracelet with fine adjustment mechanism Additional black rubber strap with folding clasp |
| Movement | Calibre 37-02, in-house, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 70 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, flyback chronograph, Panorama Date, power reserve indicator |
| Availability | Limited to 100 pieces, North American exclusive |
| Price | US$17,900 |