The Union Glashütte Belisar Chronograph Speedster Limited Edition

This isn’t the first Belisar Chronograph Speedster from Union Glashütte, as models like the Limited Edition Electric Blue and Limited Edition Yellow were inspired by vintage German sports cars and rallies as well. The latest model by Union Glashütte features an asphalt grey dial with a red stripe, mimicking the colours of a specific Porsche with a vertical red stripe running down the doors/rear panel and over the roof. It’s part of the broader Belisar Chronograph series that has accessible, vintage-inspired chronographs with modern touches. It’s mostly colour changes and straps that differentiate the Belisar Speedster models, but they do add up for meaningful updates.

The stainless steel case pushes the limit a bit with a 44mm diameter and 15.01mm height, so you have to be comfortable with larger-than-average watches. Lug-to-lug is 52.99mm. It certainly has wrist presence but may overwhelm smaller wrists (although that’s all a matter of personal taste). Retro pump-style chronograph pushers sit at 2 and 4 o’clock with cool indicators on the ends – a stop/start symbol at 2 o’clock and a reset symbol at 4 o’clock. The tapered crown features a U-logo, and the tips are silver on a black background. A third pusher sits flush at 10 o’clock as a rapid date corrector. A domed AR sapphire crystal protects the dial (dual coatings), and there’s a sapphire exhibition caseback with an individual edition number engraved. Water resistance is rated at a respectable 100 metres. There are two straps – black perforated racing leather with red stitching and weather-resistant red rubber, and both feature quick-release levers.

The dial is what really separates this from the other Belisar Speedsters with an anthracite base and snailed black sub-dials at 3 and 6 o’clock, while the snailed sub-dial at 9 o’clock matches the dial colour. The tri-compax layout has a 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, a 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock with an integrated date window and small seconds at 9 o’clock. Silver hour and minute hands have Super-LumiNova inserts, and the small seconds hand is a matching silver, but the 3 and 6 o’clock hands are red. The central chronograph seconds hand features a red arrowhead tip. A red stripe also runs down between 10 and 11 o’clock, skips the small seconds sub-dial and concludes between 7 and 8 o’clock, again mirroring the colours and style of the Porsche. There are oversized black Arabic numerals that are very legible but don’t contain lume. A railway seconds track spans the perimeter, while a black tachymeter sits on the outermost flange so you can measure your car’s speed.

Powering the Union Glashütte Belisar Chronograph Speedster Limited Edition is the calibre UNG-27.S1, based on the ETA/Valjoux 7753 automatic cam-type chronograph. It has 29 jewels, beats at 28,800vph (4Hz) and comes with a 65-hour power reserve (upgraded from the base movement). It features an anti-magnetic silicon balance spring and rapid date correction via the flush pusher at 10 o’clock. Functions include central hours, minutes and chronograph seconds, 30-minute counter, 12-hour counter, small seconds and date. As a quick note, it’s important not to use the rapid date corrector between 8:30pm and 11:30pm. Decorations include Côtes de Genève and perlage.

The latest Union Glashütte Belisar Chronograph Speedster Limited Edition is limited to 388 pieces and retails for EUR 3,450 (incl. VAT). And remember, for that price, you also get two straps! Not bad for a robust, retro-inspired and limited edition German chronograph that can easily time the speed of your Porsche (or any car for that matter).

For more information, please visit Union-Glashuette.com.