Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The Glashütte Original SeaQ 39.5mm, Now in Reed Green
An adventurous take on the brand's vintage-inspired dive watch.
Green is, without doubt, the trendiest colour in watchmaking these days. Green can be truly appealing, and Glashütte Original knows it. In fact, the brand surfed the wave quite early, before many others followed, with watches such as the Sixties Annual Edition 2018, the PanoMaticLunar Forest Green or the Seventies Chronograph Limited Editions. Now it is time for the brand’s compact and vintage-inspired dive watch, the SeaQ 39.5mm, to become green and to move into more adventurous territories, with the new Reed Green edition.
The first watch of a collection focussed on instrument watches, the “Spezialist” collection, the SeaQ is available in two rather different editions. First is a large, modern and luxurious version with Panorama Date. Second is a surprisingly compact and vintage-inspired edition, paying tribute to the model behind this collection, the 1969 Spezimatic Type RP TS 200. With its black dial and bezel, combined to large painted applied indexes in “old radium” colour, the original 2019 version played on vintage vibes. Later followed a blue model, with some important evolutions to be noted on the dial. And now this green model, sharing the same specifications as the blue edition, is joining the collection.
Just like the blue model, there’s more than just a dial colour to report here. With this new edition, Glashütte Original relies on the same design as used in the Panorama Date model, meaning that the watch gets rid of the vintage-coloured painted numerals and replaces them with more elegant and more modern applied indexes and hands filled with white SLN. But when the blue edition features a sunray-brushed dial, this new SeaQ 39.5mm Reed Green comes with a varnished green dial, with a grainy/matte surface, as well as a green ceramic bezel’s insert – still with the 60-minute diving scale with complete graduation. Surely, the numerals and hands have the same layout and original look as the inaugural black version, however, their execution gives a more contemporary and fresher look to this watch. And the green colour certainly is well-chosen, making this model more land-oriented than pure diver.
For the rest, no major evolution. The stainless steel case still measures 39.5mm x 12.15mm – as said, fairly compact – with its distinctive late-1960s shape. It is finished with circular brushed surfaces and nice polished bevels. The watch is topped by a domed sapphire crystal and features a unidirectional bezel. A screw-down crown and caseback ensure a 200m water-resistance and the watch still complies with ISO 6425 and DIN 8306 diver’s watch standards.
Under the screwed steel caseback is the in-house, calibre 39-11. An automatic movement with a 40-hour power reserve and 4Hz frequency, it displays the hours, minutes, seconds (with hacking seconds for precise setting) and a date mechanism. Despite the fact that it is hidden, calibre 39-11 is beautifully finished with bevelled edges, Glashütte stripe finishes, a swan-neck fine adjustment (not engraved) and a skeletonised rotor.
As with other editions, Glashütte Original offers a large choice of straps and buckles. This new SeaQ 39.5mm Reed Green edition can be worn on a 3-link brushed and polished steel bracelet with a folding clasp and fine adjustment diver extension system. Also, you can choose a grey nylon strap or a black rubber strap – each of them available either with a pin buckle or a fold fastener.
Availability & Price
The Glashütte Original SeaQ 39.5mm Reed Green edition is now available, for now, exclusively in North America. It will be available worldwide in May 2021. Price starts at EUR 8,800 (with rubber or nylon strap with pin buckle) and will evolve depending on the options for straps and bracelet.
More information at glashuette-original.com.
11 responses
They should have added exhibition caseback
if they just did away with the polished center links…other than that a great watch. I would buy it with the nylon strap.
Yeah, those bling center links… I’m thinking of having them brushed by a professional. Love the varnished dial.
Fully agree on how good a move to brushed centre links would be.
As soon as this is available in Europe I’m going to get it. Just absolutely the combination of everything I love in watchmaking. I wanted a hulk for years (and couldn’t get hold of one), but much prefer the green shade of this watch and quality of Glashütte. I really like the bracelet too. I just love everything about it. I really like the thinness which I guess comes from the non-display caseback.
Nice but only 40hr reserve
The real problem here is that you don’t transform overnight a cheap and cheerful and somewhat generic 1970s GuB skin diver into a multi-thousand dollar luxury diver. Even Seiko, with their tremendous heritage in diver’s watches, has tread comparatively lightly in that field. The caliber 39 is one of GO’s older movements (late 1990s: no new development there) and quite honestly, though I agree its a nice watch, I’m wondering where’s the value in this proposition? I’d hate to have to resell one.
I am sure its effective. Nothing special that cant be got from countless others at a small fraction of the price. You are paying for the name on the dial.
Adding to the price discussion: The regular black model can be had new for roughly 6300 Euros on the web. Glashütte knows that. But what should they do? Come down with their RRP? This would just open up a can of worms for them. There are only a few brands whose watches sell for RRP. I think the norm is, you sell with heavy discounts, just like in other industries. But we always expect every brand needs to achieve what Rolex has.
About the power reserve: I actually like the short reserve. Most people will not buy this watch as their first or only. People will wear it in a rotation and not want to pick it up after two or three days already and feel happy to not set it again. I myself wear a watch for some weeks, then switch. So I like it when the watch I just took off will run shorter, as this reduces wear and tear.
Even though I like the nylon style wise, a natural canvas built strap I would have preferred, after all. I hate microplastics in the environment and want to avoid where I can to use plastic materials which due to constant friction deteriorate. For example when washing your hands, particles from the strap will go down the drain every time.
Really not sure about some of the comments here, but perhaps that’s because I’m in love!
As for traditional movements isn’t the AP Royal Oak based on a very old movement and didn’t Omega recently rekindle the 321 for the speedmaster to much fanfare? Also, not sure most folks would know this name on the dial: Glashutte Original or Muhle Glashutte? As I’m not sure either an old movement or the brand count for much, particularly as the latter is invoked to cite poor resale values.
Aren’t you paying for the fact that the dial is beautiful, the proportions are excellent, the bracelet is one of the best there is and it’s made in relatively small quantities by a boutique watchmaker with less brand scaling of the bigger houses?
Amen to G- I own 2 SeaQs – this size in a black dial with vintage lume and also the 43.2mm in black as well. You are paying for Glashutte Original’s craftsmanship and horology. No one knows this brand (outside of Germany) which is fine. You know, Let the others get their Rolex Submariner (yawn) for twice the price (or wait for years) with nothing but the name to flex. Get this one for a 25% discount and enjoy. Nothing competes with this at this price and this level of watchmaking. Stare at the dial in the sunshine and you know. A Blancpain Fifty Fathoms is going to run another few thousand and I’ll take GO every time.
The Oris or the Longines are nice but they are not this level of watchmaking. The green dial is amazing and tempting. This is my grail and now I can start to let go of my JLC, IWC, and GPs, Rugged and beautiful- this can be your one watch collection.