Revisiting a wrinkle in time, the new Glashütte Original Sixties Small Seconds celebrates the idiosyncrasies of German watchmaking while capturing the unique spirit of the 1960s through a contemporary lens.
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During the 1950s, the condition of the German economy following WWII resulted in all Glashütte watchmakers —seven, in total — merging to form Glashütte Uhrenbetriebe, a state-controlled conglomerate. The conglomerate operated for over forty years until the christening of the newly privatised Glashütte Original. Now, the Glashütte Original Sixties line seeks to reimagine what the German manufacture may have produced at the time, had it existed autonomously, with retro-inspired pieces like the elegant Panorama Date and colourful chronographs.
Epitomising elegance in restraint, the Sixties Small Seconds know the devil is in the details. Set within a 42mm rose gold case, the dial houses a slightly recessed small second subdial, with the latter crafted from galvanic silver and decorated with a vinyl-type finish.
The hands and indexes are colour-matched to the rose gold case, while the numerals appear in a sophisticated 1960s typeface. A subtly domed sapphire crystal encases the dial, its shape echoed in the gently curved form of the hands and dial.
Showmanship doesn’t stop at the dial, with the intricately handcrafted in-house calibre 39-60 visible through the sapphire glass caseback. The automatic movement features a skeletonised rotor and sees each individual component decorated with refined finishes including Glashütte stripes, bevelled edges, and polished screws.
The Glashütte Original Sixties Small Seconds is presented on an alligator leather leather strap, with the matte green finish nodding to the vibrance of the time while catering to modern tastes.
The Sixties Small Seconds is priced at $24,000AUD and is available via Glashütte Original boutiques.
Words by Theo Rosen