BY DHANANJAY PATHAK
German brand Glashütte Original is well known for its elegantly styled watches. However, in the last couple of years, the brand has diversified its catalog by releasing robust and functional SeaQ dive watches. A couple of months ago we saw Glashütte Original unveil the stunning verdant green SeaQ Panorama Date, and now, the brand has revealed a luxurious red-gold variant of the regular SeaQ model featuring a black sunburst dial.
The real talking point with the new SeaQ reference is its Red Gold housing. Using a precious metal case on a utilitarian dive watch might not sound like a good combination, but then again, how many of us dive with a luxury mechanical watch on the wrist anyway.
That said, the 39.5mm Red Gold case of the SeaQ brings a ton of warmth and exclusivity compared to its steel counterpart. Furthermore, the use of precious metal also translates into additional heft, something, a lot of people associate with a high-quality luxury wristwatch. Material aside, the case keeps the design DNA of the SeaQ intact and exhibits a premium look through its top-notch finishing combining a nice mix of brushed and polished surfaces. The case is water-resistant to a healthy 200 meters, which is ensured with the help of the threaded crown at 3.
Like most other SeaQ variations, the dial on the SeaQ Red Gold is dominated by a combination of lume-filled rectangles and bold Arabic numerals that have been crafted from solid red gold. The deep black base provides the perfect contrast to the golden tone of the case and the markers and features a sunburst pattern which would make the dial look different under different lighting conditions. A date window sits at 3, and a white printed minute track runs on the outer periphery. Time can be read easily and accurately using the sword hour hand, the fat arrow tipped minute hand, and a lollipop style second’s hand, all of which are filled with luminous paint for low light visibility.
Turning the watch over reveals the beating heart of this watch, the in-house Calibre 39-11. Beating at 4Hz, the Calibre 39-11 is an automatic movement that features a rhodium-plated 21-carat gold oscillating weight. The movement has been beautifully decorated using Glashütte stripes, polished steel parts, hand beveling, and more. When fully wound, the movement offers a power reserve of around 40 hours.
The new Glashütte Original SeaQ Red Gold can be purchased on either a grey synthetic strap or a black rubber strap for EUR 23,000.
Visit Glashütte Original here.
