A great timepiece can evoke the spirit of the past in much the same way as a vintage car or an old movie. But there’s more than one way for luxury watchmakers to capture the zeitgeist of a previous era. The popular route is to mine their back catalogues. The big names in horology have created some wonderful watches this way and we’re definitely fans of watches like Tudor’s Ranger or Rado’s Captain Cook. But that’s not the route favoured by Saxon watch brand Glashutte Original. As we saw with the handsome Seventies Chronograph, its approach is different. Glashutte Original creates new models that take inspiration from the past without reworking or remaking a previous watch. The Sixties Small Second is the latest addition to its ’60s collection.
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There’s no shortage of colour when it comes to Glashutte Original’s vintage-inspired models but there’s also a restrained look to the collections. This new release sticks close to that ethos and relies on small and subtle design cues to impress. And it certainly does that.
Like the rest of the ’60s collection, the Sixties Small Seconds features a simple case designed to capture the style of the era. The case is forged from rose gold and along with its unobtrusive crown makes for an elegant and classical look. But the brand is also keen to celebrate the optimism and creativity of the ’60s and has doubled down on the dial. At first glance it looks straightforward – but take a closer look.
The dial is fashioned from galvanic silver and features a subtle domed appearance. The hands, also in rose gold, pair beautifully with the case and complement the numerals noted in an authentic ’60s script – they also have a subtle bend to track the domed dial. Of course, the USP of the Small Second model is the sub-dial that sits above 6 o’clock.
Like the rest of the watch, the sub-second dial benefits from a minimalist layout, and again there’s great attention to detail. The slightly recessed sub-dial enhances the watch’s appeal and has a distinctive vinyl finish.
The most ornate aspects of the Sixties Small Second are saved for the rear of the watch. Sitting behind a sapphire exhibition back is the brand’s Calibre 39-60 automatic movement. Hand-crafted in the brand’s own workshops, it features a skeletonised rotor and individual components decorated with a selection of different finishings. The Sixties Small Second is a fitting tribute to a decade famous for innovative music, art and fashion and is available now.
Glashütte Original Sixties Small Second 1-39-60-01-01-04
Diameter: 42mm
Height: 12.4mm
Case: Rose Gold
Movement: Calibre 39-60 Automatic
Strap: Matt Green Louisiana Alligator
Water Resistance: 30M
