written by:
small-luxury-world

published:
2020-11-28

categories:
collectors, Glashütte Original, Novelty 2020, watches

Hands-on with the Glashütte Original SeaQ Panorama Date – stainless steel and red gold

A novelty from 2020, a new member of the ´Spezialist`collection from Glashütte Original: SeaQ Panorama Date - in a bicolour case with a grey and (synthetic) textile strap

Hands-on with the Glashütte Original SeaQ Panorama Date – stainless steel and red gold

‘Solid from Saxony’ is what we know from Glashütte Original, but this time there is more … stay tuned.

First let´s have a look at the watch head and especially the face of the diver. Yes, it still is a diver – even when you may say a luxury one.


Hands-on with the Glashütte Original SeaQ Panorama Date – stainless steel and red gold

So, a permanent seconds (to check in an instant whether your watch is still running), readability in general and a proper (unidirectional rotating; ceramic inlay) bezel for diving are crucial and GO delivered.


Hands-on with the Glashütte Original SeaQ Panorama Date – stainless steel and red gold


On top you get a panorama date and one of the nicest in the market – an outsized date display, with both numerals on the same level, in a double window which GO is known for. Simply perfect for desk-diving, as well ?

The dial, galvanic grey with sunray finish, is covered by a curved sapphire crystal (see below) and hosts applied numerals and indices that are inlaid, like the distinctively shaped hands, with Super-LumiNova. It plays and changes with light just nicely and is always readable.

There is an interesting titbit about the dial: GO’s direct predecessor, the socialist Deutsche Uhrenbetrieb, sourced dials from the ‘class enemy’, a capitalist dial manufacturer in Pforzheim, Western Germany. The dial maker now is part of Swatch Group and still supplies to GO. For collectors its adds the spice that both, original and current version, share the same dial source.

Hands-on with the Glashütte Original SeaQ Panorama Date – stainless steel and red gold

Like all the other SeaQ´s it is vintage-inspired by the Spezimatic Type RP TS 200 from 1969, but with contemporary features and sophisticated details – for the sake of reliability, robustness, and beauty.


Spezimatic Type RP TS 200
(An original Spezimatic Type RP TS 200)


The SeaQ Panorama Date is water-resistant to 300 meter and thus suitable for professional divers. The DIN 8306 and ISO 6425 (both internationally recognised standards for divers) tested diver’s watch meets the most rigorous quality standards in terms of water and shock resistance, prevention of saltwater corrosion.


Hands-on with the Glashütte Original SeaQ Panorama Date – stainless steel and red gold


The diameter of the case is 43.2 mm, which is perfect for a contemporary sports watch, at least in my book.


Hands-on with the Glashütte Original SeaQ Panorama Date – stainless steel and red gold
Hands-on with the Glashütte Original SeaQ Panorama Date – stainless steel and red gold

The case work goes far beyond the utilitarian essentials: The stainless-steel case has juxtaposed polished and satin finished surfaces. They are executed nicely,  and I guess the “first cut” will hurt for sure, but the approach of the case looks like it can solved (without breaking the bank) at any service – a visit at the SPA in Glashütte, which is recommended from time to time anyway. It´s made to be worn and to have fun – even when you like to do sports. `Luxury Tool` comes to my mind ?


Hands-on with the Glashütte Original SeaQ Panorama Date – stainless steel and red gold

The crown is a beauty on its own and a very solid one. It is simply perfect and smooth to handle – just nice.


  Hands-on with the Glashütte Original SeaQ Panorama Date – stainless steel and red gold


The height of the case is 15.65mm, which is still ok and (partly) a tribute to the curves of the sapphire crystals. The latter are nice to look at and smooth in hand.


Hands-on with the Glashütte Original SeaQ Panorama Date – stainless steel and red gold

Hands-on with the Glashütte Original SeaQ Panorama Date – stainless steel and red gold

Hands-on with the Glashütte Original SeaQ Panorama Date – stainless steel and red gold

Inside there is the automatic Caliber 36-13, which holds a lengthy 100-hour power reserve, beats at a 28,800-vph frequency, and (!) includes a stop-seconds function. Especially the latter is nice if you are interested in precision, as it helps to set the accurate time.

On display behind a (sexy curved) sapphire caseback, the lavishly decorated movement’s bayonet mounting ensures that it is anchored in the case for particularly effective shock-resistance, and its silicon balance spring provides a high level of rate precision.


Hands-on with the Glashütte Original SeaQ Panorama Date – stainless steel and red gold

The style and finish of the movement represents the brand very well, its ‘fit-for-purpose’ with some added spice, and there are quite a few nice details to detect. It´s just what I like to see in a contemporary (sporty) GO – and it doesn´t smell “Swiss”. Watchmaking in Saxony/Germany has a lot to offer and if it were to me, I would encourage them to emancipate and be prouder of what they are able to deliver today.

Hands-on with the Glashütte Original SeaQ Panorama Date – stainless steel and red gold

Hands-on is all good, but even more important is how it feels on the wrist.


Hands-on with the Glashütte Original SeaQ Panorama Date – stainless steel and red gold

On mine (average size, me would say) it felt simply perfect for what it is – a luxury sports watch that also works as a “tool” if needed or liked.


Hands-on with the Glashütte Original SeaQ Panorama Date – stainless steel and red gold

Hands-on with the Glashütte Original SeaQ Panorama Date – stainless steel and red gold

Especially the synthetic strap together with folding clasp did a great job and was a big surprise in my book. It´s nice to look at and even better when it comes to touch & feel. I liked it a lot on my wrist. Appropriate for most (casual) occasions but always ready to dive … or whatever comes to our mind. So far, I preferred steel bracelets or rubber straps for that kind of watches. Now I am not sure anymore, as it is just a great and very well-made option what GO has on offer here.

Hands-on with the Glashütte Original SeaQ Panorama Date – stainless steel and red gold

Hands-on with the Glashütte Original SeaQ Panorama Date – stainless steel and red gold

Hands-on with the Glashütte Original SeaQ Panorama Date – stainless steel and red gold

Conclusion:

The approach of the SeaQ Panorama Date is excellent, and they offer a lot of value for the money, even when it is not a bargain – not even the `steel only` ones. Bicolour may not be for everyone, but it adds spice. I liked it more than expected and this although I never went for bicolour, so far. Still doubts? No problem there are `stealth` versions in steel with black or blue dial. Not ´luxury` enough? Well, there is one in all (red) gold as well.


Final statement:

“Solid from Saxony …” – in my book GO proofed that they can be sexy as well and honestly, I like it.

Too often they offered kind of hidden gems and sometimes they don´t get the attention they deserve. Yes, they tried a lot of things (to say the least) in the last ten to twenty years and not always with great success – commercially. Changing leaders and a strong influence (too strong for some) from the Swiss part of the group they belong to was not always of big help for the brand itself. German watchmaking is different than Swiss or French – it comes from different backgrounds, (slightly) different cultural influences and had different means. This should speak in today’s watches as well, and at least with the GO SeaQ & SeaQ Panorama Date it does.

Looking at the Senator Chronometer ´Limited Edition` (Ref. 1-58-03-01-04-30); (see here: Glashütte Original: Hands-On with the new Senator Chronometer Limited Edition 2020 – the eclecticum) , the Alfred Helwig Tourbillon 1920 (Ref. 1-54-01-01-01-01); (see here: Glashütte Original: Hands-On with the new Senator Alfred Helwig Tourbillon 1920 – the eclecticum) and especially the whole ´Specialist` collection they might be stronger than ever before, if they focus on solid and beautiful fine watchmaking with lots of DNA from Saxony.

small-luxury-world


A few more pictures, if you don´t mind:

Hands-on with the Glashütte Original SeaQ Panorama Date – stainless steel and red gold

Hands-on with the Glashütte Original SeaQ Panorama Date – stainless steel and red gold

Hands-on with the Glashütte Original SeaQ Panorama Date – stainless steel and red gold

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