Watch & Jewelry
March 31, 2015
Glashütte Original | Sport Evolution Chronograph
Glashütte Original
Sport Evolution Chronograph
Text by OPENERS
When one thinks of Glashütte Original, the image that comes to mind is that of a quintessential German elite manufacture, equipping dressy designs with authentic mechanical movements. While this is certainly not incorrect, the "Sport Evolution Chronograph" released in 2005 can be considered a fine model that adds a deeper dimension to our perception of the company.
The massive stainless steel case, primarily finished with satin brushing, measures 42mm in diameter and 14.5mm in thickness, boasting a robust water resistance of 10 ATM. The bezel, featuring a black aluminum ring, is equipped with a tachymeter scale, essential for speed measurements. The dial features bar indices coated with luminous material, which, along with the extra-thick applied metal indices, ensure excellent legibility.
Furthermore, the counters displaying the chronograph's measurement results adopt a distinctive layout, with a 30-minute counter at 9 o'clock and a 6-hour counter at 6 o'clock, befitting a manufacture that produces its own movements. These two counters, framed in silver, create a dynamic design by varying the tension with the small seconds at 3 o'clock.
The movement is a chronograph caliber based on the "Caliber 39," one of Glashütte Original's representative movements, passed down through generations. While it is a relatively cost-effective mass-produced movement, it faithfully incorporates the identity of a German brand, such as the swan-neck regulator and the three-quarter plate with Glashütte stripes.
The watch's case back is a sapphire crystal see-through type, allowing an unobstructed view of the meticulously crafted movement, including the skeletonized rotor with a 21K gold weight.
In addition to the black dial shown in the photograph, a silver dial is also available. In 2008, a vivid new variation featuring a red bezel was added, further expanding the collection's range.
Automatic winding. 28,800 vibrations per hour. Approximately 40-hour power reserve. Case diameter 42mm. Stainless steel case and bracelet. 10 ATM water resistance. Each of the three models is priced at ¥1,102,500.
BRAND HISTORY
Since Ferdinand Adolph Lange established his watchmaking workshop in 1845, Glashütte, Germany, has become the heart of the German watch industry. After World War II, watches were manufactured as industrial products in the state-owned factory G.U.B. under the administration of former East Germany. However, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, brands that revived the traditional watchmaking inherited from former court watchmakers gradually emerged. Glashütte Original was one of the brands that began this endeavor early on.
In 1994, former president Heinz W. Pfeiffer acquired the privatized G.U.B. and fundamentally reformed the previous mass-production system. He switched to a small-scale production system focused on quality, and debuted as Glashütte Original at the Baselworld exhibition the following year.
The brand's products feature the Glashütte region's characteristic three-quarter plate finish and swan-neck regulator, imbued with a handmade warmth. Furthermore, functional and robust German watch designs, such as off-center dials and panorama date displays, are employed.
Since 2000, it has been under the Swatch Group, and its Japanese launch began in '02. Offering a wide lineup from sports models to complicated watches, and developing its own split-seconds chronograph mechanism in '07, the brand continues to demonstrate its excellent technical prowess rooted in the traditional watchmaking of Saxony.
Founding Year: 1845
Place of Founding: Glashütte, Germany
Main Series Names: PanoDate, Senator, Sport Evolution
Inquiries: Swatch Group Japan Glashütte Original 03-6245-7160
Official Website: http://www.glashuette-original.com/