Purple Reign: Glashütte Original Brings The Sixties to Life in Shades of Purple

The Sixties series has been an integral part of Glashütte Original’s ‘Vintage’ collection for years. Since 2018, the annual editions of the model range have served as a kind of playground for expressive colour schemes. Smoky grey, dark and glacier blue, green or orange – the Sixties range is now being expanded to include a limited-edition chronograph with a violet dial.

The Sixties collection reinterprets the models of the Glashütter Uhrenbetrieb (GUB), the predecessor of today’s Glashütte Original manufacture, thereby evoking the aesthetic of the Swinging Sixties – a decade full of contrasts. These are reflected above all in the striking dials, which have become the defining design feature of the annual editions.

Purple meets German watchmaking craftsmanship

Anyone who still thinks purple is a thing of the past has either never looked into the cultural history of the 1960s or missed the purple trend of recent years.

The colour, which shaped countless album covers, band names and interior designs six decades ago, was named Pantone Colour of the Year in 2018 and 2022 as ‘Ultra Violet’ and ‘Very Peri’ respectively. Since then, violet in its many different shades has established itself in the fashion, design and lifestyle sectors as a luxurious yet progressive marker.

In keeping with this theme, Glashütte Original’s new Sixties Chronograph Annual Edition features an expressive purple dial. This is the work of Glashütte Original’s new dial manufactory, which opened last year. Here, every single dial is created through a complex manufacturing process that involves numerous steps, considerable time and a high degree of craftsmanship.

The intricate craftsmanship behind the Sixties dial

The base consists of thin bronze strips, into which a fine pattern is embossed using a stamp. The round dial blank is then punched out and fitted with small holes and the subsidiary dials. The latter are given a circular grooved texture through a turning process, reminiscent of vinyl records. After being gently domed, the dial is electroplated with yellow gold.

Then colour comes into play: the translucent purple lacquer is applied by hand and then baked in an oven. Incidentally, on the dial of the Sixties Chronograph, the hour markers are not applied or printed on as is usually the case, but are manually carved into the domed, lacquered surface. This allows the dial’s base material – the warm, shimmering bronze – to shine through.

The entire surface is then coated with a protective clear lacquer. In a series of steps, the numerals and logo are printed on and fired again, before the luminous markers are applied to the hour indices as a final step. Long gold-plated hands and Superluminova ensure that the time is always easy to read.

Protected by gently domed sapphire crystal, the purple dial of the Sixties Chronograph Annual Edition is perfectly complemented by a polished 42-millimetre stainless steel case. A breathable black fabric strap ensures a secure fit.

The Heart of the Sixties Chronograph Annual Edition

Through the sapphire crystal case back, one can observe the precise operation of the Manufacture Calibre 39-34 with automatic winding. It reliably drives the hour, minute and small seconds displays, as well as the chronograph’s stop-seconds and 30-minute counter at 9 o’clock.

Its heritage is evident in the three-quarter plate with Glashütte ribbing, as well as the swan-neck regulator, bevelled edges and polished screws. The power reserve is 40 hours.

Price & Availability

The Sixties Chronograph Annual Edition is available in Glashütte Original boutiques and from selected retailers. Rather than being limited to a specific number of pieces, the timepiece is available for a limited time only: production will cease after one year, regardless of how many pieces have been made. The price is €9,800 (RRP).

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