Glashütte Original Introduces Two New Limited Editions Versions of the SeaQ

When it comes to luxury divers in the $10,000-$20,000 range, the usual suspects are big Swiss heritage brands. Rolex, Omega, and Blancpain immediately come to mind, and IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and a host of indies offer sporty watches that are dive adjacent if not divers, strictly speaking, that collectors might consider cross shopping. Glashütte Original is a brand that probably doesn’t get mentioned enough in this category, as they actually offer two dive watches in this price range built on their SeaQ platform that are worthy of consideration. The brand has just introduced new versions of their SeaQ Panorama Date and standard SeaQ in a new “Northern Tide” colorway for the North American market that got me thinking about these watches (frankly, reminding me they exist). 

I’ve handled both the SeaQ and SeaQ Panorama Date in the past and both watches are very nicely made, but each come with significant tradeoffs that make them tough to commit to, but in different ways. The standard SeaQ is the brand’s stripped down stainless steel diver, measuring 39.5mm in diameter, 12.15mm tall, and 47.2mm from lug to lug. The SeaQ’s case is very nicely executed and gives the feeling of a classic skin diver but with higher end, luxury finishing. The trade off here is really the movement – it runs on GO’s Caliber 39-11, which is a very nicely decorated movement, but has a power reserve of 40 hours, which is low relative to the competition, and is missing the signature Glashütte Original complication. 

That, of course, is the big date complication, which the brand refers to as a “panorama date” and does include on the aptly named SeaQ Panorama Date. This watch runs on the Caliber 36-13 which in addition to having a big date display at 4:00 also has an impressive 100 hours of power reserve. The catch? The SeaQ Panorama Date has a case that is on the unwieldy side of large, measuring 43.2mm in diameter, 15.65mm tall, and 51.5mm from lug to lug. I’ve tried this watch on with the bracelet and it’s just a lot of steel, quite heavy, and really needs both a big wrist and a preference for the visual impact of a watch of this size. The Panorama Date does have an extra hundred meters of water resistance compared to the standard SeaQ (300 meters vs. 200 meters) so that heft is at least somewhat functional. 

I think what many collectors are probably hoping for is a Panorama Date in a reduced size, which would be an on-trend development to be sure. Other brands have been downsizing their signature watches as of late, mostly to universal acclaim (Bulgari’s smaller Octo Finissimo comes to mind, as does Grand Seiko’s new Ushio diver). But I have a feeling Glashütte Original likes having two distinct options at sizes that don’t cannibalize one another. 

Both of the SeaQ divers are newly available in the “Northern Tide” colorway seen here, which is a North American exclusive. The turquoise lacquer treatment has a matte finish and the brand says it is inspired by the waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. Both dials feature oversized, lume filled Arabic numerals and GO’s signature oversized arrow minute hand (also lume filled, of course). 

The SeaQ is priced at $13,000, and the SeaQ Panorama Date is priced at $15,500. Both are limited to 100 pieces. Glashütte Original

Images from this post: