Review: Glashütte Original SeaQ Chronograph

Hands-on review of the Glashuette Original SeaQ Chronograph diver's watch. Price from €14,100. One of the best diver's chronograph on the market

At the end of last September, Glashütte Original launched the SeaQ Chronograph, the first diver’s watch of the brand to integrate a chronograph complication.

Offering excellent performances, this timepiece impressed us for its striking look as well as for the meticulous finishes of both the dial and the movement. After spending a few days with it, we are now delighted to share our impressions and pictures.

The case of the SeaQ Chronograph has the same diameter of the SeaQ Panorama Date - 43.2 mm - and it is only slightly higher at 16.95 mm vs 15.65 mm, domed sapphire crystal included. This is quite an achievement considering the added chronograph functionalities.

Crafted from stainless steel, the case is characterized by alternating satin-brushed and polished surfaces and the unidirectional, counter-clockwise rotating bezel featuring a ceramic inlay which makes this highly exposed element exceptionally scratch-resistant.

The guard-protected, screw-down crown has a fine wave decoration while the mushroom-shaped chronograph pushers are characterised by an octagonal profile. 

When you unscrew the crown, a clearly visible red section of the tube serves as a reminder for the wearer to screw down the crown to prevent water and dust from entering. 

The deep blue of the bezel is reprised for the eye-catching sunray dial which also features two snailed counters at 3 o’clock and 9 o'clock, displaying the chronograph 30 minutes and the running seconds respectively. 

For perfect legibility in any light conditions, the applied hour markers, the numerals and the large hours and minutes hands are filled with Super-LumiNova that glows in blue in darker environments. Super-LumiNova is also used for the bezel's triangle that marks the dive start time and the tip of the running seconds.

The anti-reflective treatment applied on both sides of the domed sapphire crystal further contributes to perfect legibility of the numerous indications. 

A distinctive element of this model is the big aperture at 6 o'clock that displays the date by using two large numerals (Panorama Date) printed on concentric disks that are mounted on the same level thus avoiding the need for a central vertical bar to separate them.

All adjustments can be performed using the crown: in position 1, the automatic movement is wound, in position 2 the date can be corrected, and in position 3, the time can be set while the second stop is activated. This design made it possible to do without a separate date corrector on the side of the case which would affect the water resistance of the watch.

Also thanks to this solution, the SeaQ Chronograph is water resistant up to a pressure 30 bar, approximately 300 meters / 1,000 feet and complies with all the ISO 6425 and DIN 8306 standards for diver’s watches. 

To meet these strict requirements, a watch must withstand extreme temperature changes, resist saltwater corrosion, ensure optimal legibility in the dark and have a unidirectional rotating bezel with a scale allowing the diver to determine how much time remains for the dive. 

The SeaQ Chronograph has also been developed to resist shocks and impacts. In case the watch is dropped, it is essential that the dial does not buckle or warp on impact, which could interfere with, or even block, the hands. To avoid this, the designers placed a hollow hexagonal socket screw, made of stainless steel, in the centre of the dial. It is placed from above over the hand shafts, thus fixing the dial to the plate before the hands are mounted. Thanks to this construction approach, the dial remains securely in place, even in the event of a shock.

The SeaQ Chronograph is a professional diver's watch but it displays outstanding finishes from any side you look at it. Instead of a solid case back, the watch features a screwed sapphire crystal case back that showcases the beautifully decorated Calibre 37-23.

Integrating a column wheel switch and a flyback mechanism, this automatic chronograph movement beats at a frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour) with a power reserve of over 70 hours. Its silicon balance spring offers enhanced resistance to the influence of magnetic fields and, thanks to its steady oscillation, greater rate precision. 

The chronograph start and stop functions are activated by the pusher at 2 o'clock, the flyback mechanism by the pusher at 4 o'clock. Pressing the flyback pusher halts the on-going chronographic time measurement and the chronograph hour, minute and second hands jump back to zero. A new measurement begins immediately as soon as the flyback pusher is released. 

Aesthetic refinements include perlage, sunburst finishing, stripe finish, bevelling, and polishing. The swan-neck fine adjustment and the skeletonized rotor with its 21-carat gold oscillating mass and recurring GG logo further demonstrate the quality of the movement.

The reference that we used for our review (ref. 1-37-23-02-81-70) was equipped with a three-link stainless steel bracelet that we found very practical thanks to its folding clasp featuring a comfort extension button, adorned with the distinctive double G-logo, which allows the bracelet length to be increased by approximately 5 mm.

Three strap options are also available: a dark blue rubber strap and two synthetic fabric straps made from recycled fishnets, in grey or blue.

Combining a captivating aesthetic of great character to state-of-the art technical contents, the SeaQ Chronograph is without a doubt one of the best diver's watches with chronograph function available on the market.

The new Glashütte Original SeaQ Chronograph has a price of Euro 14,100 with any of the three available straps or Euro 15,700 with its stainless steel bracelet. 

glashuette-original.com

Suggested reading:

- Our visit to the Glashütte Original manufactory

- Glashütte Original SeaQ Chronograph microsite

- Discover other SeaQ models