Glashütte Original’s Sixties Chronograph Annual Edition returns with one of the collection’s most distinctive dial treatments to date. The latest version trades conservative tones for a rich purple gradient that feels less flamboyant than expected, shifting from a warm violet center to near-black edges under changing light. It’s a bold color choice, though one executed with the restraint expected from the Saxon manufacture.
As with previous annual editions, the dial is produced in-house in Glashütte. The brass blank is first pressed to create the collection’s signature dégradé texture before receiving a galvanic coating and multiple layers of translucent lacquer. The final kiln-firing process gives the surface its smoked appearance and subtle depth. Applied indices are omitted in favor of hand-cut markers and small luminous plots, preserving the watch’s distinctly mid-century character.
The stainless-steel case measures 42mm wide and 12.4mm thick, proportions that strike a comfortable balance between vintage inspiration and modern wearability. A domed sapphire crystal reinforces the retro silhouette without leaning too heavily into nostalgia. Inside sits Glashütte Original’s in-house automatic chronograph movement, visible through the sapphire caseback and finished to the brand’s typically meticulous standards.
The warm brown calfskin strap complements the dial surprisingly well, toning down what could have been an overly theatrical color palette. That balance is ultimately what makes the watch work. While purple dials have become increasingly common in recent years, the Sixties Chronograph avoids feeling trend-driven by integrating the color into a design language that already favors texture, warmth, and subtle eccentricity.
Available for a limited production window through Glashütte Original boutiques and authorized retailers, the latest Sixties Chronograph Annual Edition feels less like a novelty piece and more like a confident reinterpretation of an already well-resolved design.
