Glashütte Original’s Sixties Annual Editions have become something of a tradition, using colour and texture to reinterpret the spirit of the late 1960s through fun and expressive dials. From the vivid green tones of the early editions to the fiery orange degradé models, the glacier blue versions of 2020, the textured references of 2021, and the stone-grey edition introduced more recently, the collection has evolved into a nice showcase for the manufacture’s dial-making expertise. For 2026, Glashütte Original turns to one of the emblematic colours of the psychedelic era, purple. As before, the annual edition is not about changing the mechanics or design of the watch, but about offering a fresh visual interpretation of the familiar Sixties Chronograph.
The polished stainless steel case remains true to previous chronograph editions, measuring 42mm in diameter, 12.4mm thick and a lug-to-lug of 48.5mm. Soft curves dominate the design, from the rounded case flanks to the slim bezel and the domed sapphire crystal. The overall silhouette retains the relaxed elegance of Glashütte Original’s Sixties collection, part vintage inspiration, part contemporary proportions. The piston-style chronograph pushers, the fluted crown and display caseback are retained; water-resistance is rated at 30m.
The dial, produced in Glashütte Original’s own dial manufactory in Glashütte, as always in the series, is the centrepiece of this new edition. It undergoes a remarkably elaborate manufacturing process. The base begins as a thin bronze blank, first embossed with a textured motif, then cut. The dial is then domed, galvanised in gold, and hand-coated with translucent purple lacquer before being kiln-fired.
The hour markers are not printed or applied; they are manually incised into the lacquered surface, revealing the underlying base material. Combined with the white Arabic numerals at 12 and 6, the luminous dots at each index along the minutes track, and the gold-plated hour and minutes hands, with Super-LumiNova inlays and lightly curved to follow the domed shape, the dial offers legibility and contrast.
The layout offers no news. Central hours and minutes are paired with running seconds at 3 o’clock, and a 30-minute elapsed time counter at 9 o’clock, with both subdials featuring a snailed finish. The central chronograph seconds hand, just like the hour and minutes hands, is slightly bent at the tip.
The new Glashütte Original Sixties Chronograph Annual Edition in Purple is powered by the automatic calibre 39-34, a movement long used by Glashütte Original and known for its reliability and distinctly Saxon finishing. Operating at 28,800 vibrations/hour and delivering 40 hours of power reserve, the movement features a three-quarter plate with Glashütte stripes, bevelled edges, polished screws and the brand’s traditional swan-neck fine adjustment.
The new purple execution of the Sixties Chronograph Annual Edition is worn on a black synthetic fabric strap, closed with a pin buckle. The price is USD 10,000. As with previous annual editions, production will only run for a limited period during the year before the model leaves the catalogue. For now, the brand’s website still offers the Sixties Annual Edition chronographs in grey, green and glacier blue, plus a time-only Sixties Annual Edition in Glacier Blue. For more information, please consult glasshuette-original.com.