Dropping a needle onto a record, turning the dial on a vintage stereo, winding a mechanical watch: These familiar rituals hold a particular appeal in an increasingly digital world. Glashütte Original's introduces a new ’70s line within its new Vintage collection, featuring three mechanical timepieces inspired by the era’s audio equipment: the Vinyl Record, Stereo Panel, and Tweed Amp.
Based in the eponymous German town, Glashütte Original traces its watchmaking heritage to 1845. This year, that legacy meets a distinctly mid-century sensibility in a new ’70s product line, with novelties featuring sculptural cases and textured dials inspired by the disco era. Each watch has a square, stainless-steel case with softly rounded edges and a dial finished with a fine hexagrid pattern. Inside, the automatic Manufacture Calibre 36 delivers a power reserve of up to 100 hours, while a silicon balance spring helps protect the movement against magnetic fields and temperature fluctuations. The latest novelties in the ’70s pillar also introduce the brand’s patented Groove Lock system, which lets the wearer change compatible straps and bracelets without tools—making it easy to shift from the clean lines of a steel bracelet to the more relaxed feel of a rubber strap.
Now for the individual tracks. The three watches in the collection each bring a different analog icon to the timepiece, from the surface of an LP to the controls of a vintage stereo and the woven finish of a classic guitar amp. Call it a greatest-hits collection for the wrist.
Vinyl Record
The appeal of a vinyl record begins before the music plays. There's the glossy surface of the disc, the anticipation of lowering the needle, and the familiar crackle before the first track. Glashütte Original translates that ritual into the Vinyl Record, with a dial that recalls the black, textured surface of an LP. There's also white-gold hands and indexes that give the display a crisp, legible finish. The watch houses the automatic Calibre 36-10, finished with black rhodium plating to complement the dial. Technically equivalent to the movement in the other two models, it has a distinctive look of its own. The Vinyl Record is also the collection's limited edition, with just 500 pieces available.
Its monochromatic palette works with almost any wardrobe. Wear it with a black suit and a white shirt for an evening out, or pair it with dark denim, a leather jacket, and a simple T-shirt on the weekend. The included stainless-steel bracelet sharpens the look; the black rubber strap gives it a more relaxed edge. Either way, the watch has enough character to stand on its own.
Stereo Panel
