The Glashütte Original SeaQ Is Up for All of Your Summer Adventures

We spent a week with the Glashütte Original SeaQ in reed green to see how it stands up to outdoor adventures.

Published May 6, 2021

Updated December 13, 2023

Brand: Glashütte Original
Product: SeaQ in Reed Green
Price: $9,000+
From: glashuette-original.com

Watches and adventure have gone hand in hand since the invention of the wristwatch — after all, there are no clocks out on the trail, river or on the summit of a mountain. And of all the categories of watches, those most associated with the captivating excursions of the world’s most famous explorers are dive watches. They are lauded for their durability and legibility — two things that are absolutely essential when undertaking sports and expeditions of all kinds. So when the opportunity presented itself to test the new Glashütte Original SeaQ by undertaking outdoor adventures, our tester jumped at the opportunity.

From the Brand

“Although designed to ensure safety at great depths underwater, the SeaQ is perfectly at home on land as well. With German precision at its heart, it passed the most rigorous tests required for certification as a professional diver’s watch. This sporty timepiece is compliant with the DIN 8306 and ISO 6425 standards for diver’s watches and thus meets the German and international standards of quality. Whatever challenges may lie ahead – one can always rely on the SeaQ.”

What We Like

Road cycling and luxury wristwatches share many similarities when it comes to culture, passion and a penchant for technical specifications. So to test the Glashütte Original SeaQ, our tester set out for a week of road and gravel cycling on some of the most pristine roads in the country.

The SeaQ is available with a number of different strap combinations, as well as on a stainless steel bracelet, but there was no better combination for cycling in our tester’s eyes than the reed green SeaQ on the Glashütte Original black rubber strap. While most rubber straps can feel very rigid and plasticky, the SeaQ’s rubber strap is soft and supple, with perforations throughout to allow for a healthy dose of breathability during activities. Even with the multiple hand and wrist positions required when road cycling, our tester noted immediate and sustained comfort.

But beyond just the strap, there are two other important features that make the SeaQ ideal for cycling. The first is its case size — at just 39.5mm in diameter, the watch never felt bulky or restrictive. It’s a goldilocks case size, offering plenty of breathing room for the dial and date window without being so large as to hinder its ability to be an effective sports watch. The second notable feature, is the position and finishing on the crown of the SeaQ. Though many watches with a crown at three o’clock can often dig into the hand and wrist when cycling, our tester noted that no such issue exists with the SeaQ. This is due in part to the case diameter, but the smooth finishing of the crown also plays a role.

The SeaQ is well-equipped for tackling long days on the bike saddle, but what good is a watch that can only do one thing well? Fortunately, the Glashütte Original SeaQ is anything but a one-trick pony. Whether it was hiking, exploring new neighborhoods or simply walking the dog, our tester found the SeaQ a worthy companion. Not just due to its durability and sports acumen, but its finishing and attention to detail. The way the light refracts through the decidedly vintage crystal made stealing a glance at the watch a very frequent occurrence.

Glashütte Original is well-known for its meticulous dedication to the finishing of its watches. This manifests in many of the features we’ve listed, but is particularly noticeable on the SeaQ’s varnished dial, lug and case machining and the case back, which is carefully engraved with 20 waves to represent the watch’s 20 bar water resistance. All of this comes together gracefully in a watch that can not only stand up to the rigors of adventures like cycling and diving, but also would not look out of place in the board room or at your next job interview.

It’s an impressive package with plenty of vintage charm and a stunning colorway that looks even better in person than it does in photos. Each of the two strap options (a gray woven synthetic and a black rubber), as well as the stainless steel micro-adjustable bracelet, set the watch off excellently, easily matching just about everything in your wardrobe.

Who It’s For

While the reed green SeaQ will find a home in the watch collection of adventurers and outdoor enthusiasts, it’s also a great option as a one-watch quiver for those who appreciate attention to detail and a vintage-inspired aesthetic. If you’re looking for a slightly larger watch with a unique touch of style, it’s worth looking at the SeaQ Panorama Date, which is in the same Glashütte Original Spezialist collection as the reed green SeaQ. It offers a 43.2mm case diameter and Caliber 36 movement with a 100-hour power reserve as well as an exhibition case back that allows a glimpse into the watchmaking prowess of Glashütte Original.

Verdict

The SeaQ in reed green is a crowd-pleaser. Its 39.5mm case size, 20 bar water-resistance rating, automatic 39-11 movement and beautifully finished stainless steel case will be attractive to plenty of watch consumers beyond just cyclists and outdoorsmen. Bottom line, if you’re looking for a watch that can go everywhere you do and look beautiful while doing it, the Glashütte Original SeaQ is a great choice.

Price: $9,000+

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