Contact [email protected] for pricing and availability; Either I have it, or I can get it! Glashutte Original vs Rolex! Our Versus series draws to a close with a David-vs-Goliath battle between the Geneva giant, Rolex, and a muscular challenger from German Saxony, Glashutte Original. In a battle of un-equals, we pit the Glashutte Original Vintage Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date against the watch collector’s favorite, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona Oysterflex.

The Rolex Daytona requires no introduction; from the first model in 1963 to the present, the Daytona has stood apart from the Rolex line as the brand’s signature complicated watch. In 2017 Rolex introduced a new line of 18-karat gold Cosmograph Daytonas equipped with the Oysterflex strap first featured on 2015’s Yacht Master.

Each Daytona Oysterflex 116519LN retains the 40mm size of the standard watch as well as the Rolex Cerachrom ceramic bezel. The true revolution is embodied by the Rolex Oysterflex strap; strictly speaking, this isn’t a strap at all. On the contrary: each Oysterflex is a bracelet with a full titanium nickel alloy band underneath its sheath of black rubber. A Rolex Oysterclasp with clamshell lock an internal Rolex Easylink tool-free adjustment permits changes to fit on the fly.

Inside its 18-karat white gold (actually, grey gold, non-plated) case, the Rolex Daytona features a Rolex manufacture automatic caliber 4130. The 4130 features a modern 70-hour power reserve, column wheel and vertical clutch, COSC chronometer certification, and a Parachrom Blue anti-magnetic alloy for its Breguet overcoil hairspring. Rolex builds this movement with a full balance bridge and a free sprung balance for shock resistance. Each Rolex caliber 4130 includes a 28,800 VpH beat rate and enjoys 100-meter water resistance inside its Oyster case.

Glashutte Original launched the then Senator Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date at Baselworld 2014. This Glashutte sports chronograph is designed as an homage to such 1970s watch styles as the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, Patek Philippe Nautilus, and Rolex’s own Oysterquartz series. Now reclassified as the Vintage Seventies Chronograph 1-37-02-01-02-33 inside the Glashutte Original Vintage collection, the Seventies Chronograph represents one of Germany’s few high horology sports watches.

Each Seventies Chronograph in stainless steel measures 40mm in diameter and 14.1mm thick. The heavily Gerald Genta-influenced case form can be paired with a full steel bracelet, an alligator leather strap, or today’s vulcanized black rubber strap. A screw down crown and 100-meter water resistance allow this German sports watch to play rough and go where no A Lange & Sohne would dare.

Launched at Baselworld 2014 inside this Seventies Chronograph, the Glashutte Original caliber 37-02 is a gem. It matches the 70-hour power reserve, stop seconds, and beat rate of the Rolex, but the GO movement adds a flyback chronograph, date, power reserve indicator, and a quirky case back “on-off” function display. A column wheel and vertical clutch offer the same performance as the Rolex Daytona caliber 4130, and a display case back highlights movement finish that surpasses the detailing Rolex movement by a large margin. Glashutte stripes, engine turning, blued screws, and a black polished swan’s neck regulator ensure that the caliber 37-02 is worth its sapphire display case back.

The battle is Rolex Daytona vs Glashutte Original Seventies Chronograph today on Versus!