WatchOtaku : Glashutte Original Sport Evolution GMT

Glashutte Original Sport Evolution GMT reference 39-55-43-03-03

(Image credit for all: TZSC sales posting)

Notes

The SE GMT combines three features I've always wanted in a watch: Push button time zone changes, a big date and a GMT. Finding those in a sport(y) watch is extraordinary, so when I saw this on WatchRecon I had to buy it. I waited a few days to be sure, and yep, I was sure.

The Sport Evo line was introduced in Basel in 2007 and discontinued in 2011. GO sells around 7000 watches per year, and since the Sport line was cut we can assume it sold in low numbers. From the serial of this one, I'd guess they only made a few hundred of these, so it's quite rare to even see one. The base Sport Evo model is easier to find, I've seen that one at Tourneau.

Expert Opinions

Adam Craniotes has one and loves it:

...and as for the Sport Evo GMT, which I recently picked up... Let's just say that the Rolex GMT-IIc doesn't hold a candle to it.
Bottom line: When you want to start talking about watches that compare to GO, you've got to forget about a pedestrian marque like Rolex, and start looking at JLC and up (yup, I own a couple of those as well).

The Watch Snob thinks very highly of the brand:

In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better value-per-dollar brand in the entire horological universe. Glashutte Original is probably the best thing the entire Swatch Group has going right now, and nobody seems to care. However, I will say this particular model looks a little too state school for me on a steel bracelet, and you are very likely to run into those that will say it is simply a less expensive A. Lange & Sohne, which it is. But you know what? An imitation Lange is still better than a real Breitling, Omega or Rolex.

mattcantwin on WUS too:

Gave up the Hour Vision in trade for this and thought I would no longer have a dress watch,
but the GO sure dresses up well on the bracelet.

Features

Hand-decorated movement, fully in-house, base GO 39 with -55 module
Best big-date movement around, planar with concentric rings, no spacers, quick set and quick (2s) change. Much better than a cyclops IMHO.
Pushers advance and retard the hour hand in one-hour increments
Date synchronized to GMT hand, which is kind of odd.
120-click bidirectional GMT bezel, made of domed aluminum inset and steel body
Case is 316L stainless steel
Lumed hour, minute and GMT hand, as well as bezel pip and 3/6/9/12 dial markers
Supplied with loupe and deployant clasp.
Screw-down crown and screwed case back.
Dive-styled but not a diver: no lume on second hand, no timing bezel, only rated to 100m.

Specs

42mm wide by 14.4mm thick, 52mm lug to lug
20mm lugs
132g
Double-domed sapphire crystal, unique curved rear sapphire crystal
Water resistant to 100m

Movement

The 39-55 movement is a GO module on their base calibre 39. It's a wonderful movement, see this history by Marcus Hanke for lots of details.
28,800 vph, 40 jewels, 21k gold rotor, power reserve 40 hours
Handwinding and hacking
Traditional GO design - 3/4ths base plate, swan's neck fine regulator
Entirely hand decorated
Recommended service interval 3-5 years, though the New Jersey Swatch service center has a very poor reputation.

Acquisition details

Price: $4400
Discounted/gift/loan? No.
Vendor: Alan Fink (cubbiepants)

Timeline

Date acquired: 8/8/14
Date sold: 2/14/16, see the postmortem page.

Links

For-sale posting on TZSC
Another (older) for sale posting on Rolex Forums
Reference page on WatchTime database
Ariel's review of the base Sport Evo model is excellent
Glashutte Original
The GO forum on PuriistsPro seems to be good
Jocke has an excellent Rolex versus GO that's well worth your time - great pictures.

Quick notes and overall review

It's gorgeous. It's got the best travel complication ever made. A nice 3-timezone feature for those long-distance collaborations I do every day. A big date for my aging eyes. I may have finally admitted to myself that dress divers are more my thing than pure tool watches like the Pelagos.