The Glashütte Original Sixties | family history
The Sixties line is Glashütte Original's most accessible family by price and the one most directly inflected by vintage case forms. The 39mm Spezimatic-derived case with its domed sapphire crystal and slim proportions is the clearest reference to GO's DDR-era production. The annual color releases make the line collectible in the way that certain Seiko and Longines seasonal releases are: not by shortage but by variety. The in-house GO caliber 39 is not the most complex movement in the building, but it is honest workmanship at a rational price.
A vintage-inflected line drawing on the brand’s mid-1960s Spezimatic case dimensions: domed sapphire, slim 39mm proportions, and the annual-edition color releases that have built a small but durable collector audience around the family.
2007–present · The modern Sixties release cycle
The Sixties launched in 2007 as the entry point to the GO collection and has run annual and limited-edition dial colorways since. The case format has been stable; the variations are dial color, sometimes texture, and occasional case metal options. These are not investment watches; they are well-made, visually distinctive references for buyers who want German manufacturing without the premium of the PanoMatic tier.
How to read this family
Two honest questions for any Sixties buyer:
- Sixties or Nomos Tangente at a similar price? The Nomos Tangente and the GO Sixties occupy similar price territory for a German dress watch with in-house finishing. The Nomos is more minimal and urban in character; the GO Sixties is rounder and more vintage-inflected. The Nomos has a larger secondary-market following internationally; the GO is less recognized outside serious collector circles but is technically equal.
- Annual editions or stick to core colorways? Core colorways (cream, silver, black) have the best secondary-market depth. Annual limited editions sell through quickly and can carry modest secondary premiums, but resale is thinner than core references. Buy the color you want to wear, not the one you think will appreciate.
Related families: SeaQ · Senator Excellence
References in this family
Which ref to buy
The Sixties is GO's vintage reissue -- 1960s East German watchmaking aesthetics in a modern case with modern movement. Textured dials, retro fonts, and warm color palettes that evoke the Glashütte factory's Cold War-era production. It is GO's most accessible and most immediately charming entry point.
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GO Sixties -- vintage East German aesthetics with modern GO finishing.
- The case for it:
- The dial textures and color options are genuinely attractive -- the aged-look variants have a warmth missing from contemporary dress watches. The Cal. 39-52 is a solid automatic at a fair price. For buyers who want vintage appeal without vintage condition risk, the Sixties delivers.
- Consider instead if:
- The vintage aesthetic is retro rather than historically significant in the way of Lange's designs. Buyers wanting serious German horological content should look at the Pano family or Senator.
Rankings last reviewed 2026-06-07. Editorial perspective only. Not financial advice.