News · Glashütte Original

Glashütte Original gives the 70s a smaller groove

The 39 mm Vinyl Record edition pairs a black Calibre 36-10 with the debut of a tool-free system for changing both strap and clasp.

Hen & Mills Editorial · 3 min read · 17 September 2026

• The limited Glashütte Original 70s Vinyl Record uses a 39 mm square steel case that is 9.6 mm thick and rated to 10 bar.
• Its new Groove Lock System lets the owner change the supplied steel bracelet, rubber strap and matching clasp without tools.
• Calibre 36-10 runs at 4 Hz with a 100-hour reserve; 500 watches will be made and pricing is available on request.

Glashütte Original has introduced a smaller square watch to its Vintage collection, and the most important change is not simply the reduced case. The new 70s “Vinyl Record” places a 39 mm case around a black-patterned dial, then debuts the manufacture's Groove Lock system for changing both the strap and clasp without tools.

The watch was published on Glashütte Original's official site on 17 September 2026. It is limited to 500 pieces and arrives with both a stainless-steel bracelet and a black rubber strap. That pairing makes the connection system more than an accessory footnote because owners receive two materially different ways to wear the watch from the outset.

A smaller square keeps the 1970s shape

The stainless-steel case measures 39 mm by 39 mm and 9.6 mm thick. Its rounded corners and broad brushed surfaces retain the cushion-like outline associated with the brand's Seventies models, but the dimensions move it away from the larger chronograph architecture that has often defined the family.

The square shape means a 39 mm measurement cannot be read like the diameter of a round watch. The corners occupy more wrist area, while the short transitions into the strap keep the overall silhouette compact. A screwed crown supports 10 bar water resistance, giving the watch a practical everyday specification rather than treating the retro case as a delicate dress design.

The dial is galvanised black with a fine matt finish and a subtle hexagrid pattern. Glashütte Original calls the treatment “Vinyl Record”, referring to the dark satin appearance and the way the repeated texture responds to light. Applied markers and the obelisk-shaped hour and minute hands use solid white gold, with Super-LumiNova on the indexes. A framed date sits at three o'clock with black numerals on a white background.

This is an effective use of a music reference because the dial does not depend on a printed record groove or a novelty seconds hand. Its grid supplies depth at close range while remaining quiet from normal reading distance. The white-metal furniture and restrained date preserve the clear, graphic front that a square case needs.

Groove Lock changes the useful part of the package

The Groove Lock System makes its first appearance on this 70s model. It uses a purpose-designed connection at the case and a matching clasp, with levers, pins and grooves securing both components. Glashütte Original says the strap and clasp can be removed without tools.

The supplied steel bracelet and black rubber strap therefore represent two complete configurations rather than a choice that requires a trip to a boutique. Steel reinforces the watch's integrated 1970s character, while rubber makes the 10 bar rating and compact case feel more overtly sporting. The published rubber-strap dimensions are 75 by 115 mm, with a 25.5 mm end-link width.

Quick-release spring bars are common, but extending tool-free removal to the specially designed clasp is useful. The levers, pins and grooves provide an engineered lock rather than relying only on a small spring-loaded tab. The system is a tangible addition to the case, not merely new dial colour.

It also gives the limited edition a reason to ship as a two-strap set. The owner is not being asked to buy a proprietary fitting later or leave one supplied strap in the box. Both steel and rubber are part of the intended design, and the mechanism is visible proof that the case was developed around that choice.

Calibre 36-10 brings a four-day reserve

Inside is Glashütte Original's automatic Calibre 36-10, finished in black to suit the dial. It runs at 28,800 vibrations per hour, or 4 Hz, and provides a 100-hour power reserve. A silicon balance spring is resistant to magnetic fields and temperature changes.

The movement retains the manufacture's three-quarter plate, skeletonised rotor and double-G emblem. Its 21-carat gold oscillating weight is rhodium-plated, while the balance cock is hand engraved. Striped surfaces, bevelled and polished edges, polished steel parts and blued screws keep the movement visually connected to Glashütte watchmaking even when the colour treatment is darker.

One hundred hours is enough to leave the watch aside for four days without immediately resetting it. That suits a piece supplied in two configurations, as the movement can remain running while the wearer changes the external character of the watch.

Glashütte Original 70s pricing and availability

The 70s “Vinyl Record”, reference 1-36-10-04-02-86, is limited to 500 pieces worldwide. Glashütte Original lists the price as available upon request. Each watch is supplied as a set with a stainless-steel bracelet and black rubber strap using the Groove Lock System.