« A Legendary Revival »
Until 2015, Union Glashütte sold the Averin, a square chronograph with a masculine presence and an astonishing date function. Now comes the big comeback: slimmer dimensions, a modernized automatic movement with a silicon hairspring, and an embossed dial awaken the Averin from its six-year slumber. We can hardly wait to take a closer look at this angular character from Saxony.
Case Width Reduced by Two Millimeters
Seasoned watch enthusiasts know that the dimensions of angular timepieces are often underestimated. When we hear of a "slim" 39 x 39 millimeters, we frequently end up with a surprisingly dominant beast – think Tag Heuer Monaco. All the more intimidating, then, that earlier references of the square Union Glashütte Averin (e.g., the D003.725 A) were offered with a case width of 43 millimeters. Not for slender wrists. In 2021, the Glashütte brand opted for a significant size reduction to 41 x 41 millimeters, giving the exotic chronograph far more universal wearability.
What remains is the generally high rarity of the square case shape. If you want to stand out from the crowd without loud colors, the Averin is the right choice. Beyond its aesthetic rarity, the 316L stainless steel case offers 100 meters of water resistance – enough for swimming – and a comfortable cushion shape that hugs the wrist ergonomically. Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides provides the necessary scratch resistance and, with its pronounced dome, emphasizes the sculptural look of the case. The Glashütte watchmakers are uncompromising when it comes to finishing: instead of introducing brushed elements to tone down the watch's presence, they give the chronograph a fully polished finish. It doesn't get much classier than that.
A Play of Light and Dark: The Dial
Besides its shape, the dial design of the Union Glashütte Averin also knows how to draw curious glances. The base is a black, relief-like texture reminiscent of carbon fiber, which carries the twelve polished indices. Their varying lengths create a harmonious transition from the square edge to the silver-backed center section, where the Averin's functional orchestra performs. Although the layout is logical, the sheer abundance of complications prevents you from grasping it at first glance. So let's go through it step by step.
On the left side, you'll find a classic tri-compax layout whose three subdials each feature concentric grooves and a black border. At 12 o'clock, alongside the 30-minute chronograph counter, there are two windows for the day and month displays. At the bottom center of the Union Glashütte, we're greeted by the 12-hour counter, whose hand hovers over a moon phase with richly detailed star decoration. The third totalizer next to 9 o'clock houses a 24-hour display with day/night indicator. What we like most is the wealth of detail on the dial: the timing counters appear in the same red as the central chronograph seconds hand, while the small hour hand of the 24-hour complication is skeletonized.
Creative and Ingenious: The Date Function
The right side of the dial is dominated by an extraordinary date complication. Many manufacturers consider themselves innovative for replacing a date window with a pointer date. In the Union Glashütte Averin Chronograph, they meet their match: three tiers of dates are arranged so that they can be read by three arms of different lengths. These arms are attached to a single center piece and always move simultaneously, so the "new" hand is just starting at the top when the "old" one finishes at the bottom. Unlike the nickel-plated hour and minute hands, the date hands are black and have no Super-LumiNova coating, so this clever invention is only useful during the day.
Perforated Leather Strap with Red Lining
Regardless of lighting conditions, the Union Glashütte Averin offers pleasant wearing comfort, thanks not only to the shape of the case but also to a black leather strap. How well it's matched to the rest of the design is phenomenal: while the perforation reinforces the sporty touch of the dark textured dial, the red underside echoes the chronograph hands in the same color. The quality is also clearly upscale: rather than a simple tang buckle, a proper double folding clasp with two push buttons helps the wearer put on the angular Union Glashütte. It doesn't make the Averin any slimmer, though: the far-from-modest 41 millimeter case width is joined by a height of 15.54 millimeters and a weight of 124 grams, so the chronograph exudes plenty of self-confidence on the wrist.
UNG-25.S1 Automatic Movement with Silicon Hairspring
On its back, the Union Glashütte Averin Chronograph features a sapphire caseback that lets daylight shine onto the automatic caliber UNG-25.S1 when you take the watch off. The movement is based on the widely used ETA/Valjoux 7751 and reflects the current state of the art: a solid 60-hour power reserve, a hacking seconds function and, above all, the antimagnetic, shock-resistant silicon balance spring make it a confident all-round package. The decoration reveals that this movement sits above the level of a standard 7751: the rotor bears a skeletonized brand logo and the famous Glashütte stripes, while blued screws and perlage adorn the rest of what's visible. In keeping with the "Made in Germany" lettering on the dial, the caliber is assembled, finished and regulated in Glashütte.
And how much money should you budget to make this angular newcomer your own? According to the manufacturer, the Union Glashütte Averin (Ref. D015.525.16.051.00) costs exactly €3,250. For that, you get a whole host of unique features: not only the exotic date complication, but also the case shape, great attention to detail and modern mechanics speak in favor of this revival of the square Saxon. If you want to combine masculine elegance with a clear departure from mainstream taste, you could hardly spend your watch budget better.
