Union Glashütte’s New Retro Chronograph Recalls 1980s German Auto Racing

This Monaco homage stands toe-to-toe with the real thing.

Square silver watch with white dial, red and black accents, and textured bright red rubber strap.

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By appearing on Steve McQueen’s wrist in the 1971 film Le Mans, the TAG Heuer Monaco established an enduring link between square-case chronographs and auto racing.

Union Glashütte turned to that tried-and-true trope for the 2026 edition of the official Sachsen Classic watch. It is a fitting emblem of an annual rally dedicated to classic German cars.

Square silver wristwatch with white textured dial, black and orange accents, and perforated black strap with orange underside. — The Averin Chronograph features a Monaco-like square stainless steel case.

The Sachsen Classic is a 600-kilometer enthusiast rally held annually in Saxony, Germany. It culminates in Dresden, not far from the historic watchmaking village of Glashütte, and hosts cars produced before 2003.

Until now, Union Glashütte has relied on the Noramis, a 1960s-style bicompax chronograph with a round case, as the foundation of its official Sachsen Classic references. It’s a great choice with deep ties to the automotive world, but the squared-off Averin is a refreshing change of pace.

Square silver wristwatch with white textured dial, red and black accents, and bright red strap worn on a wrist. — The Averin Chronograph Sachsen Classic features a 41mm by 41mm stainless steel case.

The 41mm by 41mm polished stainless steel case features bumper-style pushers flanking a fluted crown. Unlike the Monaco, with its distinctive bulging sides, the Averin’s dimensions are balanced on all four sides.

While the dial sports a racing livery akin to the iconic Monaco Gulf, the nuanced detailing leans more toward the early 1980s than the early 1970s.

Its hip to be square

The Averin Chronograph Sachsen Classic features the collection’s distinctive embossed tile-pattern across the dial. Along with visual intrigue, it assists legibility by standing apart from the polished applied hour markers around the dial’s outer edge.

Square silver watch with white textured dial, red and black accents, and a red textured rubber strap. — The Averin Chronograph dial features a distinctive embossed tile pattern.

Twin rounded-square subdials sit within a smooth central panel, mimicking a car’s dashboard panel. A 30-minute totalizer at 3:00 features a red hand color-matched to the central chronograph seconds hand, while the small seconds hand at 9:00 is metallic.

Faceted fence post-style hour and minute hands feature lume inlays, and the needle-style chronograph seconds hand is a striking red.

While most automotive chronographs stick to vertical racing stripes, Union Glashütte opted for a diagonal pattern that transitions into a horizontal stripe.

Square silver wristwatch with white dial, red and black accents, and perforated black strap worn on a wrist. — The Averin Chronograph Sachsen Classic features tricolor racing stripes.

The only spot-on similarity to the original Monaco is a date window at 6:00, but that is actually a clue that both watches use movements from the same family tree.

German engineering

The Averin Chronograph Sachsen Classic is powered by Union Glashütte’s in-house Caliber UNG-27.S2 automatic movement. It is based on the Valjoux 7750, one of the most impactful chronograph movements ever created.

The German watchmaker added a silicone hairspring to their cam-operated movement and boosted the power reserve to 65 hours.

Back view of a square stainless steel wristwatch with visible mechanical movement and "UNION" engraved on the rotor. — The Averin Chronograph Sachsen Classic is powered by a UG Caliber UNG-27.S2 automatic movement.

When Valjoux developed the 7750 in 1973, it was based on and in direct competition with the Caliber 11 used in Heuer chronographs like the Monaco. Which means, in the convoluted world of watch genealogy, the two auto racing chronographs are like distant cousins.

Availability and pricing

Much like Union Glaschütte, the Sachsen Classic is one of Saxony’s hidden gems. It is a dazzling congregation of unique and coveted cars from the 1920s through the 1990s, and this year’s official watch zeros in on the sporty German coupes of the 1980s. Although it originated in the late 1960s, the square case matches the boxy silhouettes of that era.

It is a limited edition release of just 350 pieces, available for €3,700 from authorized Union Glashütte dealers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Square silver chronograph watch with white textured dial, black and orange diagonal stripes, and red rubber strap.

Union Glashütte Averin Chronograph Sachsen Classic

Specs

Case Size	41mm
Movement	Union Glashütte Caliber UNG-27.S2 automatic
Water Resistance	100m

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About the Author: Brad Lanphear is an associate editor at Gear Patrol covering watches and style. Before joining the publication, he previously wrote for Heddels and Men’s Health. Now, he’s on a never-ending quest to find the perfect pair of Japanese denim.

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