Sternglas Adds The Colorful New Lumatik To Its Expanding Collection
I have enjoyed reviewing several Sternglas releases over the past couple of years. Mostly, they were stylish Bauhaus-inspired timepieces in black and white, which were good examples of the popular minimalist design philosophy. However, the Hamburg-based brand has not hesitated to add more colorful timepieces to its collection. The latest example is the new Sternglas Lumatik. The watch was developed with the help of the brand’s loyal community. The thing its members wanted to see the most was a watch combining two lume colors. What we’ve got here is a watch that celebrates spring in style.
Straight out of the box, the new Sternglas Lumatik stands out. The combination of colors is bright without being too flashy. A closer look reveals that, for a minimalist Sternglas, quite a few nice little details distinguish the Lumatik from its peers. As mentioned, the watch features two colors of lume, just as the brand’s fan community requested. On top of that, it offers a different strap variation that we haven’t seen before. The result is a watch that stands out in the collection but also perfectly follows the Bauhaus aesthetics that made the brand famous among watch enthusiasts. So, it’s time to take it for a spin.
The story of the Sternglas Lumatik
Looking at the Lumatik, the minimalist feel is very much present. But there are a couple of things that make it more than just an extension of the aesthetic that we have come to know from Sternglas. The inspiration for the light blue color comes from the spring skies that we’ll hopefully get to enjoy again soon. As I am writing this review, here in the Netherlands, we’re facing somber gray skies all too often, so the blue dial of the Lumatik has great appeal.
Gracing the periphery of the dial is a 60-minute/second scale printed in white. Working inward, at each hour marker, you will find white Arabic numerals with a dark blue shadow for a 3D effect. They are accompanied by lumed circles and triangles featuring orange Super-LumiNova. But in a nice twist, that is not the only lume used on the dial.
The white numerals have gotten a treatment of white Super-LumiNova that lights up light blue in the dark. A date window at 6 o’clock displays the white disc with black printing. Because of the color combination, the date blends nicely with the overall design.
A dial with quite a bit of detail
Along with the luminous circles and triangles, the black pencil-style hour and minute hands are filled with orange lume. The seconds hand is also executed in black but features a red tip corresponding to the “60” on the outer scale. So, for a dial that looks rather minimalist at first glance, quite a few details make it much more interesting. You will find the brand’s wordmark on the upper half of the dial, while the German word “Automatik” is printed in silver on the lower half.
Sternglas has combined the dial with a 38mm stainless steel case that is 12mm thick (excluding the double-domed sapphire crystal) and 43mm from lug to lug. Those lugs hold a 20mm-wide strap, and the case is water resistant to 5 ATM.
From the top, the round shape looks rather straightforward, but it curves nicely toward the case back, which is held down with six screws. The lugs slope down dramatically, resulting in a modest length and allowing the watch to wrap itself easily around the wrist.
The Miyota 8315 inside
Turning the Lumatik around, we find the Miyota 8315 caliber that powers it. This automatic movement operates at 21,600vph and has a power reserve of 60 hours. The finishing on it is basic, but seeing the movement in action is a nice plus for people who are new to the world of mechanical watches. The movement features automatic and hand winding and has a standard accuracy of -20/＋40 seconds per day.
Wearing the Sternglas Lumatik
The Lumatik comes with a choice of three different straps. The first two are black or dark brown leather straps. While those options are nice enough, I like the light blue nylon strap with dark blue leather details much better. I love that it matches the satin light blue of the dial quite well.
On top of that, it gives the Lumatik a bit of extra pizzazz. The strap takes it out of the “hardcore” Bauhaus corner and gives it a slight military feel. Thanks to the colors, though, that is never too obvious, so the Lumatik has a light and summery vibe.
The watch sits nicely on the wrist, and the dimensions are a great fit for various wrist sizes. In addition, the push/pull crown is easy to operate when winding or setting the time and date. However, there is a difference in quality feel between the Miyota Standard series that the 8315 belongs to and the Premium 9xxx series that Sternglas has also used for some of its other models. Setting the time is easy, but this movement does feel less robust and qualitative than its premium peers. Overall, though, the Sternglas Lumatik is easy to wear, and I love the playful strap over the more conventional leather ones.
Final thoughts on the Sternglas Lumatik
The Sternglas Lumatik is a good choice for young people who want a fun watch that reminds them of spring and summer. It delivers those vibes nicely and combines them with the minimalist Bauhaus style that characterizes the Sternglas brand. At €499 on either of the three straps, this new Lumatik is an accessible addition to the brand’s lineup.
I like that Sternglas is looking into creating more colorful options using multiple lume colors. They help bring this watch to life beyond just a new dial color. The search for more colors has proven successful for fellow Bauhaus-inspired brand Nomos as well, so I look forward to seeing what Sternglas will come up with in the future. For now, the Lumatik is a nice step in that direction.
For more information, visit the official Sternglas website.
