Union Glashütte’s Belisar Chronograph Speedster has become a recurring meeting point for German watchmaking and classic car culture.
For 2026, the limited edition returns with a notable change on the wrist, moving the Speedster line from its previous 44mm format to a more compact 40mm case.
The inspiration this time is a classic Porsche 911 owned by Mainz-based artist Marcus Haub, translated into a beige, black and orange chronograph with a distinctly vintage motoring character.
At a glance
- Union Glashütte has introduced the Belisar Chronograph Speedster 2026 in a new 40mm case.
- The design takes cues from Marcus Haub’s classic Porsche 911, with a glossy beige dial, orange chequered accents and black sub-dials.
- The watch is limited to 288 numbered pieces and is priced at EUR 3,450 including VAT through authorised retailers.
A smaller case for the Speedster line
The headline change is proportion.
Previous Belisar Chronograph Speedster editions used a 44mm case, while the 2026 model reduces the diameter to 40mm and trims the thickness to 14.65mm.
That shift matters because the Belisar Chronograph has always leaned into a bold, instrument-like presence, and the new size should broaden its appeal without stripping away the model’s personality.
The case is made from 316L stainless steel and keeps the Belisar’s screwed-on case flanks, one of the collection’s more recognisable signatures.
Vintage-style mushroom chronograph pushers, a slim bezel and a domed sapphire crystal all support the retro motorsport brief.
A screw-down crown contributes to a 100m water-resistance rating, giving the watch a practical edge beyond its enthusiast-driven styling.
Porsche 911 cues on the dial
The Speedster 2026 is linked to a classic 911 owned by Marcus Haub, and the car influence comes through most clearly in the colour and dial architecture.
The glossy beige dial is paired with orange chequered detailing, while three matte black snailed sub-dials give the watch its dashboard-adjacent feel.
A peripheral tachymeter scale reinforces the chronograph’s automotive function, even if the watch is more likely to time a spirited drive than a race stage.
Black nickel-plated and white lacquered hands provide contrast, with Super-LumiNova applied to the hour and minute hands.
The date aperture is integrated into the 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock, a cleaner solution than placing it as a separate interruption elsewhere on the dial.
UNG-27.S1 movement with a silicon balance spring
Inside is the automatic UNG-27.S1 calibre, a movement based on Valjoux 7750 architecture and updated here with a silicon balance spring.
Union Glashütte states a minimum power reserve of 65 hours, which gives the watch enough autonomy to be put down for a weekend and picked up again without immediately needing a reset.
The functions include chronograph timing, small seconds and a date display.
A recessed corrector at 10 o’clock adjusts the date, while a stop-seconds function allows more precise time-setting.
The movement is decorated, assembled and regulated by hand in Glashütte, and it can be viewed through the screw-down sapphire crystal caseback.
Details & Specifications
| Brand | Union Glashütte |
|---|---|
| Model | Belisar Chronograph Speedster 2026 Limited Edition |
| Case size | 40mm diameter, 14.65mm thick |
| Case material | 316L stainless steel |
| Crystal | Domed sapphire crystal |
| Dial | Glossy beige with orange chequered details and three matte black snailed sub-dials |
| Movement | Automatic UNG-27.S1 calibre, based on Valjoux 7750 architecture |
| Complications | Chronograph, small seconds, date |
| Power reserve | Minimum 65 hours |
| Water resistance | 100m |
| Strap and bracelet | Perforated black calfskin strap with orange stitching and steel bracelet, both with double-folding clasps |
| Production | Limited to 288 individually numbered pieces |
| Price | EUR 3,450 including VAT |
| Availability | Authorised retailers |
Two wearing options in the box
The watch is supplied with both a perforated rally-style black calfskin strap with orange stitching and a steel bracelet.
A quick-change system allows owners to move between the two, giving the Speedster 2026 a useful split personality.
On the strap, the Porsche-inspired palette comes forward more strongly.
On the bracelet, the watch should read more like a compact everyday chronograph with a vintage-car streak.
As the fifth Speedster edition since 2021, this release continues Union Glashütte’s pattern of using the Belisar Chronograph as a canvas for automotive stories.
The difference in 2026 is that the format feels more approachable, making the limited edition especially relevant for collectors who liked the theme but wanted a case size with less visual weight.
