The one watch for a lifetime — With its Senator Excellence line, Glashütte Original pursues the highest possible standards in terms of both style and quality. The watches in this family have always been held to high standards, as each one must pass a series of tests lasting several weeks. The German watchmaker has now expanded its ensemble of timelessly elegant timepieces with two new versions of the Perpetual Calendar and two additional models featuring the Panorama Date and moon phase complications.
A family of quality
With the launch in 2016 of the Senator Excellence line, a new generation of timepieces made its debut. At its heart lies the manufactory’s Calibre 36, which meets the most demanding requirements while remaining easy to use. The movement provides the foundation for a new family of watches that has earned a worldwide reputation as a modern classic. Glashütte Original has now extended the line with two new interpretations of the Perpetual Calendar and two additional variants with Panorama Date and moon phase, available in either red gold or stainless steel cases.
Under the loupe: the complications
The Perpetual Calendar is considered to be one of the most desirable, and at the same time challenging, complications of the watchmaker’s art — and for good reason. The calendar function takes into account not only months of different lengths, but also leap years. The Glashütte Original Senator Excellence family implements this intricate haute horlogerie complication in a particularly contemporary and user-friendly manner: display windows in place of hands provide optimal legibility and an elegant, clear design. Discreet correctors on the case make it easy to adjust the weekday, month and moon phase, and the universal corrector enables simultaneous setting of the day, date and month.
The Senator Excellence Panorama Date combines two of Glashütte Original’s typical complications: a handcrafted silver- or gold-coloured moon traces its path beneath a curved opening in the dial. Careful diamond milling produces a sharp profile, set off clearly against the galvanic blue night sky. A generous dial aperture at 4 o’clock frames the Glashütte Original Panorama Date, which is comprised of two date discs mounted on the same level and without a central separation bar, thus ensuring optimal legibility.
Under the loupe: the design
All four new additions are mounted in a round, 42 mm satin-brushed and polished case (Perpetual Calendar) or a 40 mm diameter case (Panorama Date Moon Phase) with a slim, elegant bezel. The red gold versions contrast the shimmering precious metal with a galvanic silver dial. Deep black numerals are clearly set off against the Panorama Date’s ivory-coloured display discs. The hour and minute hands are fashioned in fine red gold, as are the hand-mounted Roman numerals. The stainless steel versions present galvanic grey dials. The Panorama Date display discs show white numerals against a matt blue ground. Appropriately, the gold appliques are coated in blue and the hour and minute hands are fashioned in traditional blued steel. All dials present a fine-grained surface texture. The raised Roman numerals and velvety surface lend the watches a classic, elegant face with distinctive contrasts and great visual depth.
Under the loupe: the movement
Ticking within the new Senator Excellence models are the most recent developments based on the proven Calibre 36. The new Perpetual Calendar timepieces are powered by the Calibre 36-12, while the Calibre 36-24 drives the models with Panorama Date and moon phase. Both movements were lavishly refined and are equipped with a two-tone galvanised balance cock that has been meticulously engraved by hand. A skeletonised rotor with a likewise skeletonised double-G-logo from Glashütte Original allows for a particularly unhindered insight. In addition, the movements feature the typical characteristics of high Glashütte watchmaking art, such as the three-quarter plate, the noble stripe finish, the perlage, blued screws as well as a fine polish on the gears and the decorative millings on the rotor track.
The winning formula of the Senator Excellence
Like all watches from the Senator Excellence line, the new variants have been designed with the highest requirements regarding suitability for everyday use, durability and a timeless aesthetic. Four basic principles have significantly determined the development of their movement: maximum stability, precision, running time and beauty.
Dependable stability is achieved through an optimised design that does without potentially wear-prone components. The bayonet mounting of the movement in the case significantly improves shock resistance. The outstanding precision of the automatic movement is enhanced by a silicon hairspring that is particularly resistant to external influences, just like the regulator-fee oscillating system. A bi-directional automatic winding system ensures that the watch is continuously kept within in the optimal winding range.
As time is always precious, the designers at Glashütte Original have worked with particular emphasis on the power reserve of the Senator Excellence models. The calibre family 36 offers a running time of at least 100 hours at a frequency of 4 hertz (28,800 vibrations per hour). This is made possible by an optimised spring barrel whose enlarged diameter with a smaller spring core has made it possible to lengthen the mainspring and significantly increase its number of windings. Beauty is a guiding theme that characterises all Glashütte Original collections – right down to the smallest detail.
An elaborate testing procedure
All Senator Excellence models are put through their paces for 24 days by the Saxon manufactory – under conditions that go beyond even the elaborate German chronometer test. The requirements are identical for all models in the series, regardless of the type or number of complications. A special engraving in the form of a Q on the case back seals the quality of each individual watch. The precise measurements from the test are carefully recorded and can be viewed by their future owners via a special online platform of the manufactory.
With the new Senator Excellence Perpetual Calendar and Senator Excellence Panorama Date Moon Phase models, Glashütte Original once again presents mechanical timepieces tailored for the life in the 21st century. Starting in October 2023, the new additions to the Senator Excellence line will be available at all lashütte Original boutiques and official retail partners worldwide.
Senator Excellence Perpetual Calendar Technical Specifications
Reference number: 1-36-12-02-05-62
Movement:
- Automatic Calibre 36-12, finely finished
- Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, perpetual calendar, moon phase, Panorama Date
- Frequency: 28,800 A/h, equivalent to 4 Hz
Case:
- Red gold 5 N, case back with sapphire crystal, water resistant to 5 bar
- Dimensions: Diameter: 42 mm, height: 12.8 mm
Dial:
- Galvanic silver with fine-grained embossing and applied Roman numerals in solid gold 5 N
- Hands: Hours/minutes: red gold 5 N, seconds: blue PVD, leap year indicator: blued steel
Strap:
- Brown Louisiana alligator nubuck leather, red gold clasp
Senator Excellence Perpetual Calendar Technical Specifications
Reference number: 1-36-12-03-02-64
Movement:
- Automatic Calibre 36-12, finely finished
- Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, perpetual calendar, moon phase, Panorama Date
- Frequency: 28,800 A/h, equivalent to 4 Hz
Case:
- Stainless steel, case back with sapphire crystal, water resistant to 5 bar
- Dimensions: Diameter: 42 mm, height: 12.8 mm
Dial:
- Galvanic grey with fine-grained embossing and applied Roman numerals in solid gold 5 N, blue coating
- Hands: Hours/minutes: blued steel, seconds: blue coating, leap year indicator: blued steel
Straps:
- Blue Louisiana alligator or blue fabric strap, both with double-folding stainless steel clasp, or metal bracelet in stainless steel
Senator Excellence Panorama Date Moon Phase Technical Specifications
Reference number: 1-36-24-02-05-62
Movement:
- Automatic Calibre 36-24, finely finished
- Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, moon phase, Panorama Date
- Frequency: 28,800 A/h, equivalent to 4 Hz
Case:
- Red gold 5 N, case back with sapphire crystal, water resistant to 5 bar
- Dimensions: Diameter: 40 mm, height: 12.2 mm
Dial:
- Galvanic silver with fine-grained embossing and applied Roman numerals in solid gold 5 N
- Hands: Hours/minutes: red gold 5 N; seconds: blue PVD
Strap:
- Brown Louisiana alligator nubuck leather, red gold clasp
Senator Excellence Panorama Date Moon Phase technical Specifications
Reference number: 1-36-24-02-02-64
Movement:
- Automatic Calibre 36-24, finely finished movement
- Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, moon phase, Panorama Date
- Frequency: 28,800 A/h, equivalent to 4 Hz
Case:
- Stainless steel, case back with sapphire crystal, water resistant to 5 bar
- Dimensions: Diameter: 40 mm, height: 12.2 mm
Dial:
- Galvanic grey with fine-grained embossing and applied Roman numerals in solid gold 5 N with blue coating
- Hands: Hours/minutes: blued steel, seconds: blue coating
Straps:
- Blue Louisiana alligator or blue fabric strap, both with double-folding stainless steel clasp, or metal bracelet in stainless steel
About Glashütte Original
Glashütte Original upholds the values of authentic manufactory production and can look back on an uninterrupted history that began in 1845. Located in the Saxon town of Glashütte, the manufactory brings traditional craftsmanship and innovative technologies together under one roof. The tradition-rich brand produces up to 95% of all movement components as well as the filigree dials in-house and represents the art of German watchmaking at its best.