Glashutte Original discloses new watches at its finest
Dubbed after the name of the watchmaking town of Glashütte in Germany, the Glashütte Original remains true to its heritage of the traditional Saxon art of precision watchmaking, and this year, in its unveiling of remarkable new novelties, it further carries on the legacy of crafting timepieces with creative innovation
Born in 1994, Glashütte Original has found its formal inception following the privatisation of VEB Glashütter Uhrenbetriebe (GUB), an East German conglomerate, which was originally formed in 1951 by merging all of the watch companies based in the town of Glashütte, Germany. Taking its name from the town considered to be “the birthplace of German watchmaking”, the brand has grown to be one of the companies that made an impact in showcasing the Saxon art of watchmaking to the global markets. Today, Glashütte Original is part of the renowned Swatch Group, which has modernised its production facilities, and merged the brand with Deutsche Zifferblatt Manufaktur (DZM), a Swatch Group premium dial crafting division. Endowed with the traditional Saxon art of precision watchmaking, Glashütte Original timepieces are combined with creative innovation, as is evidenced by this year’s novelties including the Senator Chronometer, Senator Excellence and Lady Serenade.
Senator Chronometer
Displaying visual prowess with its deep blue dial inspired by the famous marine chronometers of the past, the Senator Chronometer also offers strong evidence of its quality in the form of official certification as a chronometer by the German Calibration Service, and assumes with pride its role as contemporary heir to its predecessors in the art of precision timekeeping.
The functions are driven by the sophisticated manual winding Calibre 58-01 which features a refined second-stop mechanism. Meanwhile, further looking into its dial details would reveal the long, slim poire hands in polished white gold that make reading the time a visual delight. The newly designed white gold case is with the Senator line's characteristic slim bezel, which allows the elaborately worked dial to display its full splendour.
The Senator Chronometer also presents the characteristic, colour-matched Glashütte
Original Panorama Date at 3 o'clock, along with a separate day-night display that simplifies setting of the date and is positioned in a round opening above the centre. A midnight blue Louisiana alligator leather strap with a white gold foldover clasp rounds out the elaborate form of the new chronometer.
Senator Excellence
Glashütte celebrates the debut of the manufactory Calibre 36 beneath a classic face of modern time measurement in Glashütte: The Senator Excellence. The German watchmaker's designers were guided, as they created the new core movement, by four principles: Extreme stability – in rate as well as overall construction; maximum precision; extended running time; and an aesthetic of timeless beauty.
With its new calibre the brand presents, for the first time, a movement fitted with an innovative silicon mainspring. Not only does its high-tech material render the ultra-thin spring immune to changes in temperature and to magnetic fields, but its oscillation is extremely isochronous. In addition, a regulator-free oscillation system makes it possible to adjust the rate using weighted screws directly on the balance rim. The movement is tested and adjusted by Glashütte Original in six different positions – one more than a chronometer certification test would normally require. Moreover, the new calibre features, for the first time at Glashütte Original, a power reserve of up to 100 hours, at a frequency of 28,800 alternations per hour. The result offers maximum comfort for the wearer and is an authentic example of the modern art of watchmaking.
With its minimalist design, the Senator Excellence mirrors the pure essence of Glashütte Original. A slim bezel and the domed sapphire crystal, anti-reflective on both sides, offer superb views and lend this timepiece its simple elegance. The finely ribbed crown bears the brand's representative double-Glashütte logo, carried by all mechanical watches in the collection. The polished and satin-brushed surfaces of the case reflect the light and are harmoniously attuned to each other.
Three versions of this watch include two present a dial with a light, silver-grained lacquer surface along with laser-cut, galvanised black indexes and a corresponding railroad minute ring. The stainless steel model presents finely drawn minute numerals inspired by those of historic pocket watches, laser-cut and galvanised in black, while the red gold version offers these numerals printed in luminous red. A third model presents a stainless steel case with black dial and finely curved Arabic numerals. A white railroad minute ring and 5-minute markers create additional contrasts and are enhanced by a black calfskin strap with pin buckle – for pure watchmaking beauty.
Lady Serenade
This year, Glashütte Original presents three new versions of the Lady Serenade that play with refined contrasts and prove, in the most delightful ways, that opposites attract.
Two of the versions feature the elegant, deep black dials, made with great care by the manufactory's own dial-makers in Pforzheim, enhanced with a sun-burst decoration and then coated in a galvanic bath, and black Louisiana alligator leather straps stand in elegant contrast to a finely worked case in stainless steel or warm rose gold.
With the third variation this collection premieres a design whose timeless charm makes it a candidate to become a modern classic. For the first time, Glashütte Original presents a Lady Serenade in a refined bi-colour edition. The midsection of the case in classic stainless steel is complemented by a bezel and crown in rose gold.
The dial is fashioned in fine white mother-of-pearl whose iridescent shimmer and natural textured hues make each piece unique. The fragile nature of mother- of-pearl means that it must be treated with great care, all the more so as the filigreed gilt applique indexes are applied by hand. The graceful composition finds the perfect finishing touch in a cream coloured Louisiana alligator leather strap.
The functional design of the Lady Serenade's distinctive crown, also typical of the brand, makes it easy to handle; it is adorned with an elegant cabochon – an onyx with the stainless steel model and a brillant-cut diamond on the rose gold crowns. For women who wish to bring a little more glamour into their life, these three models are also available in versions whose bezels are beset with sparkling diamonds.
At the heart of the Lady Serenade beats the automatic manufactory Calibre 39-22. Its second-stop function assures that when the crown is pulled out the seconds hand comes to a halt, allowing one to set the time with great precision.
