Glashütte Original Senator Chrono Panorama Date, a rather long name for a watch that could still add one last surname: “steel”. And it is important, because it is not common to find this material in pieces as sophisticated as the one in question. And because, let's be clear, there is only one brand with which Glashütte Original can be compared, and it only produces boxes in precious materials with the consequent impact on its prices. It is not a question here of talking about the oxymoron “affordable luxury” but rather an interesting quality-price ratio.
Another difference compared to what is commonly established is that this Senator Chrono Panorama Date has a marked sporty air compared to most of the House's references (with the exception of the Observer, also in steel). And it is not a bad way, because it allows you to enjoy complications like that big date without having to wear a formal style. This “casual look” is reinforced with the availability of a steel bracelet and a rubber strap, rubber that justifies its existence if we take into account that this model has a screwed crown for a water resistance of 10 bars or, in other words, 100 meters. It's not exactly a diver, but you can take it to the beach or sailing without worrying.
I have had the pleasure of having a 1-37-01-03-02-35 unit (that is its not very suggestive internal name) for a week, and what I am about to do is a subjective assessment of the sensations it has transmitted to me.
The box
With a diameter of 42mm and a height of almost 15 (14.60mm) it is 'almost' proportional; and I say almost because in my opinion it has a millimeter of thickness left over. Possibly it is due to the oscillating weight, which claims its vital space in a watch that, being submersible, cannot allow itself to be manually wound due to having to unscrew the crown every time it has to be wound, but I think that this would be easily correctable from the brand's design department.
Now, and speaking of the crown: a couple of tenths more in diameter would not hurt to make it easier to grip. For the rest, the machining (polishing and matting) and the execution of the case itself are very well done, with quality details such as the recesses in the case, one to be able to remove the crown comfortably and another two between the robust lugs to avoid rubbing the strap. Also on the case (at ten o'clock) is the pusher to advance the panoramic date. The sapphire crystal is slightly domed and has a bezel around its perimeter that in my opinion is a little too exposed to accidental friction that could damage it. The exposed – threaded – caseback reveals the magnificent caliber 37-01 with 70 hours of power reserve provided from a single barrel.
The sphere
Lacquered in black and profusely equipped with SuperLuminova, it presents a quasi-perfect symmetry, with baton indexes at all its hour points except at twelve and six o'clock, where we see Roman numerals. Three counters: at twelve accumulated hours of the chronograph, at three its minutes and at nine its continuous seconds. It is in this subdial where we will see the power reserve indicator and the only element that breaks – very slightly – that symmetry, white when the charge is not complete and black – and virtually invisible – when it is fully charged. The logos and a slightly oversized “Made in Germany” complement the set. Here you can see a report about thedial production at Glashütte Original.
Strap and drop down
This being one of the points most often neglected by manufacturers, I must say that in this case the strap is on par with the whole. Great calfskin with a very pleasant touch (and I suppose with water-repellent treatment) that contributes to the overall feeling of quality. The stitching is a blue color that is very close to that of the SuperLuminova on the dial indices and that combines very well with it. It is accompanied by a pressure steel folding clasp that combines matting and polishing with the detail of a screw to fix it in the area of the strap holes.
The caliber
Apart from its excellent finishes (and dials), if there is something for which Glashütte Original is known and respected, it is for its wide range of calibers in addition to the patent for the large date on a single plane of concentric discs. The 37-01 (whose code also appears in the Senator Chrono Panorama Date reference) is set in five positions, which gives it COSC parameters... although since this certification is Swiss and the Glashütte chronographic observatory is named after the competition, it seems that at Glashütte Original they prefer us to be the ones to guess that we are looking at a real chronometer. Its components include no less than sixty-five rubies, and although it is often stated that this (the number of rubies) is not a rigorous scale to rate the quality of a caliber, it is no less true that a greater number of rubies guarantees less friction and therefore greater durability.
Reduced friction is also partly responsible for the unusual 70-hour power reserve provided by a single barrel. The other part has to do with the technical advances of the Swatch Group to which Glashütte Original belongs, with proprietary alloys developed by its large auxiliary industry that allows, for example, to produce a mainspring with the thinnest strap, which allows more turns of it to enter the single barrel. Regarding the finishes of the caliber itself, Glashütte Original combines the mechanical decoration with the manual. For example, pearling (those circular marks on the base plates) is applied manually with a mechanical lathe, while the “Glashütte bands” are applied directly by a digitally controlled milling machine. What is unquestionably manual (and because it cannot be done any other way) is the “anglage”, the 45 degree beveling that is given to the edges of the bridges.
There are even “tricks” to make these bevels that Glashütte Original jealously guards and to which it applies a confidentiality commitment with journalists who visit its facilities (it is one of the few places where they do not allow photos to be taken). The fire blueing of the screws is also done by hand, scrupulously controlling the temperature and time to which these tiny – and perfect – pieces of metal are subjected, since an insufficient temperature/time combination leaves them brown and an excessive one turns them violet. The result, in any case, is spectacular. As functions, in addition to the chronograph and the time and date, it has the so-called “flyback” in English or “Retour en vol” in French, which is the ability to restart the chrono count without having to reset it previously since, as that French name explains, it does so “on the fly.”
Usability
Accustomed to larger diameters, 42 millimeters have not been any problem on a daily basis. Neither does his height but, as I mentioned above, I think the team would win if this height were lowered. Readability is excellent even with well-established presbyopia, especially the date, which can certainly do without magnifying glasses. Perhaps this, the large or “panoramic” date, is the most attractive part of the dial, especially due to the absence of the “mount” between the figures that in other brands hides the step between the two discs at different heights.
Another element that contributes to this readability is the high contrast between black and the blue Superluminova, both in bright light and in low light conditions (as long as it is “charged”, of course). Operating the snap closure is very comfortable and conveys a feeling of security, security that is also objective taking into account the way in which it is attached to the strap: by pin at one end and by screw at the other. The chrono buttons are operated smoothly, with just the right amount of pressure, both the start-stop button and the return or reset button. Another story is the crown: I don't know if it's because the unit was new, but the unscrewing-threading operations were not as smooth as one might expect. It may be a security measure against water ingress with especially strong joints, but I think it could be solved with that extra couple of tenths of diameter that I also mentioned when talking about the case. In any case, nothing serious if the watch is kept on time, since the date change is done using the push button on the case. The price, €13,800 in Spain including taxes, can be considered adjusted for what it offers, especially if we compare it with the “comparable” offer from German manufacturing which, as has already been said, usually uses only precious metals for its cases.
Located in the highest segment of the Swatch Group and with a relatively limited production (around 20,000 watches per year),Glashütte OriginalIt is a niche brand for connoisseurs who already own other watches and want to explore areas other than Swiss Made. In the area of Saxony, Germany has a rich watchmaking history with its own characteristics, such as the three-quarter plate that makes its calibers unmistakable, or the specialization of suppliers in specific pieces that gave rise at the time to mass construction compared to the semi-finished calibers produced by the now famous Swiss peasants during the long and snowy winters.
In summary, theGlashütte Original Senator Chrono Panorama DateIt is not an entry-level watch to the watch hobby neither by model nor by brand, but it is a serious candidate for the fan who, out of habit, imagines the prices of these top-level timepieces well above that of this model.
Best watch strap | Best annual calendar watch | Best watch winder | Best Black Luxury watch | Best Luxury Watches Men | Best Swiss Luxury Watches Women | Best Men Diamond Watches under 1000 | Best Diamond Watches Women | Best Luxury Dive Watch
