Baselworld 2017 – Glashütte Original Senator Chronograph Panorama Date, Now in Sporty Steel / Black Style

Back in 2014, Glashütte Original launched an important watch, the Senator Chronograph Panorama Date with the new In-House Calibre 37. Important because the market for high-end chronograph is extremely competitive and because, to fight with the right gears, GO came up with their first automatic integrated chronograph, conceived internally. First unveiled in rose gold and platinum – rather dressy versions – the Glashütte Original Senator Chronograph Panorama Date is now dressed in a sporty Steel case with black dial. 

This new version of the Glashütte Original Senator Chronograph Panorama Date is not just about a change of material and color for the dial. It is a more in-depth recast, mainly visual for sure, but yet, the watch now changes category. Used to be a dress watch, become a high-end sports timepiece. In this case again, Glashütte Original applies the same recipe as with the Senator Observer. Same case, different material, same movement, same display, but entirely new dial with completely different taste. The Saxon brand doesn’t play on the easy side, by just painting the dial in black and changing gold in steel.

The first very good news in this steel version of the Glashütte Original Senator Chronograph Panorama Date is that we find back the Calibre 37, with exact same execution and specs as before. Thus, collectors will be able to enjoy an integrated, in-house chronograph movement with column-wheel, with a superb layout, as for once, all the chronograph parts (levers, springs, wheels) are visible and not hidden under large bridges (as often with modern chronographs). This Calibre 37 has a compact construction with flyback mechanism, with the lever comprised of only one part and with a space-saving coupling clutch, which operates by means of an oscillating pinion. This 12-hour chronograph with large date is finished in the traditional Glashütte Original way, meaning polished steel parts, polished and blued screws, three-quarter plate / cock / rotor with Glashütte stripe finish, bevelled edges and skeletonized rotor with 21k gold oscillation weight. Overall, when fully wound it boasts 70-hour of power reserve and beats at 4Hz.

If the entrails of the steel Glashütte Original Senator Chronograph Panorama Date are equal to the gold and platinum versions, the habillage (external parts of a watch) drastically differs. First of all, its 42mm case is now made in steel (good for a daily use, as lighter and more resistance to scratches, plus more accessible…), still with the same finishing – polished flat surfaces, satined casebands, polished bezel. To reinforce the sporty character of the watch, it will be offered in 3 different options; stainless steel bracelet with easy-adjustment clasp, black leather strap with light blue stitchings (matching the indexes) or black rubber with laser-cut herringbone pattern. Both the leather and rubber straps can be attached to a folding clasp or a pin buckle.

The main evolution with this steel Glashütte Original Senator Chronograph Panorama Date concerns the dial. While it retains the same display as the gold and platinum versions (Panorama Date at 6, small second with power reserve at 9, 30-minute counter at 3 and 12-hour counter at 12), the whole design of the dial has been revamped. First, no more rail-road minute track and thin roman numerals. The periphery of the dial now shows a precise second track and the indexes are large batons painted in blue with luminous material, expect at 12 and  6 where we find albs luminous Roman numerals. The hands have also been redesigned, as instead of the blued steel ones, the Senator Chronograph now has larger sword hands in steel and filled with blue luminous paint (even the chronograph central hand).

This steel Glashütte Original Senator Chronograph Panorama Date, with its new execution, feels both very familiar and high-end, while being rather different from the rest of the collection. An interesting move from the Saxon manufacture. Price to be confirmed. More details on www.glashuette-original.com.