The Complex Glashütte Original Senator Cosmopolite Now in Steel

The vast majority of people are comfortable with watches simply displaying hours and minutes but multiple time zone watches are extremely useful for globetrotters or those who need to keep track of time in different countries. The Senator Cosmopolite, Glashütte Original’s take on the complication, is packed with a unique set of features, making for a highly functional and original travel watch. Initially launched in gold in 2015, its sophisticated mechanism is now cased in steel – making it more accessible (or, at least, less expensive).

With the Senator Cosmopolite, you can consult the time in two time zones at once, at a glance. No fewer than 36 time zones can be read on its dial (yes, there are more than 24 time zones, with ½, ¼ or ¾ hour differences – more below). Each of them is displayed with its official IATA location code – the International Air and Transport Association 3-letter location identifier codes for airports and cities – for instance, JFK for New York. The watch can also display times zones that deviate less than one hour from neighbouring time zones. The 24 time zones that do show a full-hour deviation are indicated using a black IATA code; nine time zones with half-hour offsets are indicated in blue; three additional time zones are shown in red. Another practical and rare feature, two windows allow the wearer to select either standard time (STD) or Daylight-Saving-Time (DST).

The dial stands out with clear graphics designed for optimal legibility and ease of use. The blue printed Arabic numerals and applied baton hour markers stand out clearly against the white dial – the Gold version features more classical Roman numerals. The home time is indicated at 12 o’clock. The central spade and whip hands indicate the local time. Both time zones are enhanced with a day/night indication. At 6 o’clock, the small seconds provides a counterpoint to the home time indication and an arched opening at 12 o’clock indicates the power reserve. The large type of the ‘Panorama’ date makes it legible at a glance.

Setting the watch is simple. The crown at 2 o’clock allows you to set the home time and wind the watch. The crown at 8 o’clock allows you to set the city corresponding to the local time in the DST or STD window. When travelling, the adjustment of the local time is made with the 4 o’clock crown: the central hour and minute hands shift forwards or back in 15-minute steps. A corrector at 9 o’clock lets you set the date.

Turn the watch over and the exhibition case back reveals the sophisticated automatic calibre 89-02 comprising over 400 parts. The movement is wound by an off-centre openwork rotor rotating over the iconic three-quarter plate. It features a double G logo and a 21k gold weight. The power reserve is set at 72 hours. The regulator features the brand’s ‘duplex swan neck regulator’ for fine adjustment of the beat and the rate of the movement. On each swan neck, a micrometric screw allows for high-precision adjustment. The balance wheel features four screws and operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour.

The calibre 89-02 is finished to the distinctive standards of Glashütte Original. The bevels are nicely polished and the screws are blued. The three-quarter plate and rotor feature thin ribbings while the balance bridges are richly hand-engraved.

The 44mm steel case alternates between satin-brushed and polished surfaces. On the wrist, it feels big with the large dial opening. But it fits well, despite its generous diameter and naturally, it is much lighter than the gold version. For enhanced comfort, the model is available either on a pin or folding buckle (with standard or short blade).

This practical, high-grade traveller’s watch is, without doubt, one of the most functional offers on the market. It retails for EUR 20,700 compared to EUR 38,000 for the gold version. For more information or to discover the other versions of the Glashütte Original Senator Cosmopolite, please visit www.glashuette-original.com. There is also an animation showing how the watch can be adjusted to the different time zones.