Precise to the Second

The term «chronometer» denotes an especially accurate watch, such as those that were necessary in the past for determining the time needed for sea and air navigation. Today, just as in the past, official independent institutes test the exacting level of rate precision of these timepieces utilizing standardized measuring procedures. Only with certification from an authorized institute is a timepiece allowed to be called a chronometer. It goes without saying that at Glashütte Original all manually wound calibers are tested according to these strict criteria: the Senator Chronometer is the first timepiece with official confirmation in the form of a certificate.

Precise synchronization of the minute and second hands has now been made possible by re-designed Glashütte Original manual winding Caliber 58-01, which powers the Senator Chronometer model. A novel stop-seconds / reset mechanism allows the wearer to set the precise time with ease. Pulling the crown stops the time display and causes the second hand to jump to the beginning position, where it remains; the minute hand moves simultaneously to the next full minute. When the crown is then turned to set the time, the minute hand stops only on the indication of the full minute, thus always guaranteeing the correct relationship between the minutes and seconds displayed.

The classic appearance of the Senator Chronometer’s dial is reminiscent of the characteristic layout of a pocket chronometer. The silver dial is home to subsidiary seconds and power reserve displays along the central axis; the latter, located at 12 o’clock, loyally displays the energy remaining to the hour. The characteristic Glashütte Original panorama date display located at 3 o’clock now contains a sophisticated enhancement created by the manufactory’s designers enabling the date display to instantly change precisely at midnight. The movement now also sports a day / night indicator that makes setting the time in relation to the date change even easier: From 6:00 am until 6:00 pm the small circle located between the power reserve indicator and the center of the dial is white, and from 6:00 pm until 6:00 am it is black.

The silver dial provides a richly contrasting surface for the polished, blued sweep minute and pear-shaped hour hands. Displaying a typical attention to detail, the hand arbor is, of course, hand polished. A milled railroad chapter ring encircles the Senator Chronometer’s central time display in a perfectly harmonious way, and the milled Roman numerals add to the timepiece’s genuinely classic appearance.A lavish manufacturing process goes into making the dial’s seemingly simple surface. Glashütte Original consciously opted to employ a vintage tradition: a technique known as l’argenture grainée, a frosted silver plating.

The first step in the process consists of machine-blasting the surface of the brass dial with a mixture of water, chalk, and wood. Then a paste containing silver powder and water is carefully applied by hand to the blasted surface. The result is a charmingly purist dial that magically attracts the observer’s eye with its refined surface structure.

An antireflective sapphire crystal case back protects manually wound Caliber 58-01, showcasing the finely finished movement, which is an eye-catching example of Glashütte watch making with its three-quarter plate, screw-mounted gold chatons, and hand-engraved balance cock. Of special note are the newly developed planetary gears that control the display of the movement’s power reserve. This elegant timekeeper has a power reserve of 45 hours.

The simple, yet impressive, Senator Chronometer is available in either rose or white gold, and is held in place perfectly by a black Louisiana alligator skin strap with a folding clasp for a secure and comfortable fit.