Glashütte Original revealed the update to their popular Senator Excellence collection with two new models, the Senator Excellence Panorama Date and the Senator Excellence Panorama Date Moon Phase. The new models come in three new versions apiece – now available in blue, silver grey and white dials in stainless steel cases.
Glashütte Original Senator Excellence Panorama Date Moon Phase
The Case and Dial
The first thing that hits when holding the watch is the intensity of the sun burst dials. In this article, we examine possibly the most popular variant of the different dials, the blue dial. While seemingly simple on the surface, the in-house manufacture dials are made via an elaborate galvanisation and finishing process in Glashütte Original’s dial manufactory in Pforzheim. The galvanic blue dial features a refined sunray decoration that reflects a different shade of blue from every angle at the turn of the wrist.
The date aperture and moonphase windows are nicely cut and finished, providing a visually appealing gradual indentation on the dial. Finishing touches come in the form of white gold appliques, and a pair of sword shaped hands that tell the time.
Different from the previous generation Senator Excellence models, the hour indexes are accompanied by a lume dot marker at the periphery. This feature, along with the choice of dial colours, larger case size, show the brand’s choice to move towards a more contemporary design. While the changes are subtle, and the watch still appears as a classic timepiece, some might question the choice of enlarging the case by 2 mm, measuring 42 mm as compared to the previous 40 mm.
Other differences that indicate the choice to make a more contemporary design include the use of a simple stick minutes track as opposed to the more traditional railroad markers found on the older model. The use of a pair of steel sword hands with matching applied indices are also more contemporary compared to the heated blue spades hands and roman indices.
While some may prefer the older more classic design, the new Senator Excellence design does still provide more choices to those who have larger wrists and prefer that dash of colour over a regular silver or white dial.
In terms of the case, it is a fairly standard case design, with a mixture of brushed and polished surfaces and a step bezel which visually reduces the height and thickness of the bezel. The watch measures 12.2 mm in height and 42 mm in diameter.
At the back of the watch, we see the same screw-attached open caseback, as with the previous Senator Excellence models. A see-through caseback also reveals the Caliber 36 movement.
The movement
The Calibre 36 – here in the 36-04 variant with the Panorama Date and moon phase – has already made a name for itself as the ‘future’ caliber for the brand. Introduced in 2016, the manufactory made movement, is a masterpiece, rigorously tested, modern and reliable.
Like all other Senator Excellence models, these most recent versions guarantee an exceptional standard of quality. Every single one of these watches bears a special engraving in the form of a “Q” on the case back, to be read as a promise. Together with an individual examination certificate, the Q guarantees the owner that his watch meets the highest standards with respect to stability, running time, precision and aesthetics, and that it has been thoroughly tested over the course of 24 days – under conditions even more demanding than those governing German chronometer certification testing.
The movement is fit with a screw balance with 4 regulation screws, with an oscillating frequency of 28,800 vph. The single barrelled movement has a power reserve of 100 hours. The movement is reliable as much as it is easy to use. The watch’s Moon Phase and Date are set using the crown, which makes an additional corrector on the case unnecessary.
Finishing wise, the movement is adequately finished for its pricepoint, complete with Glashütte stripes, polished/blued screws, and a skeletonized rotor with a 21-ct gold oscillation weight.
Concluding thoughts
The watch is a well-thought product extension to the line of Senator Excellence watches. While industry trends favour classic watches under 40 mm, the new line will supplement the original 40 mm sized watches with a larger case offering; heartening for those with larger wrists, perhaps for the American or European markets. Stylistically, the new design is more contemporary relative to the older model, and reveals perhaps a younger demographic target for the brand. Dial-wise, the new variants come in very attractive finishing and colour choices, although the silver-graine dial used in the previous model is hard to top. While taking to the changes is subjective, the essentials of the watch stay the same and is perhaps the strongest suit for Glashütte Original at the moment; a workhorse German manufacture movement, with a brand image of being ‘over-engineered’ and reliable at the same time.
The Senator Excellence Panorama Date Moon Phase is available in both alligator and steel bracelet. They are priced at S$17900 for the alligator and S$19700 for the bracelet.
Specifications
Case: Ø 42 mm
Height: 12.2 mm
Material: stainless steel
Strap: 21/18 mm
Waterproof up to: 5 bar
Glass: sapphire crystal,
both sides anti-reflective
Bottom: sapphire crystal
Dial: Ø display 36.8 mm,
galvanized blue with sunray
decoration, hour markers with luminous spots, white gold appliques
Hands: rhodium plated
Dimensions: Ø 32.2 mm, height 6.7 mm
Balance: screw balance with 4 regulation screws gold 14 ct
Oscillating frequency: 28,800 vph, equivalent to 4 Hz Power reserve: 100 hours
Balance spring: silicon
Shock protection: Incabloc
Jewels: 43 jewel bearings
