Showing posts with label Senator. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Senator. Show all posts

Thursday, April 3, 2008

BaselWorld 2008 Preview: Glashütte Original Senator Rattrapante

The Glashütte Original manufacture presented an absolute highlight of the fine art of mechanical Glashütte watchmaking last year in the Senator Rattrapante. At Baselworld 2008, the Saxon manufacture presents another perfectly formed variation of the split-seconds chronograph.


Contrary to its predecessor, which was crafted in platinum, this version is currently being introduced in a more classic rose gold case. The domed, anti-reflective sapphire crystal reveals a look at the cleanly designed and structured dial of the Senator Rattrapante, with all relevant details able to be gleaned at a glance. The sweep hour and minute hands as well as the off-center stop second hand glide in shiny blue across the light dial. Should the wearer activate the rattrapante function, the red split-seconds hand begins to chase after its blue counterpart.


A red minute scale with numerals inspired by historical models completes the elegant look, building a sober frame around the artistically designed dial. The silver totalizers fit harmoniously into the entire picture of this noble timekeeper, which includes the panorama date so typical of Glashütte Original at 4 o’clock. The Roman numerals underscore and perfect the timeless look of this very special chronograph.


The sapphire crystal case back allows the fine finishing of the individual components and subgroups of manually wound Caliber 99 to become visible. On this manually wound caliber developed exclusively for the Senator Rattrapante, all important turned components—parts such as stems, pinions, and wheels—are jeweled. A technical progression is represented by the premier of the escape wheel being embedded between end stones.


Here the tip of the escape wheel pinion is embedded in a jewel, which lessens friction on the escape wheel thanks to its smaller surface. A thus steadier balance allows for stabilization of the amplitude. The design of the rattrapante tongs’ floating bearings is also technically demanding. They make a balanced division of energy possible for simultaneously opening both tong halves without having to lean on the rattrapante’s fourth wheel. This type of design is one of the highlights of the fine mechanics visible through this jewel’s sapphire crystal case back. Another remarkable characteristic of the Senator Rattrapante as a demanding manually wound chronograph is its flyback function. The great advantage of this is that the wearer is in a position to take a differential time measurement, reading the result directly without having to reset.


This exclusive timepiece’s manually wound Caliber 99 ticks within a solid, completely polished rose gold case 42 millimeters in diameter. The Senator Rattrapante is secured to the wrist of its wearer by an integrated black Louisiana crocodile skin strap with a rose gold folding clasp.

Info via Glashütte Original

BaselWorld 2008 Preview: Glashütte Original Senator Sixties Chronograph

The exciting era of the “wild ’60s” was the source of Glashütte Original’s designers’ inspiration in creating the Senator Sixties line. With the Senator Sixties Chronograph the Saxon manufacture now adds another aesthetic model to a line already so crowned by success.


Turning back time is not necessary in the case of the Senator Sixties Chronograph since this timepiece symbolizes the joie de vivre of the ‘60s very clearly for its wearer. The convex shape of the sapphire crystal on the front and likewise domed dial cleverly attract the observer’s eye. Domed, skeletonized hands glide harmoniously across the satin-finished dial, while the diamond-cut hour markers featuring characteristic dots of SuperLumiNova and the extravagant font of the numerals illustrate design typical of these years.

Glashütte Original’s designers positioned the chronograph totalizers at 3 and 9 o’clock on the dial. Polished silver zones allow the counters to integrate beautifully into the entire look of the dial design. The start and stop functions of the stylish chronograph are easily activated by the wearer with the aid of rounded buttons placed on the side of the case.


The shaped sapphire crystal case back first seen on the Senator Sixties models is naturally also present on the Senator Sixties Chronograph. It not only allows a direct view into automatic manufacture Caliber 39-52 with its characteristic elements of Glashütte watchmaking such as a three-quarter plate, swan-neck fine adjustment, Glashütte ribbing, and double sunburst decoration, but also for the first time makes a side view of the rotating oscillating weight crafted in 21-karat gold possible.


The energetic look of the Senator Sixties Chronographen is continued in its finely worked crocodile skin strap, the refined scales of which perfectly complete the retro design of this timepiece. The stainless steel model is available with a choice of a silver-colored or black dial.

Info via Glashütte Original

Daily thoughts, musings & interests about anything (mostly horology) that currently makes my soul & grey matter tick.