Glashütte Original Senator Chronometer Tourbillon Watch Review
The Glashütte Original Senator Chronometer Tourbillon is an ultra-precise, highly legible timepiece endowed with a remarkable patented Flyback Tourbillon. This sublime example of Haute Horlogerie, which is also a flying tourbillon, beautifully unites tradition with modernity. Limited to just 50 pieces, this model represents a dazzling evolution of Alfred Helwig’s mechanism invented in the same town, Glashütte, back in 1920.
The importance of chronometry
For centuries, watchmakers have burnt the midnight oil in their quest to achieve superior chronometric performance. Back in the early 18th century, great minds sought a means of determining longitude at sea, culminating in the production of marine chronometers. These instruments had to be precise as a lack of accuracy could have potentially grave consequences.
Whether at sea or on terra firma, the raison d’etre for a clock or watch is to indicate the correct time. Needless to say, the finest expressions of horology should be highly precise. To this end, watchmakers have looked closely at different forms of escapement, embraced new materials and devised various mechanisms to augment rate stability and accuracy.
The tourbillon (1801)
Famously, Abraham-Louis Breguet recognised that gravity had an adverse influence on the behaviour of the regulating organ within a pocket watch. His solution was to place the escapement and regulating organ within a cage driven by the fourth wheel. The cage revolved 360° over a defined period, typically one, four or six minutes. As the cage rotated, any positional errors that could influence the behaviour of the regulating organ were negated. Breguet’s invention, the ‘tourbillon’ was patented in 1801.
The flying tourbillon (1920)
In 1920, Alfred Helwig, a Master watchmaker and instructor at the Glashütte School of Watchmaking, invented the flying tourbillon. Similar to Breguet’s invention, the flying tourbillon places the escapement and regulating organ within a rotating cage, but it is supported solely by one bridge, positioned underneath. By eschewing the upper bridge (or bar), the flying tourbillon affords superior views of the escape wheel, pallet lever, hairspring and balance wheel in motion, providing a delightful animated spectacle. Moreover, just like Breguet’s invention, mentioned earlier, the flying tourbillon contributes to the chronometric performance of the watch.
The problem with tourbillons
The problem with a tourbillon is that, despite its prowess for precision timekeeping, the indicated time will often be incorrect. The hour and minute hands can be adjusted precisely using the crown but the seconds hand will keep running. This is because tourbillons and flying tourbillons usually lack the facility to ‘hack’ the seconds, introducing a degree of error, potentially up to 59 seconds in magnitude.
Now, Glashütte Original has revisited Helwig’s mechanism and addressed the hacking issue with some clever patented know-how. Termed a ‘Flyback Tourbillon’, this form of flying tourbillon, can be set precisely to the nearest second. Simply pull out the crown to position ‘1’ and a vertical clutch halts the balance and locks the tourbillon cage in place. By pulling out the crown further to position ‘2’ and holding it, the small seconds hand, positioned atop the tourbillon cage, smoothly rotates to the zero position and the minute hand advances to the next index. These patented features not only ensure the Flyback Tourbillon indicates the prevailing time precisely, but they also indulge the wearer with a balletic performance par excellence.
Glashütte Original Senator Chronometer Tourbillon – dial
The hours and minutes are shown on an off-centre display in the northern hemisphere of the dial. Lancine-style hour and minute hands, executed in blued steel, collaborate with solid gold, applied indexes, again dressed in a suit of blue clothes. At the fulcrum of the dial, where the minute hand sits above the hour hand, the centre is polished to a brilliant gleam. Said hands sit above a transparent disc, adorned with a view of the sun and moon taking their turn to transit the Earth. This animated vista depicts both heavenly bodies orbiting the earth once every 24 hours and serves as a day/night indicator.
The headline act, the flying tourbillon, resides in the southern hemisphere of the dial, ready to enthral onlookers with its mesmerising dance. The blue tip affixed to the tourbillon cage kisses succinct markings on a crystal clear track. Interestingly, the track sits upon a sapphire plinth, allowing the wearer to see more of the Clous de Paris surfaces that nestle below.
The dial is also endowed with a power-reserve indicator at 9 o’clock and features a blue hand that arcs right when the mainspring is fully tensioned. Sitting beneath the sapphire crystal, positioned front of house, various components, often hidden from view, are shown in finely finished form. The inner wall of the case is mirror-polished, providing a beautiful means of delineating the dial from its housing.
Glashütte Original Senator Chronometer Tourbillon – case
This paragon of fine watchmaking measures just 42 mm in diameter, a modest figure considering the complexity housed within its sumptuous platinum case. The exterior surfaces of the case are highly polished, save for the caseband and the underside of the lugs which are satin-brushed. By juxtaposing two contrasting finishes, the Manufactory masterfully steers a course between flamboyance and restraint.
The vertical flank of the crown is adorned with the brand’s Double-G logo, set against a blue backdrop, providing a further dose of ownership delight. The watch is presented on a dark blue Louisiana alligator leather strap paired with a butterfly clasp.
Glashütte Original Calibre 58-06
The luxury marque is renowned for crafting sublime expressions of Haute Horlogerie and the hand-wound Calibre 58-06 upholds this reputation.
At the heart of the flying tourbillon sits a variable-inertia balance. This is technically superior to the ubiquitous index-regulated balance. This latter form of regulation involves moving an index to alter the effective length of the hairspring. However, with a variable-inertia balance, the length of the hairspring remains fixed and the rate is adjusted by moving inertia weights affixed to the rim of the balance wheel. A variable-inertia balance allows the watchmaker to adjust the rate more precisely than a simple index will allow. Moreover, should the watch be subject to a shock it is less likely to require remedial regulation. Interestingly with this watch, the German firm has used gold regulation screws, a traditional form of inertia weight.
While the company has been respectful of watchmaking traditions, it has not shied away from embracing modern-day know-how. For instance, the balance spring is formed of cutting-edge silicon, a glass-like material that is not liable to corrosion and remains unaffected by magnetism or changes in temperature. Furthermore, by using a silicon hairspring, the Manufactory can achieve greater precision.
And, while we are talking about precision, it is also worth pointing out that the Senator Chronometer Tourbillon limited edition is a chronometer, independently tested by the Thuringian Weights and Measures Office and meets the requirements of the DIN 8319 official chronometer standard.
To the rear of the watch, the wearer can see a three-quarter plate, a feature found on watches made in this region of Germany. When compared with using numerous bridges, this large plate confers superior stability. Moreover, the company has set aside a conventional dial, instead using a series of smaller plates attached to the underside of the movement ie affixed to the reverse of the baseplate.
The large three-quarter plate and the smaller plates shown front of house are adorned with a traditional Clous de Paris motif that has been executed using cutting-edge laser technology. Furthermore, the brand has embellished parts with a selection of other traditional finishes, including graining, solarisation, anglage and mirror-polishing. In addition, the Glashütte-based firm has indulged purists by endowing the movement with white gold chatons.
Glashütte Original Senator Chronometer Tourbillon limited edition
The Glashütte Original Senator Chronometer Tourbillon is packed with numerous refinements intended to augment functionality and precision. In particular, the Flyback feature ensures the time indicated is correct to the nearest second. However, beyond its technical qualities, this watch is also achingly beautiful and tastefully unites tradition with modernity.
Glashütte Original has created a flying tourbillon in the very town where the story of this gravity-defying mechanism first began. Alfred Helwig sought to enhance chronometric performance with his invention of 1920, an achievement this brand from Saxony has built upon with an extraordinary degree of ingenuity and skill.
Further reading
https://www.glashuette-original.com/
Glashütte Original Senator Chronometer Tourbillon – technical specification
- Model: Glashütte Original Senator Chronometer Tourbillon
- Reference: 1-58-06-01-03-61
- Case: platinum, diameter 42 mm, height 12.6 mm, water resistance 5 ATM (50 m), sapphire crystal to the front and exhibition case back.
- Functions: hours, minutes, power-reserve indicator, small seconds on tourbillon cage, day/night indicator
- Movement: Calibre 58-06, hand-wound movement, frequency 21,600 vph (3 Hz), 85 jewels, power reserve 70 hours
- Strap: dark blue Louisiana Alligator leather strap with platinum fold fastener
- Price: £157,700 (RRP as of 19.9.2023)
- Limited Edition: 50 pieces