Freezing time on the wrist Glashütte Original navigates the vast ocean of horology with watchmaking

      Stemming from the glorious lineage of 1845, and reviewing 170 years of German watchmaking history, Glashütte Original is a true inheritor of high-end German watchmaking. Its watches are equipped with 100% in-house developed original movements, with component manufacturing reaching 95%.Glashütte OriginalIt is one of the rare watch brands in the world that simultaneously owns its own watch manufactory and dial manufactory. Taking up the responsibility of passing on the heritage of German watchmaking civilisation, it has established the German Glashütte Watchmaking Museum and a watchmaking school, making it exceptionally rare in the field of high watchmaking.

Senator Observer

       Boasting a history of 170 years, as a direct successor to Glashütte watchmaking traditions and skills, Glashütte Original has not only integrated the technical equipment, training systems, and human resources of 7 local exquisite watch manufactories, but has also taken up the mantle of numerous master watchmakers from the nineteenth to the twentieth century.

       In 2015, the new Senator Observer launched by Glashütte Original at Baselworld drew its design inspiration from the earlier work of founding pioneer Julius · Assmann.

       Historically, Julius · Assmann was perhaps the finest observer watchmaker in the world, and the observer watches and marine chronometers crafted by the workshop he founded were renowned for their precision and reliability, capable of withstanding challenges from all kinds of extreme climates and rough seas, thus earning the favour of naval officers, pilots, and explorers.

       Norwegian explorer Roald · Amundsen carried multiple observer watches with him during his expedition to the South Pole, among which a precise and robust pocket watch came from the Julius · Assmann watch workshop in Glashütte. This observer watch manufactured by Julius · Assmann caught Amundsen's attention in 1910, and he purchased the watch at the German Naval Academy in Hamburg.

       In 1911, Amundsen relied on this observer watch for precise navigation, leading his expedition team to complete the monumental feat of conquering the South Pole for the first time in human history.

       Building on the glorious traditions of its forebears, Glashütte Original brings the essence of observation watches to life in modern mechanical timepieces, with dials on models such as the 58 series chronometers drawing direct inspiration from classic deck watch designs.

        On the eve of the 2012 Basel Watch Fair, Glashütte Original launched a limited edition white gold Senator Observer watch 1911 to commemorate Julius · Assmann and Roald · Amundsen, followed by the release of a non-limited stainless steel version at the subsequent exhibition.

       In 2015, Glashütte Original once again channels a spirit of exploration with the launch of the new Senator Observer. This meticulously crafted observation watch evokes the romantic history of the Age of Discovery. The dial manufactory in the Saxony watchmaking workshops applies extensive luminescence across the dial of the new Senator Observer: from the elegant white gold hands to the vintage bold Arabic numerals and minute track, every element is coated in green fluorescent material, creating a striking and unique luminescent display that builds upon the traditional style of an observation watch.

       In ample light, the matt black dial offers superb contrast against the white hands and graduations. When night falls, the pervasive luminescence ensures that legibility remains unaffected, offering both convenience for the wearer and fidelity to the purpose of an observation watch.

       Furthermore, every detail of the dial is refined to the highest standard, from the small seconds hand and track at the nine o'clock position to the power reserve display at three o'clock, with the elegant matt black dial accentuating the Arabic numerals—a typeface widely used on precision pocket watches introduced by Glashütte Original at the turn of the 20 century. Set into the lower half of the dial is the signature Glashütte Original Panorama Date.

       Equipped with the exceptional and refined Calibre 100-14 automatic movement. It features a generous power reserve of 55 hours, an efficient bi-directional automatic winding mechanism, and a zero-reset mechanism operated via a pusher on the case flank to halt and reset the seconds hand for precise time-setting. The beauty of the Calibre 100-14 automatic movement is fully visible through the sapphire crystal case back. Traditional Glashütte features are all present, including the signature three-quarter plate, screwed gold chatons, 21K-carat gold oscillating weight, and the gold-plated double-G logo.

       The new Senator Observer is presented in a stylish 44mm satin-brushed stainless steel case, paired with a black calfskin strap and a stainless steel fold fastener, or a polished stainless steel bracelet.