German luxury watch brand Glashütte Original has released a new Senator Chronometer complication model endowed with its patented Flyback Tourbillon.
Limited to only 50 pieces, this chronometer-certified mechanical tourbillon watch features a laser-engraved movement visible from the front and a finely crafted dial with recessed day/night indicator.
Invented by Abraham-Louis Breguet in 180, tourbillon is one of the most elaborate complications in haute horlogerie. In 1920, Glashütte’s master watchmaker Alfred Helwig introduced the flying tourbillon in which the tourbillon is anchored on one side only, thus freeing it from the upper part of its cage.
And now Glashütte Original’s constructors have succeeded to enhance the performance of Flyback Tourbillon by introducing two new patented innovations.
When the crown is pulled out, a vertical clutch halts the balance and locks the tourbillon cage in place. When the crown is pulled to its next position and held there, the tourbillon cage swings up smoothly until the second hand at the tip of the cage comes to a stop at the zero marker. Two patents protect this unique construction.
The Senator Chronometer Tourbillon is thus further distinguished by an innovative minute detent. When the Flyback Tourbillon is set to zero, the minute hand simultaneously moves ahead to the next index. This synchronization of the second and minute hands permits the time to be set with great precision, as one can hear and feel the minute hand jump from one index to the next.
Equipped with the manual winding Calibre 58-06, each Senator Chronometer Tourbillon is examined by the independent Thuringian Weights and Measures Office to ensure it meets the DIN 8319 official chronometer standard.
The Chronometer Certificate, delivered with each watch in a fine white oak box, serves as official recognition of the most accurate timepieces of a given generation. In addition, the silicon balance spring protects the Senator Chronometer Tourbillon against the influence of magnetic fields and changes in temperature.
The manual winding Calibre 58-06 runs at a frequency of 21,600 half oscillations per hour and has a 70-hour power reserve, whose indicator at 9 o’clock can be read at a glance.
The movement, visible from the front within the 42mm platinum case, reveals just how the Flyback Tourbillon functions.
The cleverly designed control mechanism, for example, is visible to the naked eye, as is the damping wheel, which ensures a smooth upward movement when the tourbillon is reset. The entire top side of the movement presents a laser-engraved decorative finish.
As the laser strips away layer after layer, the Clous de Paris pattern emerges, further enhancing the three-dimensional look of the dial’s stepped levels. The dial and tourbillon cage are mounted like thrones upon two small towers over the movement.
The dial carrier conceals an engraving at 12 o’clock that reflects the lettering “Chronometer Tourbillon” on the mirror-polished inner wall of the case.
The sketch of a globe on the dial represents the fact that all the experience gained in over 175 years of watchmaking art has come together to form this exceptional timepiece.
In addition, the day/night display behind the transparent part of the dial has the heavenly bodies, sun and moon, complete their orbits around the spherical axis once every 24 hours.
This edition of the Senator Chronometer Tourbillon is available in a limited edition of just 50 pieces worldwide.
Technical details
Model: Glashütte Original Senator Chronometer Tourbillon, Reference 1-58-06-01-03-61
Movement
Manual winding, Calibre 58-06, finely finished movement, laser-processed frame parts, chatons in solid white gold
Movement components: 572, including 85 jewels
Frequency: 21,600 A/h, equivalent to 3 Hz
Running time: 70 hours
Balance: Solid gold regulation screws on balance wheel
Balance spring: Silicon
Shock resistance: Shock-resistant oscillation system
Flyback Tourbillon (10.8 mm diameter) with second-zero-stop mechanism and innovative minute detent
Officially tested chronometer
Functions
Hours and minutes
Small seconds on tourbillon cage
Power reserve indicator
Day/night indicator
Case
Platinum, polished and satin-brushed
Diameter: 42 mm
Height: 12.6 mm
Lug-to-Lug: 49.2 mm
Water resistance: 5 bar
Dial
Galvanic silver, appliques in solid gold with blue coating
Dial materials: Brass and sapphire crystal
Hands: Blued steel, polished minute hand eye
Strap
Dark blue Louisiana alligator leather, platinum butterfly clasp
Edition
Limited to 50 pieces
