For centuries, the German town Glashütte was originally known for silver mining. In the 1850s several watchmaker masters relocated to the town and established watch manufactures. Around 1865 the characteristics of the typical Glashütte watch were born; a precision pocket-watch with the Glashütte three-quarter plate, gold lever wheel, gold chatons (the metal ring – gold or Brass – which fixed the jewel) and sunburst finish.
The community’s expertise and strict precision gave the foundations of the German School of Watchmaking established in Glashütte, where one of the prominent teachers was Alfred Helwig (the creator of the flying tourbillon). The institute was later re-named after him, and since 2002 it is Glashütte Original’s own watchmaking school.
The “Original Glashütte”, as a trademark, first started to be used in the late 1910s.
The Glashütter Uhrenbetriebe (Glashütte Watch Factories) conglomerate was formed by several companies in 1951. Today Glashütte Original is a German luxury watchmaking company founded in 1994 by the privatization of this consortium.
Pavonina
We’ll start off introducing this year’s Basel collection with a ladies model. The first ladies watch with the “Glashütte Original” sign was issued in 1927; several models have been debuted since then. The cushion shaped Pavonina was presented in 2013, which a year later came out in a white gold version. The watch is set with diamonds, and the gemstones follow the lines of the case to perfection. The mother-of-pearl dial with guilloche motifs appears among the diamonds. The satin strap is a pinkish purple, so called „Radiant Orchid”. The Glashütte Original logo has been printed on the inside of the domed sapphire crystal.
PanoMaticInverse
6 years ago the PanoInverse was the first Glashütte piece where they used inverse positioning of the components that are normally visible through the case back’s sapphire crystal. The 2014 stainless steel or red gold PanoMaticInverse is fitted with the new Calibre 91-02. On the dial we can see blued screws and rubies on the rhodium plated three-quarter plate with the typical Glashütte stripe finish, blued hands, and a rectangle Panorama Date “window”.
In the Inverse models the back side of the movement shows the skeletonised central rotor, fitted with a 21-carat gold oscillating weight.
Senator Chronograph Panorama Date
The rather elegant Senator model has two versions, one with a platinum case and hand-finished silver dial and the other with a red gold case and lacquered silver grained dial. It is equipped with a chronograph movement, with central stop seconds hand, 30 minute and 12 hour counters with fly-back mechanism and a small seconds counter with power reserve indicator (70 hours).
Compared to most of the chronographs, the Senator Chronograph Panorama Date has fine lines and is a sophisticated piece with thin Roman and Arabic numerals. The platinum version is a particularly reserved choice for those who wish to own an extremely high standard watch both in exterior and technical prowess, but wish to refrain from wearing a flashy watch.
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Glashütte Senator Chronograph Panorama Date, platinum
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Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date
One of our favorites is the Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date – a piece that is undeniably reminiscent of the 1970s. Available in three dials (galvanised ruthenium, galvanized silver or blue), this vintage-style model could very well fit into any 70s cult movie. On the dial the small seconds sub-dial with black and white power reserve indicator appears at 9 o’clock, the 30 minute counter at 3 o’clock. The stainless steel case with a 40x40mm rounded rectangular shape and the satin brushed material both evoke a vintage look, in 21st century quality.
We were shown other beautiful contemporary and heritage timekeepers, too.
Photo credits: Glashütte Original, Loupiosity.com.
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