Glashütte Original

ArthurSG
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Images of the Second Coming (Long)

My good friend DeckSurgeon finally got back from his 16 day romp of manufactures in Dresden and was kind enough to take some time today to shoot some fantastic pics of my latest acquisition, the Glashutte Original Senator Perpetual Calendar with Roman Numeral indicators Limited Edition 50 pieces in Platinum.

This is my second but only GO, hence the title of this thread.  My first was the highly popular PanoMatic Lunar with silver dial in steel.  As I’m in a one/complication per piece mode for the time being, I looked at the Senator only after I sold off my PanoLunar.

I spent quite a long while considering which Perpetual Calendar to get and with May marking my one year anniversary fascination with horology, I had (and still do) much to learn and know about Perpetuals.

I first considered the Patek 5159 and also looked at most other Perpetuals but soon found that most did not treat my eyesight kindly.  The highly cluttered dials and near microscopic indications on most very quickly lead me to narrow down my choice of Perpetuals to the Moser Perpetual 1 and the Chopard LUC Lunar One.  Why? Simple, legible, easy to read dials.  At this point in time, I still had my PanoLunar and hence did not consider anything further from GO.

Apart from legibility of dials being my most important criteria, the following is the list of my other criteria:

1. Case size not bigger than 41mm. (small wrists)

2. Sapphire caseback (just this thing I have to be able to admire the movement)
3. Instant (or near instant) jump
4. Ease of re-set in that it is easily set locally so that I do not have to send it back to the factory for 3 months to re-set if needed. (My dato is already back in Glashutte and its no fun being apart :-(
5.  Power reserve indicator is nice (although the lunar one does not have one I think).
6. It will of course be handed down to one of my kids when the time comes so coming from an established manufacture will be nice but not essential.

7. In-house movement (just a weird thing with me)

So based n the above, I started out to seriously inquire about the Moser Perpetual 1 PT grey dial which is actually my favourite Perpetual.  Alas, its not to be (for now at least)  and although as of June 09, they have committed to delivering less than a handful worldwide, and with a local waitlist of 10 for the platinum casing, I reckon it’ll be at least a couple of years till I get mine.

While looking at the Perpetual 1, I also visited my AD to try on the LUC Lunar one in RG with Roman Numeral indicators (again, another thing with me).  I must have tried it in the wrist at least 4-5 times (nice of the AD to allow me this but I guess he made enough off me with my Dato J, but each time, I could not help but feel that it looked better on the net or magazines.  It could be photoshop which cause this but each time, my heart did not quite stir.

Then low and behold, I sold off my PanoLunar and then a nice lady suggested I look at the Senator Perpetual.  So off I went to the GO website and the Platinum Limited edition 100 (I think) with index markers greeted me…… no fluttering of the heart and just as I was about to click away from GO…. The image of the Limited Edition 50 pieces with Roman Numeral indicators caught my eye..  Hellooo there…..

Before too long (about a week), I placed a 50% deposit with my AD and within 2 weeks, my Senator was flown in and delivered to me.  I had some apprehension at first as I have never bought a watch without first seeing, feeling and putting it on my wrist.  I am glad to say that my fears were very much unfounded.

So my friends, I present to you, my latest acquisition and the second coming, my Senator Perpetual Calendar LE 50 3X/50.  She arrived in a box slightly larger box than what my PanoLunar arrived in with “Senator Perpetual Calendar Limited Edition 3X/50” inscribed on a gold (looks gold) plate on the box (sorry no pic of that).  It also has a little gold key to lock the box and of course the GO loupe in a separate compartment.  Enjoy.

The dial is very nicely laid out, uncluttered and legible.  The leap year indicator is subtle and color coordinated.  Red is for leap year, yellow(what you see here) is for 1^st year after leap, black and white for 2^nd and 3^rd year after leap respectively.

Roman Numeral indicators just seem to have a thing with me.  For me, it adds an element of class which I feel a Perpetual complication should have and indeed, I do find my perpetual to possess that element of class but in an understated and subtle manner.  Tasteful I think.

I wonder what material composes the black “crown” on the crown.

As you can see from the following pics, there are many pushers that enable ease of re-setting.  The pusher above the crown allows for Month adjustment.

The 9 o’clock outer side of the case has 4 pushers.  Starting from the left, the first pusher allows for day of week adjustment, the second for moonphase adjustment, the third for sum correction for day, date of week, month and yearly rhythm (I got that from the manual) and finally, the 4^th is for the second hand reset.

Next you see the great detail and handwork put into the Calibre 100 movement endowed with 59 jewels and a 24K bi-directional oscillating rotor generating 55 hours of power in the reserve.

So yes, she is not an instant jumper and has no power reserve indicator but I’m growing to love her more and more.

I guess perhaps the best part for me was when I showed it to my wife.  Of course I gave a great pre-amble about how it is a platinum piece housing a grade complication perpetual calendar and that there were only 50 pieces worldwide and I am told I may be the only in Singapore to have it (for now) and after I responded to her question of how much it cost, her very pleasant reply was “Only?”  I love my wife and I guess I really better start looking into her watch for her big birthday this year J

I need to thank the Decksurgeon for the pics and advice in my search which also came from Bernard and Dr No.

I hope you enjoyed the read and shared my joy.