Exeter2011
2
Senator Navigator Panodate and Cal.100 Questions...
Hello all! - This will be my first (and typically long winded) post in the GO forum and first here in PSP as well. I have been lurking around and reading for awhile now, particularly here in the GO forum and have thoroughly enjoyed reading through several years worth of your questions, conversation, brilliant photos and just general appreciation for these excellent watches. Now, I am poised for my first GO purchase, just as soon as the AD calls to tell me my long awaited Senator Nav Panodate is in! I am excited and it's hard to be patient. So until I get that phone call there are a few nagging questions I have that I am confident someone here will be able to answer.
First, I have seen several detailed photos of the Cal.100 and I have noticed that in some movements, there are several jewels with blue screwed gold chatons and then in other C.100 photos, it looks like that feature has been omitted. I know that gold chatons are primarily aesthetic anymore, but in my mind they are important to the movement and speak as much to it's Saxon heritage as swan neck regulators, "Glashutte striping" and 3/4 plates. The watch I will get is the solid caseback version, but I will most certainly take at least one good look under the hood so I can wear the watch assured of exactly what's in there. Can anyone tell me whether I am mistaken, or are there some C.100 mov'ts out there with and some without the jewel chatons? Are there only certain references that get the "deluxe" C.100s?
Second, I chose this watch over several others on a short list partly because of the two unique "complications" in this model. The panorama date, because it is another hallmark of Glashutte (v. Geneva) watchmaking at it's finest and regardless of it's exact placement on the dial, it is a large enough display for me to be able to read easily with my lousy close vision! In fact, I think the slightly asymmetrical placement of the date is a cue to the fact that this watch is meant to be functional first, aesthetics a secondary consideration. ....that's what I tell my self anyway, if you think that's a half-baked notion, than so be it!
...and the sweep second reset button. Okay, I love that feature, but I have not been able to find a satisfactory answer to this question anywhere in the forum - When setting the exact time, is it acceptable to hold the seconds hand at 'zero' using the pusher until the minute hand lines up to the mark? Would you pull out the crown and set the minute hand at the next minute (as with any other hacking watch) and then push the button and push in the crown simultaneously? That sure seems counterintuitive. The bottom line is, I appreciate a fine watch above all because it is a precision instrument and I, like most of you here I am sure, can be quite the OCD when it comes to all the various hands lining up exactly where they should, when they should. Any insights on correct time setting doctrine with this particular watch? Or am I getting all worked up for nothing?
Well, if you actually took the time to read through all this and then still had the energy to contribute a response, thank you! I'll continue to visit here and when I finally get my watch, I'll post a few photos as well even though they will most certainly pale in comparison to the like of Jocke's excellent macro images.
Regards, Phil
Senator Navigator Panodate and Cal.100 Questions...
You are right, gold chatons
Gold Chatons were used on initial runs of the Navigator
I don't see them in your picture (on the Navigator)
I don't have another picture...
