In 2023, Glashütte Original, the renowned German watchmaker, has unveiled a new white-gold iteration of its Senator Chronometer watch. While the Senator Chronometer was previously available in both white and red gold, this latest model introduces a silver dial with contrasting dark blue accents, replacing the blue dial of the existing white gold version.
However, this new model isn’t merely a dial variation. It brings subtle updates to the case and different finishing on its movement, resulting in a more refined timepiece. Many consider this the most aesthetically pleasing version of the Senator Chronometer that Glashütte Original has ever produced. The case of the new Glashütte Original Senator Chronometer (ref. 1-58-08-01-04-61) maintains a similar profile to its predecessor, but it’s now over a millimeter thinner. It measures 42mm in diameter, 11.4mm in thickness, with 21mm lugs and an overall lug-to-lug profile of 48.4mm. The case, hand-finished with brushed and polished surfaces, is topped with a sapphire crystal and surrounded by a thin fixed bezel with a subtly knurled texture.
The watch’s reverse side features a display-style caseback, secured by five small screws, supporting its 50 meters of water resistance. The new model’s dial follows the same core design as its siblings, with two centrally-mounted hands for hours and minutes, a large running seconds subdial at 6 o’clock, and Glashütte Original’s signature “Panorama Date” at 3 o’clock. The upper half of the dial tracks the power reserve for the movement and includes a day/night indicator that changes color to correspond with AM versus PM hours. The silver dial is the standout feature of this new model. It’s silver-plated by friction, a process where a mixture of fine silver powder, salt, and water is rubbed into the surface by hand to create a shimmering texture.
The dial is then given a galvanic gray coating and finished with dark blue printing for its text and scales. Unlike the other two models, this latest variant features applied Roman numeral indexes crafted from 18k gold and given a metallic blue finish to complement the blued hands and blue printing. The new silver and blue version of the Glashütte Original Senator Chronometer is powered by the manufacture Caliber 58-08 manual-wind movement, which offers slightly more involved finishing compared to its siblings. It runs at a frequency of 28,800vph (4 Hz) with a power reserve of 44 hours and 40 minutes. The Cal. 58-08 features a setting mechanism that stops and resets the seconds hand to zero when the crown is pulled out, ensuring perfect alignment of the minute and seconds hands.
The Glashütte Original Cal. 58-08 is an officially certified chronometer that undergoes a 15-day test conducted by the independent Thuringian Office of Weights and Measures. It features blued screws, screw-mounted chatons, and a hand-engraved balance cock. The Caliber 58-08 also includes components that are silver-plated using the same friction-based process applied to the dial, creating a cohesive aesthetic between the front and back of the watch. The watch is completed with a blue Louisiana Alligator leather strap and a signed deployant-style clasp.
Despite its beauty and improved on-wrist experience, the new silver and blue version of the Glashütte Original Senator Chronometer comes with a hefty price tag of $32,300 USD. This is nearly five thousand dollars more than its white gold sibling and over six thousand more than the red gold version. While the applied hour markers are made from 18k gold and several components feature more elaborate finishing, the additional premium for this model is roughly equal to the price of an entry-level Rolex, which may seem high, even considering its hand-finishing and refined case profile. glashuette-original.com
