Introducing The Glashütte Original Senator Chronograph & Senator Chronograph Navigator

Glashütte Original has launched a whole new generation of the Senator Chronograph, a complete overhaul and redesign of the watch's complications and functions, kicking things off with two very different chronograph references: the classically-designed Senator Chronograph and the more utilitarian Senator Chronograph Navigator.

First up is the brand’s more traditional Senator Chronograph, featuring an off-white galvanic silver dial with a fine grainé finish, atop which you'll find applied blue-coated solid-gold Roman numerals. Fitted with a matching set of blue spade hands, they nicely complement the silver dial. There’s more depth to the dial than in the previous generation, with a delicately curved rehaut featuring a black printed tachymetre scale, pairing with the black chronograph markings. At 6 o’clock is Glashütte Original’s signature Panorama Date featuring an applied frame around it.

In contrast, the Senator Chronograph Navigator significantly dresses things down for a more utilitarian, WWII pilot's watch look. It features a matte-black lacquer dial with large applied Super-LumiNova block numerals with a light green tint. Topped off with matching lumed sword hands and high-contrast white dial printing, its Panorama Date features a subtle bevelling in place of the former's frame.

The watch’s stainless steel case has also been modernised over the outgoing generation, slightly sized down in both diameter and thickness. Its diameter is now a millimetre smaller at 41mm, and is just shy of 2mm thinner, now 12.9mm thick. Lug-to-lug remains the same at 48.5mm. It’s also been fitted with pump pushers to replace the previous generation's olive pushers, and between these two references are small finishing differences beyond the dials that add up to make these two watches look and feel very different. The Navigator features a conical crown and a brushed case with a couple of polished facets, whilst the standard Senator has a conventional crown and an entirely polished case.

Inside the new Senator Chronograph is Glashütte Original's in-house 47-jewel calibre 37-24 chronograph movement with a silicon escapement, beating at 4Hz (28,800 vph) and giving a power reserve of 70 hours. It’s a flyback chronograph, too, meaning the 4 o’clock pusher can be pressed whilst the chronograph is running to instantly stop, reset and restart the chronograph with one push - a useful function for pilots and racing drivers. The movement is nicely finished and detailed, featuring Glashütte stripes (not Geneva!) and a new 21k gold rotor with a skeletonised Glashütte Original logo design on it, all put on display through a sapphire caseback.

Both of the new Senator Chronograph references are non-limited-edition and are available now, priced at A$23,800 on a leather or textile strap, and A$25,150 on a stainless steel bracelet.

Glashütte Original’s redesign of the Senator Chronograph has gone significantly further than just the case and dial, including a rethink of the watch's complications as well. The outgoing generation featured a smaller additional 12-hour chronograph subdial at 12 o’clock, as well as a power reserve aperture inside the 9 o’clock subdial. A lot was going on in the dial of the previous Senator chronographs, pushing the Glashütte Original signature down below the Panorama Date and resulting in a busy, unbalanced look. Glashütte Original’s blank-slate approach to the Senator Chronograph is admirable, and by simplifying the watch, they’ve brought balance to the design and improved it massively.

There are small changes between these two references that show Glashütte Original is thinking beyond just dial colour and handset design to differentiate them. The Panorama Date on the Navigator features a clean sans-serif font, whilst a more ornate, seriffed one is on the standard Senator. That font difference even extends across all dial printing between the two watches, including the tachymetre scale, chronograph subdials and the 'Glashütte I/SA' text beneath the date. Both references are available on a range of straps, including alligator, a stainless steel bracelet (completely brushed on the Navigator, polished centre links on the standard Senator), and my personal pick, a light brown textile strap.

Of the two, the Navigator on the textile strap would be my personal pick, giving the watch a more rugged and utilitarian vibe whilst retaining all of the refinement and finishing. The result is a compelling package: a highly detailed yet focused pilot's chronograph paired with an excellent movement, topped off with the Panorama Date.

Brand: Glashütte Original
Model: Senator Chronograph, Senator Chronograph Navigator
Reference Number: 1-37-24-01-02-71 (Senator Chronograph), 1-37-24-20-12-71 (Senator Chronograph Navigator)

Diameter: 40mm
Thickness: 12.9mm
Lug-to-Lug: 48.5mm
Case Material: Stainless steel
Dial Colour: Galvanic silver with fine grainé finish (Senator), matte black lacquer (Senator Navigator)
Indexes: Solid gold Roman numerals with blue coating (Senator), engraved luminous hour markers with Super-LumiNova (Senator Navigator)
Lume: Yes, only on Navigator variant
Water Resistance: 50 meters (5 bar)
Strap/Bracelet: Options of alligator leather straps, textile strap or stainless steel bracelet

Caliber: 37-24, in-house
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, Panorama Date, flyback chronograph with 30-minute counter
Power Reserve: 70 hours
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 28,800 VpH (4 Hz)
Jewels: 47
Chronometer Certified: No
Additional Details: Silicon balance spring, solid gold regulating screws on the balance rim

Price: A$23,800 (on leather or textile strap), A$25,150 (on stainless steel bracelet)
Availability: Now, from Glashütte Original retailers
Limited Edition: No

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