Glashütte Original Senator Observer 100-14-05-02-04

Observation watches, known more familiarly as ‚Äòdeck watches' were used by navigation officers to help determine a ship's position at sea. Marine chronometers and observation watches (also known as 'B-watches') were made in Glashütte until well into the 1970s. This testifies to the continuing high quality of watchmaking in the German town - even under challenging circumstances. Taking great pride in this tradition, last year Glashütte Originalpresented a new version of the observation watch: a limited edition in white gold honouring the memory of Julius Assmann and Roald Amundsen. This year the firm follows the limited edition model with a stainless steel version, available with two elegant variants of the dial.

Julius Assmann was one of the extraordinary watchmakers who established the industry in Glashütte. His firm specialized in the manufacture of these handmade wonders, and the precision and reliability of its observation watches - in particular under extreme weather conditions - made them indispensable instruments for navigation officers, pilots, and pioneering explorers such as Roald Amundsen, who took a number of Julius Assmann observation watches with him on his legendary expedition to the South Pole in 1911.

Glashütte Original Senator Observation WatchesThe design of the Senator Observer takes its inspiration directly from the observation watches made in Julius Assmann's Glashütte atelier. Two stainless steel models are presented, one with a lacquered silver grained dial, the other with a lacquered gray grained dial. The dials of both are built up slowly from three separate layers of lacquer and present a finely textured, grained surface, and show a subsidiary seconds dial at 9 o'clock and the power reserve display at 3 o'clock. Glashütte Original's compelling panorama date display features prominently at 6 o'clock. Blued steel hands and a milled railroad chapter ring frame black/white Arabic numerals.

The Senator Observer features a 44-mm case fashioned of polished and satin-brushed stainless steel and is available with either a black Louisiana alligator leather strap or a 'vintage' brown calfskin strap, both available with a stainless steel fold-over clasp. An extraordinary automatic movement for a contemporary deck watch At the heart of the Senator Observer is the automatic Caliber 100-14, an exquisitely finished selfwinding movement with a 55 hour power reserve (+/- 10%). Although traditional observation watches used hand-wound movements, Glashütte Original has chosen to outfit the Senator Observer with a contemporary automatic movement in order to maximize comfort for the wearer. Thus, the ‚ÄòAb Auf' indicator on the dial represents a true power reserve, rather than a simple indication of running time. The exquisite finishing of the automatic Caliber 100-14 is easily visible through the sapphire case back. The movement features the characteristic three-quarter plate with Glashütte ribbing, polished steel components and bevelled edges that distinguish high end mechanical watches from Glashütte Original.