The Day Has Come

Chronographs today are something that you love or hate, there is no in between. They are either way too dressy being available in mainly precious metals or typically today have huge watch cases that have a design aesthetic made to look as if they are purely built for like rock climbing. One Chrono that was just released for this years Basel Fair that is a great daily wearer with legitimate insides and an amazing throwback to pure vintage is the brand new Glashutte Senator Sixties Chrono in stainless steel.


This incredibly well constructed timepiece is available with a silver or black dial. Very few two register Chronographs can captivate my attention because they are two simple and look quite lifeless, but this seems to have grabbed my attention to the point I can't take my eyes off it.

The silver satin finished dial is neutral, yet timeless with these vintage cut out looking numbers of 12 and 6 in dark blue playing off of it quite naturally, while the gold diamond cut indexes in between strike a balance like no other dial I have ever seen to perfectly recreate that classic sixties look. The sapphire crystal is convex, while the dial is domed which pulls the true admirer in to the world of old school with modern charm. Even though the case sits only 39 mm in case diameter, it is absolutely the ideal size for something a little bit more dressy, and besides it looks much bigger then it actually is and hugs the wrist for perfect proportions.

Even the gold hands are domed and skeletonized and float on the dial with such ease for that last bit of detail which makes this watch perform the function of time. Don't worry just when you think will I be able to read this in the dark? Absolutely! because the super luminova dots above the indexes not only serve as a subtle design feature during the day but activate for visibility at night. The Chronograph recorders are placed at the three o'clock and 9 o'clock position and integrate so seamlessly without compromising the dial design.

The polished rounded stainless steel push buttons are absolutely stellar, clean and angled on the side of the case and make it simple to start and stop the chronograph functions with comfort and fluidity. The Most important detail is on the back of the watch. The movement is what puts this watch in motion. This hand finished in house movement can be viewed through the shaped sapphire crystal case back. This was first seen on the first Glashutte Senator Sixties, making all the components of the Calibre 39-52 movement, including the historic three quarter plate, swans neck regulator, Glashutte ribbing and double sunburst decoration come to life with such clarity and vision, and now for the first time makes it possible for a side view of the 21 karat gold rotating oscillating weight.

The final detail and touch that makes this watch possible to be worn is the strap, made out of mat black alligator which is a very well made soft and supple strap, but my only problem with this is that, Glashutte watch straps are usually very long, so if you got a small wrist be prepared to go custom or order and additional short one for a proper fit. So just when I was getting sick of Chronographs, Finally the day has come and my faith has been restored by Glashutte with the new Senator Sixties Chronograph which in my opinion is the most perfect Chronograph made today!


pics courtesy of www.glashuette-original.com