The art of perfection in Glashütte watchmaking
Glashütte Original, the renowned German watchmaker, has achieved a significant milestone in the world of haute horlogerie with its groundbreaking Flyback Tourbillon. This remarkable technical feat seems to defy the laws of gravity as it gracefully halts, performs a seamless rotation, and returns to its original position. The Senator Chronometer Tourbillon, with its multi-tiered design, serves as the perfect stage for showcasing this mesmerizing dance of precision mechanics. Limited to a mere 50 pieces, this new timepiece features a front-facing laser-engraved movement and a meticulously crafted dial with a recessed day/night indicator, uniting the latest advancements in the esteemed craft of Glashütte watchmaking.
The Flyback Tourbillon: A Revolutionary Advancement
The tourbillon is widely regarded as the most intricate complication in haute horlogerie. It orchestrates a captivating ballet where the entire oscillation and escape system revolves around its own axis within a single minute. In 1920, Glashütte’s master watchmaker, Alfred Helwig, pushed the boundaries by allowing the tourbillon to “fly,” anchoring it on one side and freeing it from the upper part of its cage. Today, Glashütte Original’s engineers have conquered the final hurdles in enabling the tourbillon’s flight. The Flyback Tourbillon addresses not one but two challenges that have perplexed watchmakers for over a century. When the crown is pulled out, a vertical clutch immobilizes the balance and secures the tourbillon cage in place. As the crown is advanced to its next position and held, the tourbillon cage elegantly swings upward until the second hand at its tip aligns with the zero marker—a masterpiece of horological craftsmanship and true originality. This unique construction is safeguarded by two patents, affirming Glashütte Original’s position as a trailblazer in haute horlogerie innovation.
Continuing the Tradition of Precision
The Glashütte Original team remains unwavering in its pursuit of perfecting the art of watchmaking and crafting timepieces of unparalleled accuracy. The Senator Chronometer Tourbillon introduces an innovative minute detent, ensuring precise synchronization. When the Flyback Tourbillon is reset to zero, the minute hand smoothly advances to the next index, allowing for precise time setting that can be both heard and felt.
The Manual Winding Calibre 58-06: Precision Certified
To subject the Senator Chronometer Tourbillon to the ultimate precision test, each timepiece undergoes examination by the independent Thuringian Weights and Measures Office, adhering to the DIN 8319 official chronometer standard. During a 15-day evaluation, the watches must demonstrate reliability in five different positions and at three distinct temperatures. The accompanying Chronometer Certificate, presented in an elegant white oak box, certifies these timepieces as the most accurate of their generation. Furthermore, the silicon balance spring shields the Senator Chronometer Tourbillon from magnetic interference and temperature fluctuations. The manual winding Calibre 58-06 operates at a frequency of 21,600 half oscillations per hour and boasts a 70-hour power reserve, conveniently displayed at 9 o’clock.
A Glimpse into Technical Elegance
The movement, visible from the front within the 42mm platinum case, offers a captivating insight into the inner workings of the Flyback Tourbillon. The ingeniously designed control mechanism and the damping wheel, which ensures a graceful reset of the tourbillon, are readily apparent to the naked eye. The top surface of the movement features a laser-engraved decorative finish, gradually unveiling the Clous de Paris pattern, enhancing the dial’s three-dimensional appearance. The dial and tourbillon cage are elevated like regal thrones atop two small towers within the movement. At 12 o’clock, a concealed engraving mirrors the “Chronometer Tourbillon” inscription on the mirror-polished inner case wall. The globe sketch on the dial symbolizes the culmination of over 175 years of watchmaking expertise embodied in this exceptional timepiece. Additionally, the day/night display behind the transparent dial section showcases the celestial bodies, the sun and moon, completing their orbits around the spherical axis every 24 hours.
For more information, please visit Glashuette-Original.com.
