What is the meaning of Chronometer? A quick search gave me this definition "an instrument for measuring time accurately". Not just measuring time but measuring time accurately. So, what about the Glashütte Original Senator Chronometer attracts me as a "true" Chronometer?
Much as I love this timepiece, not much is said about the Senator Chronometer which is why I consider this a totally underrated timepiece for all its complications.
The 42mm timepiece has a very clean layout of the dial, showcasing just enough information without being overly cluttered. Big date at 3 o'clock, small seconds at the 6 and the power reserve with a built in Day/Night Indicator at 12. The timepiece comes rated to 5 ATM for water resistance.
First the big date - this is something I value a lot. As our eyesight deteriorates, the big date comes as a welcome addition to any timepiece.
But this Chronometer does not have a quick date change via the crown. Instead, it is via a pusher on the case at the 4 o'clock.
Next the small seconds at the 6... One pull of the crown and the seconds hand returns to the 60 mark. Not many brands adopt this feature - as far as I know, only Lange & Sohne, Akrivia and Montblanc are the other few brands that offer this zero reset complications.
At the 12 is the power reserve plus the Day/Night indicator. Power reserve is about 40 hours which isn't much but good enough.
The dial is solid silver with matt finishing and engraved black Roman numeral.
A few key features of this timepiece makes it unique and relevant as a Chronometer. First and in my opinion the most important is the minute increment setting feature that works in tandem with the zero reset mechanism.
When one pulls the crown, the seconds hand resets to zero and the minute hand jumps to the next minute marker. If the seconds hand was at or before the 30 second mark, the minute hand goes back to the last minute marker. If the seconds hand past the 30 mark, then the minute hand advances to the next minute marker.
On the reverse is the manual winding Calibre 58 (above).
I don't know about you, but my gaze goes immediately to the hand engraved balance cock. What is also visible is the GO 58 on the plate, indicating the Calibre number of this timepiece.
The finishing on the three quarter plate is pedestrian - nothing to shout about but the hand engraved balance cock is another thing altogether. Together with the Swan-neck fine adjustment, the mechanism is a sight to behold.
Back to the topic at hand - Chronometry. If a watch is to be certified a Chronometer, the very least it should have a stop (hacking) seconds. This allows for the user to accurately set and measure the time. In the case of Swiss timepieces, Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres or COSC is the certifying body. For COSC, they certify the movement's accuracy and not when the watch is encased. Once the watch is encased and sold, it becomes the property of an individual who has no way to measure the watches accuracy other than owning your own witschi machine. Failing that, we use our mobile phone's (atomic) timer to check the accuracy after one day. And in order to do that, a stop (hacking) seconds makes it so much easier.
And when the good folks at Glashütte Original decided to incorporate not only the stop seconds, they went further and developed the zero reset and the minute detent (minute by minute increment) for the Calibre 58. I know I dislike having to wait till the seconds hand hits 60 before pulling the crown to set the time. But with zero reset, one issue is removed. Then there is the issue of adjusting the minute to the next marker only for it to move when you depress the crown. And again, GO has outdone themselves when they developed the minute detent system where the minute hand ticks to the next marker when one is adjusting the time. And when you depress the crown, the minute hand does not jump out of place.
Those who know me know my peeve is the alignment of the minute hands after resetting. What makes me sad is many timepieces do not even have proper mechanism to lock the minute hand and when you depress the crown to start the timepiece, the minute hand moves. All said, I believe Glashütte Original has outdone the industry with this development. I wish more brands will do the same.
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