Glashütte Original continues to up their dress watch game, unveiling new iterations of the Senator with two colourways of aventurine glass dials.
The Glashütte Original Senator line has, as of late, become one of the emerging leaders in the modern dress watch scene. Though it has occasionally courted pragmatism with releases like the Senator Chronograph Navigator, the true identity of this flagship collection lies in its ability to interpret and translate art forms into horology. This is most prominently seen in the Senator Atelier Aufträge line, where Glashütte Original has given the collection several artistic makeovers.
A Franco-German hybrid term meaning ‘workshop commission’, the Atelier Aufträge designation has previously been given to the Senator Meissen collaborations, both the references released last year and the Cherry Blossom unveiled not too long ago. Now, two more models join them in the standard catalogue. But this time, they’re not just celebrating one art form; they’re celebrating two entire eras of art.
Strictly Ballroom
Meet the Glashütte Original Senator Aventurine duo, named Art Déco and Art Nouveau. From the names alone, I suppose you’ve already figured out their respective themes, but both are equally suited to formal occasions. Starting with the Art Déco, which takes inspiration from the 1920s and ’30s movement of the same name, the watch uses a platinum case.
Taking cues from the evolving machine age, monumentalism and industrialism, the case material serves as a more glamorous alternative to the steel that makes up iconic structures like the Empire State Building. In contrast, the Art Nouveau uses an 18k red gold case, reflecting the movement’s fascination with organic, flowing decoration.
The material is suitably ostentatious for the late 19th- and early 20th-century-inspired Senator, with the warmth of the red gold injecting more life into the piece. Regardless of which you pick, both measure 40mm in diameter, 47.09mm lug-to-lug and 10.2mm thick, giving them an elegant yet prominent presence on the wrist, compounded by their dense metals.
Each of the new Glashütte Original Senators also comes with its own alligator leather strap. The Art Déco features a subtly glossy blue strap, while the Art Nouveau uses a reddish-brown alternative with an almost suede-like finish.
With 50 metres of water resistance, they’re certainly not field watches by any stretch of the imagination. Yet, Glashütte Original has built them robustly enough to handle most of what life throws at you, whether above ground or at any special occasion you attend.
Twilight Sparkle
Though the two new Glashütte Original Senators share a few similarities, they continue to differ in their individual artistic character. The constants, however, shouldn’t come as a surprise. The absence of indexes, complications and a minute track allows the dial to be the centre of attention, with only the hands and white printed text present atop the display.
The final constant comes by way of the backdrop itself: aventurine glass. First created in the 17th century by glassmakers in Murano, Venice, its sparkle comes from metal oxides added to the molten glass, which form glistening inclusions.
Their random distribution makes every dial unique, reflected in the name, a derivative of the Italian term ‘a ventura’, meaning ‘by chance’. Ironically, aventurine glass is not to be confused with aventurine quartz or quartzite, which were named after the glass, not the other way around.
As the term ‘a ventura’ suggests, each dial remains one of one. You may never get the exact dials seen here, making your own pattern entirely your own. Your freedom of choice isn’t completely taken away, though, as Glashütte Original gives you two distinct options.
The Art Déco, representing industrial progress and modernity, uses a classic blue aventurine dial. Conversely, to evoke the liveliness of Art Nouveau, the other Senator uses predominantly green aventurine glass instead. Complete with black lacquer to add gloss to each dial, the new Glashütte Original Senators are eye-catching from any angle, flickering in the light and glimmering throughout.
Chronological Centurion
Remember when I said the similarities ended? I may have lied, as the movements in the new Glashütte Original Senator models are exactly the same as before. But as I’m about to make readily apparent, that’s hardly a bad thing. Turning the watches around reveals the Calibre 36-16, last seen in the Meissen Cherry Blossom released earlier this month.
Visible through the open caseback, the movement beats at the luxury standard of 4Hz (28,800VpH), with a whopping 100-hour power reserve. Normally, you’d expect this kind of extended power reserve to come with a practical caveat, such as the requirement for manual winding.
However, the Calibre 36-16 is an automatic movement, meaning the watch can be wound on the go between special appearances. Should you be a frequent black-tie eventgoer, the watch can keep running accurately without requiring constant attention.
The finishing of the movement, too, is about as glamorous as the watch itself. The three-quarter plate and new skeletonised rotor feature Glashütte striping, while the balance cock features a quintessentially Glashütte Original detail: a fully hand-engraved finish. Perhaps it’s entirely unnecessary to add such a level of intricate beauty to a watch that already has plenty of it. Yet, Glashütte Original does so, underscoring its commitment to the arts and sciences of the industry.
Initial Thoughts
Art can be interpreted in many ways. That’s the beauty of the adage ‘art is subjective’. While the new Glashütte Original Senator Aventurine models aren’t in-your-face about their artistic inspirations, they certainly convey each era surprisingly well with minimal features. It’s a precarious tightrope, as dress watches constantly walk the line between simplistic elegance and abject boredom.
But from what I’ve seen so far in the Atelier Aufträge line, I’d say Glashütte Original handles that balance well. Understanding both Art Déco and Art Nouveau, the brand has successfully translated each movement’s attitude into elegant dress pieces with little more than a change in case material and dial colour.
Compounded by the incredible strength of its movement manufacturing, these new Glashütte Original Senators don’t reinvent the wheel or present any groundbreaking innovations. However, they embody two art forms that showcase both sides of humanity’s personality.
References & Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Reference | 1-36-16-40-03-01 (Art Déco Blue) 1-36-16-41-05-01 (Art Nouveau Green) |
| Dimensions | 40mm case diameter x 47.09mm lug-to-lug 10.2mm thickness |
| Case | Platinum 18k red gold |
| Dial | Blue / green aventurine glass with platinum / red gold accents |
| Crystal | Sapphire |
| Caseback | Open, sapphire |
| Movement | Automatic Cal. 36-16 |
| Power Reserve | 100h |
| Beat Rate | 4Hz / 28,800VpH |
| Water Resistance | 50m / 5bar |
| Strap/Bracelet | Blue / brown alligator leather with platinum / red gold pin buckle |