Glashütte Original ushers in a new era of haute horology with its Senator Chronometer Tourbillon. An exciting addition to the horological landscape, the German manufacture’s patented Flyback Tourbillon seemingly defies the laws of physics; possessing the ability to halt in its tracks, rotate, and seamlessly return to its original position.
Designed to increase accuracy, a tourbillon works to constantly rotate the balance wheel, balance spring, and escapement while the moment is running, thereby countering the effects of gravity on the balance wheel and spring. It was developed by watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet and patented by Breguet in 1801 and is widely considered the most elaborate complication in haute horology. Here, Glashütte Original makes things a little more complicated by referencing its storied past.
In 1920, Glashütte’s master watchmaker Alfred Helwig developed a ‘whirlwind’ mechanism, anchoring the construction of the tourbillon on a single side and thus freeing it from the upper section of its cage. Over a century after Helwig’s seminal Flying Tourbillon was invented, Glashütte Original has managed to completely free the mechanism from its shackles while addressing long-standing horological challenges by utilising a unique synchronisation system for the second and minute hands.
When the crown of the watch is pulled out, a vertical clutch halts the balance and locks the tourbillon cage in place. When further pulled to its next position and held there, the tourbillon cage swings up until the second hand at the tip of the cage comes to a stop at the zero marker. The timepiece also features a unique minute detent, meaning that when the Flyback Tourbillon is set to zero, the minute hand moves in tandem to the next index.
The Glashütte Original Senator Chronometer Tourbillon is powered by the in-house manual-winding calibre 58-06, with each timepiece undergoing independent testing by the Thuringian Weights and Measures Office to ensure it meets the DIN 8319 official chronometer standard. The movement runs at a frequency of 21,600 half oscillations per hour and has a 70-hour power reserve, the status of which can be viewed via the power reserve indicator at 9 o’clock.
The 42mm platinum case plays host to a stepped-level dial which features a laser-engraved Clous de Paris finish on the top level. The unique dial layout allows for flashes of the movement to peek through, while the Flyback Tourbillon takes pride of place at 6 o’clock. The hours and minutes subdial at 12 o’clock is adorned with the sketch of a globe, something Glashütte Original says “represents the fact that all the experience gained in over 175 years of watchmaking art has come together to form this exceptional timepiece.” Behind the transparent upper element of the subdial, the sun and moon complete their orbit every 24 hours. The platinum timepiece is presented on a dark blue alligator leather strap.
Limited to 50 examples worldwide, the Senator Chronometer Tourbillon is priced at $263,400AUD and available via the Glashütte Original webstore.
Words by John Deckard
