Glashütte Original Senator Chronometer Tourbillon

Glashütte Original has achieved a significant milestone in the world of high-end watchmaking with its patented Flyback Tourbillon. This extraordinary technical achievement seems to defy gravity as it stops, smoothly rotates and returns to its original position. This exquisite timepiece, limited to just 50 units, boasts a front-facing laser-engraved movement and a meticulously crafted dial featuring a recessed day/night indicator.

The Flyback Tourbillon represents a new era of evolution in horology. Traditionally, the tourbillon is known as one of the most intricate complications in high-end watchmaking, where the entire escapement system rotates around its axis in one minute. In 1920, Glashütte’s master watchmaker Alfred Helwig made a breakthrough by allowing the tourbillon to “fly” by anchoring it on one side, freeing it from the upper part of its cage. Glashütte Original’s engineers have now overcome the final obstacles to the tourbillon’s flight with the Flyback Tourbillon, addressing two century-old challenges faced by watchmakers. When the crown is pulled out, a vertical clutch halts the balance and locks the tourbillon cage. When the crown is pulled to its next position and held, the tourbillon cage smoothly swings up until the second hand at the tip of the cage stops at the zero marker.

Continuing their commitment to perfecting the art of watchmaking, Glashütte Original introduces an innovative minute detent in the Senator Chronometer Tourbillon. When the Flyback Tourbillon is reset to zero, the minute hand simultaneously advances to the next index, allowing for precise time-setting.

The manual winding Calibre 58-06 movement, visible through the 42mm platinum case, provides a clear view of the Flyback Tourbillon’s operation. Notable features include the visible control mechanism and damping wheel, ensuring a smooth reset of the tourbillon. The top side of the movement is adorned with a laser-engraved decorative finish, revealing the Clous de Paris pattern as layers are removed. The dial and tourbillon cage are elevated like thrones on two small towers over the movement. At 12 o’clock, an engraving on the dial carrier reflects the “Chronometer Tourbillon” lettering on the mirror-polished inner case wall. A globe sketch on the dial symbolizes the accumulation of over 175 years of watchmaking expertise in crafting this exceptional timepiece. Additionally, a day/night display behind a transparent portion of the dial depicts the sun and moon completing their orbits around a spherical axis every 24 hours.

This limited edition of the Senator Chronometer Tourbillon, consisting of only 50 pieces, will be available at Glashütte Original Boutiques and select retailers worldwide starting in October 2023.