I’m not usually a fan of skeletonized watches for daily wear but the Senator Manual Winding Skeletonized Edition from Glashütte Original makes a good case.
The Senator Manual Winding Skeletonized Edition
Before I go on I should probably clarify that when I say ‘skeletonized’ watches I am referring to the traditional style of skeletonized watches. Namely, ones with highly decorated, hand-finished movements that showcase the expert skills of the craftsmen that made them, as opposed to the more modern ‘floating’ movements which have been pioneered (and popularized) by brands like Richard Mille and Franc Vila.
As you can see from the pictures, the Senator Manual Winding Skeletonized Edition most definitely falls into this first category. Both the front and back of the movement have been elaborately engraved, with the German watchmaker’s artisans demonstrating their mastery of a several different hand-finishing techniques, so much so in fact that at the micro-level it is almost overwhelming. There’s so many intricate details for your eyes to take your brain struggles to process them all.
And yet remarkably, on the wrist the Senator Manual Winding Skeletonized Edition is the picture of refinement. The dial is easy to read with the flame-blued hands providing the perfect contrast against the predominantly silver background, whilst the black railroad minute ring with finely drawn roman numerals adds just that little bit of extra functionality. Likewise the generous 42mm red gold case means that things don’t feel too cramped. As a side note typically I would prefer a watch of this style in a 39mm or 40mm case but in this instance I think the slightly larger diameter is actually justified and doesn’t detract from the overall wearability of the watch.
As a watch lover though, you’re probably going to spend most of your time looking at the back of Senator Manual Winding Skeletonized Edition. Quite simply put this skeletonized Calibre 49-18 is a work of horological art. Winding wheels with double sun-burst decoration, screw mounted gold chatons with blued screws, hand engraved plates and a lavishly finished fine swan-neck adjustment, this watch is the poster child for everything we love about the way German watchmakers finish their movements. It’s not exaggeration to say that if you could wear this watch with the back side facing up you probably would.
The Senator Manual Winding Skeletonized Edition is available in red gold now from Glashütte Original and is priced at US$37,100.
