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Insider: Glashütte Original Senator Chronometer Blue Dial. Hands-on with a Refined Elegant German Beauty.

Presented at Baselworld 2016 less than a month ago, the most recent edition of the Glashütte Original Senator Chronometer offers certified precision in a distinctive and expressive dark blue version. The color blue is inseparably bound up with the Glashütte Original collection. For more than twenty years the brand has presented, again and again, exclusive timepieces in vibrant shades of blue, thus adding a modern, elegant nuance to the watchmaker's classic color palette. In the process, the designers at the manufacture have created hues that are as unmistakable as they are understated and can be worn with style and sobriety on any occasion. The blue dial on the new Glashütte Original Senator Chronometer ref. 1-58-01-05-34-30 is a true chameleon that ranges all the way from a deep dark blue to a somewhat of an electric blue under bright lights.

In the new edition of the new Glashütte Original Senator Chronometer Blue dial, this refined coloring encounters the epitome of German precision. The new chronometer's deep blue dial attracts immediate attention. The dark tone quietly emphasizes the finely grained and lacquered surface and lends it a velvety texture. This elaborate refinement betrays the experienced hand of the craft specialists who make these small-scale works of art in the firm's own dial manufactory in Pforzheim.

In careful, delicate detail work the lacquer is applied and dried in several coats until the precise shade and texture desired are achieved. The same care is taken with all elements of the elaborate dial, as can be seen in the railroad chapter ring, the indexes and numerals, which are finely engraved and galvanized in silver. Long, slim poire hands in polished white gold make reading the time a visual delight. They glide along their paths above the power reserve indicator at 12 o'clock with a discreet day and night aperture indicator and a subsidiary seconds register at 6 o'clock, which are turned deeply into the dial, thus lending additional complexity to the architecture of the watch. A double-digit date aperture in pure German watchmaking tradition is located at 3 o'clock.

Encased in an 18K white gold case with polished and matte surfaces, the color palette of this new watch from Glashütte Original is simply exceptional. The case measuring 42 mm in diameter by 12.3 mm in thickness is simply perfect for every day wear, whether you are in a suit or in a pair of jeans.

Powered by the manufacture calibre 58-01, all the functions of the watch are driven by an exceptional manual wound movement. Among its features is a refined seconds-stop mechanism that when the crown is pulled out, the time display stops and the seconds hand is reset to zero and held there for accurate time setting. As the crown is turned to set the time, the hand always jumps to the next minute index. The movement equipped with 58 jewels, beats at a frequency of 28,800 vph to provide a power reserve of 44 hours and 40 minutes. Fully visible via the display case back, the movement is exquisitely finished as expected from any German watchmaking manufacture.

On the wrist, the watch wears true to its size and extremely elegant. The varnish lacquered blue dial along with the 18K white gold case and the dark blue alligator strap make for one of our favorite color schemes on watches. A beauty in its own, this is a watch that brings the best from Germany at a very reasonable price.

Sticker Price $32,200 USD. For more info on Glashütte Original click here.