Did you know that there was an International Kissing Day? No? In fact, it has been celebrated every 6 July since the 1990s. It’s far more glamorous and fun to celebrate than International No-Smoking Day, for example (which can be quite a trial for smokers), or International Women’s Day, which either treats women like an endangered species, or reminds us that we still don’t enjoy the same rights (including kissing rights, as it happens) as our male partners. It also has the advantage of being relevant to everyone (or so we might hope). Most people remember who they exchanged their first kiss with, whether it was passionate, furtive or just awkward. They probably also remember the place where it happened. The date, however, might be harder to bring to mind. So why not make it 6 July for everyone?
Glashütte Original has chosen to mark the day. It’s a more discreet alternative to Valentine’s Day, which each year sees many brands bringing out romantic models (most of them for ladies), suitable for giving to a Valentine. For International Kissing Day, the German watchmaker has unveiled a limited edition of its PanoMatic Luna women’s model that would not be out of place in a 14 February lineup. All the traditional codes of women’s watches are present, plus the colour red, a symbol of passion. The white mother-of-pearl dial features an elegantly curved moon phase display against a backdrop of a silvery star-sprinkled sky; precious gems are accounted for by 18 luminous ruby markers and 64 brilliant-cut diamonds (totalling approximately 0.95 carats) around the bezel. The steel case also has a ruby set into the crown, which is picked up by the red of the Louisiana alligator leather strap.
Glashütte Original’s watchmaking codes are all present and correct, ensuring that this women’s watch exudes the same aura of quality you would expect from their men’s models. Under the dial, created in the company’s own dial workshop in Pforzheim, the self-winding manufacture calibre 90-12 beats at 28,800 vph, and has an autonomy of 42 hours. As far as decoration is concerned, the bar has been placed extremely high, with Geneva striping on the three-quarter plate, a skeletonised rotor with a 21-karat gold oscillating weight, bevelled edges, polished steel components and blued and polished screws. The movement also features another signature characteristic of Glashütte Original: the double swan neck balance with fine adjustment.
Given that only 50 pieces have been announced, it will be a very lucky lady who wears this limited edition PanoMatic Luna, celebrating the magic of love and passion. But the PanoMatic Luna is in Glashütte Original’s permanent collection, and versions with white, sky blue and grey-green Tahitian mother-of-pearl dials are freely available, with a choice of leather and rubber strap options.
