Suzanne Wong
A watch is a vehicle for self-expression, we all know that. That’s not all it is, however. A watch can also be a way for us to try on a new or different aspect of ourselves. Those exciting (and impractical) shoes you saw in the boutique window that you’d normally never wear — you might not end up buying them, but once you put them on and walk a few steps in them, you might discover a side of yourself you never saw before. I always thought of the Glashütte Original Senator Excellence Panorama Date Moon Phase as a watch that I could appreciate cerebrally, but I didn’t necessarily envisage it for myself. It is a classic elegance kind of watch, and I am not a classic elegance kind of person. Strapping it on for professional reasons, though, I found myself transforming into a new Suzanne, one who dresses in muted colours and sits quietly by windows gazing at winter landscapes instead of charging around the house in neon orange sweaters chivvying people into making further edits to their (already excellent) watch videos. And do you know what? I really enjoyed what this watch brought out in me. And I think my team members enjoyed what this watch brought out in me even more.
Sophie Furley
There is a wonderful saying that we love to use in watchmaking – “The devil is in the details” and it couldn’t be more relevant than when describing Glashütte’s Excellence Panorama Date Moon Phase. The origin of the proverb is believed to be from the philosopher and poet Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844 – 1900), who also happens to be German, which is perhaps not a coincidence as we often talk about the excellence of German engineering!
The Glashütte Senator Excellence Panorama Date Moon Phase will immediately catch your attention with its good looks, but it will also seduce you over time with its myriad of details that come together in an elegant and functional dress watch. The first detail is its large panorama date that works with two discs on the same plain, instantaneously providing the date without you having to search for it. The date is just one element on a very clean and intuitive dial design that includes the hours, minutes and seconds in the centre and a moon phase between 9 and 10 o’clock. The next detail that stands out is the beautifully finished 40mm stainless steel case that reflects the light with its polished and satin finishes. From a movement standpoint, the watch is powered by the Calibre 34-36, which not only has an elegant three-quarter plate, but an impressive 100-hour power reserve. Other little details include the double G logo on the seconds hand and a beautiful blue synthetic strap. For the rest, I’ll let you discover them on your own, once you have one on your wrist!
Marie de Pimodan
I've found that, when I discover a watch, I pay attention to three main things: its general appearance, its comfort on the wrist and its complications, if it has any. At first glance, the Senator Excellence Date Panorama Moon Phase ticks all the boxes. Starting with its rather classic design, with its steel case, slim bezel and grey grained dial punctuated by blue-coated gold Roman numerals, matching the steel hands and railway track minute track. Once on my wrist, during a stroll around the small lake that borders our Scottish manor house, I also appreciate its comfort. Its 40mm diameter is perfect and its proportions - those who know me know that I'm very sensitive to this - are truly flattering. It's a success story, thanks in part to the integration of the 36-24 calibre, which contributes to the watch's slenderness while ensuring a power reserve of over 100 hours. This generous power reserve is particularly useful on a daily basis, as is the large date display at 4 o'clock, which echoes the moon-phase display between 10 and 11 o'clock. Useful, then, and very pleasant!
Allissa Pataki
Evenings in a remote Scottish castle without a television require you to make your own entertainment, so when I discovered a pool table in the games room, I pulled together a few members of the team and a game of pool began. I have played a few times but am mediocre at best. In spite of my limited talents, I tried to stay optimistic. I took the opening shot and we played a few rounds before my focus shifted to my wrist and the Glashütte Original Senator Excellence that I had been testing all day. I kept getting distracted by the handcrafted silver moon phase of the timepiece. You see, the complication traces its path beneath a curved opening on the galvanic grey dial and is nestled beside the Panorama Date. Both are intricately integrated into the design in a way that works, where the dial doesn’t feel too overcrowded and the proportions are just right. What’s more, the timepiece is powered by the Caliber 36 and boasts a 100-hour power reserve. At this point, I was completely mesmerized by the timepiece - I had taken it off my wrist to look at the caseback and was soaking in the 21-karat gold oscillating weight. But it was already my turn to play again, so I quickly strapped the watch on again, grabbed my cue and… completely missed my shot. And by that, I mean that I put the 8 ball in the pocket and the game was over, just like that. A swing and a miss. So, I guess I’ll stick to my day job. But it sure was fun to play, especially with such a sophisticated teammate!
