Glashütte Original Senator Navigator Perpetual Calendar

The recently unveiled Glashütte Original Senator Navigator Perpetual Calendar wristwatch combines an in-house hand-made movement with an almost mind-numbing price tag.

Glashutte Original is one of those sixty-something “perimeter brands” that, in the view of The Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH), follow the fundamental principles of the high-watchmaking art and, therefore manufacture what can be described as “real fine watches”. Although the brand was reestablished only 15 years ago, the company sits quite comfortably among such prominent players as Audemars Piguet, Blancpain, Breguet, Breitling, Vacheron Constantin, Ulysse Nardin and Zenith. In fact, the brand was such a success that in 2000 it was bought by the omnipresent Swatch Group to become one of the dearest jewels in its crown.

The Senator Navigator line was first presented to the public in 2006. The hand-made vintage aviator watch was priced at about $9000 for big date model but was also available without this complication for mere $5000. Styled almost exactly like the “official” timepieces of the WWII-era German Luftwaffe pilots, the watch proved to be a huge success (of course, considering its hefty price stick) and later the company revealed a $30,000 PanoNavigator model with its 44m case made of platinum.

And now, enter the Senator Navigator Perpetual Calendar watch. Revealed at the 2009 Basel fair and priced at €15,800 for a stainless-steel model, the watch features the same 44mm case with an in-house Caliber 100-07 ticking inside it. The movement features a perpetual calendar with an additional leap year complication. G.O. was probably so proud about its new baby that it has placed the leap year indicator at the upper half of the dial right under the 12 o’clock and made it so huge it seems draw to much attention to itself.

Its historically accurate hour and minute hands, as well as the seconds hand, Arabic numerals and hour and minutes indicator are covered with high-quality SuperLumiNova material further adding to the timepiece’s legibility. To give the Navigator even more accurate look, G.O. is going to sell it with a used-look calfskin strap with stainless steel buckle.

Well, if the Navigator looks too expensive to you (nothing to be ashamed of), there is still a vintage Archimede Pilot H historic watch to consider, which is about 40 times more affordable and is also made in Germany.

Glashütte Original Senator Navigator Perpetual Calendar watch’s specification :

Price range: €15,800
Movement: Caliber 100-07, automatic
Complications: Perpetual calendar with leap year indicator
Power reserve: 55 hours
Case material: Stainless steel
Case diameter: 44mm
Case height: 13.9 mm
Dial: Black, with white Super LumiNova filled indexes and hands
Water resistance: N/A
Strap: Calf leather
Crystal: Sapphire