GO Senator Chronograph: The watches – hands-on and more

Jan 24, 2015,09:30 AM
 





There are two different versions of the (current) Senator Chronograph available, one in RG and one in PT. But this time there are more differences than just the metal, as you can already see in the picture(s) below.





In both cases the diameter is 42mm, the height is 14.0mm, there are anti-reflective sapphire crystals on both sides, they are waterproof up to 50m and the hands are stainless steel blued. Aside from the crown (Pt; crown with blue sapphire) the dial is the main difference – layout and not to forget the varnishing. Especially the later makes a huge difference in my book, but more on this later and in detail.

On the official pictures it looks like this and one can hardly see the differences, except the layout.










To me both look like classical beauties, with some nice details shown and very good readability. If I had to choose based on pictures, I would have a tough time as I like them both.






Next steps are hands-on, close-ups and putting them on my wrist.









The mix out of polished and matt finishing on the case looks nice to me and also I like the shape of the pushers for the chronograph.














The blue sapphire in the crown (PT version) adds some (precious) spice and matches just perfect (especially with the hands), but maybe for some (those who prefer “to fly below the radar”) it is (slightly) too much. I could get used to it, but I have to tell you my first (serious) watch (a looooong time ago) was from Cartier and came with blue sapphire in the crown as well smile

 

The back I won´t show you this time, because you already saw it here: glashutte.watchprosite.com /


 Different varnishing I mentioned above and therefore it is time to look closer.




(RG; varnish silver-grainé with black Roman/Arabic numeral)






(PT; hand silver plating by friction, with Roman/Arabic numerals, tachymeter scale, numerals and scales engraved, inlaid by hand)

 

Both are very nice and well executed, but one is superior – not because of (my) taste, but because of the sophisticated way it is done.


To get an idea about the challenges of hand silver plating by friction I would like to show you some details.


Of course, everything looks just perfect on press pictures …





Like this it looks very good, doesn´t it.




Closer it looks like this …





Still good?! Let´s change the angle(s).









Let´s get even closer …













I trust you found some flaws, but this was my intention.

 

Those pictures have been taken by me with a purpose and thanks to Glashütte Original (which is not self-evident!) I was allowed to shoot a prototype with serious flaws and to share them with you afterwards.

If you never have the chance to see which kind of flaws are possible (in general) you probably won´t be able to fully appreciate a perfect (unique) dial and what you get for the premium you have to pay on top. Of course a few pictures only and just one example won´t give you the “big picture”, but still I wanted to give you a brief idea before I will tell you more about the technique and the way it is done at a later time.

 

On the wrist





On my wrist I liked them both, but with a soft spot for the PT version. Once you got the additional details, there is (almost) no way back – at least in my case smile





Different angles, different light … it is far from being boring and a feast for the eyes.

























Conclusion :

This is not the first chronograph we know from Glashütte Original and also it is the not the most unique one – if we talk about the design. Nonetheless it is a very nice chronograph which seems to be very well executed and it is a pleasure to handle. If you are in the market for a classical chronograph which could be worn (almost and depending on your lifestyle) 24h/7d you should have a closer look at your AD. There is beauty, readability, wearability and I also trust on the reliability from what I know about GO. If you look for something special, you should have a look as well and even when it is just for the pleasure of looking and handling.

Yes when we talk about chronographs there are some serious competitors available today who also offer interesting products and maybe there are more than ever before. Still from my point of view – especially in case of the platinum version there is less competition, simply because hand silver plating by friction makes the difference – if you are interested in that kind of sophisticated details. The latter you won´t find that easy on a “standard” luxury watch which is produced in “relatively high” volumes. In times of CNC machines and high-tech production unique dials are not that common anymore and to me it is like a personal face with lots of character -just the cherry on the cake.

 

Hand silver plating by friction” – More on this in my next post.

 

Thanks for reading so far!

 

Oliver


This message has been edited by small-luxury-world on 2015-01-24 09:31:41


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Forget SIHH, this is what I was waiting for :)

 
 By: ik2000 : January 24th, 2015-10:22
Thanks very much Oliver for this post. And it was a very very smart decision to allow the flaws to be shown - assuming the final version doesn't have it!! It really does make you appreciate the value in making the finished version flawless, and the differ... 

"getting both of them"

 
 By: small-luxury-world : January 25th, 2015-10:33
I see, I see you are in trouble :-) Thanks and I will post more soon. Best, Oliver

:) Actually one thing I have noticed....

 
 By: ik2000 : January 25th, 2015-11:07
The blue stone on the pusher, not the crown.... is that a new feature they decided to go with? I had only seen the stone in the crown, and even on some of the videos by GO on this forum.... I do like it, its a nice touch, especially not having it on both ... 

LOL, your correction ...

 
 By: small-luxury-world : January 25th, 2015-11:20
was faster than my reply :-) Best, Oliver

Good job, Oliver.

 
 By: amanico : January 24th, 2015-10:36
Very well written, with great pictures. I have the utmost respect for some of their Chronographs, and this one is in the list. I have a preference for their Rattrapante, though. Because it is a rattrapante. And a manual one. No pictures of the movement? B... 

Because . . .

 
 By: Dr No : January 24th, 2015-17:17
. . . you asked. :-) ...  

Thanks my friend ...

 
 By: small-luxury-world : January 25th, 2015-10:37
and it seems my link didn´t work for you. In that case I make an exception for you, only :-) Best, Oliver ...  

Nice looking, Oliver. Still, I prefer the Rattrapante,

 
 By: amanico : January 25th, 2015-10:56
But they are not playing in the same league... Best, Nicolas.

I beg to differ, Nicolas. On a static level . . .

 
 By: Dr No : January 26th, 2015-15:07
. . . your point is arguably valid, but there's a latent dimension to any comparison, and there, the picture is not quite so simple. If one follows the trajectory of GUB chronograph movements, from the cal 60 and 61 to the cal 95, and then 99, one cannot ...  

Excellent work Oliver! I share a preference for the platinum.

 
 By: MichaelC : January 24th, 2015-11:02
This is a beautiful chronograph in both versions. As you say, the PT model offers some additional details - an important consideration certainly not lost among PuristS. Not much to change on this one for me, although a manual wind movement would likely pu... 

Michael, I agree that it would have been nice ...

 
 By: small-luxury-world : January 25th, 2015-10:41
to see a (new) manual wind movement instead of the automic chronograph. Still we should not forget that not everybody thinks like this and GO already had some great offers with a manual movement. We can´t (always) get it all at the same time and not every... 

The GO Senator Chrono

 
 By: ED209 : January 24th, 2015-14:50
Great review and thanks for showing some of the fine details and small flaws in the prototype. I like the RG dial that doesn't have the tchymeter scale, but love the PT version with the blues sapphire stones on the pushers and crown. Regards, ED-209

Ed, thanks for your reply and ...

 
 By: small-luxury-world : January 25th, 2015-10:44
I get your points. To me it is just a matter of taste and they have decided like this, this time ;-) Best, Oliver

Oliver, thank you for this comprehensive report!

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : January 25th, 2015-03:14
And as usual fantastic photos! :) My preferences would be in favor for the PT but I find both versions very appealing. Best Blomman

Blomman, thanks for your reply!

 
 By: small-luxury-world : January 25th, 2015-10:45
Best, Oliver

Great Report

 
 By: Blue and White : January 25th, 2015-22:56
Thank you very much, Oliver, for the very interesting report on these GO. I prefer the RG version slightly to the Pt version due to the somewhat cleaner dial without the tachymeter scale, but at the end it is a subjective view and both watches are marvelo... 

Thanks for your kind reply and yes ...

 
 By: small-luxury-world : January 29th, 2015-03:27
they are (about 1mm) bigger if you compare them with the current Datograph, but I doubt they are more heavy. The weight should be higher at ALS, as this was part of the approach of G. Blümlein to make "very SOLID watches". But I don´t have numbers here. B...