While the Glashütte Original Senator Chronometer dial isn’t perfectly symmetrical, the brand did a great job on it. The slightly frosted, silver-toned dial is printed with traditional-looking Roman numerals in black, which offer excellent contrast. The hands are gorgeous, being produced in steel and then flame-blued. Everything on the dial feels both precise and purposeful. If there is one word to really sum up the character of the Senator Chronometer it is most certainly “precise.”

Even little parts like the easy-to-miss AM/PM indicator are useful and part of the entire notion of “precise setting.” The small round window goes from black to white when the time changes from PM to AM. If I could change anything in the movement it would be for a longer power reserve, but that is another challenge unto itself in maintaining isochronism (accuracy over time) with a longer power reserve.

Glashütte Original currently only offers the Senator Chronometer in either 18k white gold or this rose gold model. No steel options, but I suppose that is to be expected from a model with this fine a movement. On the wrist, the 42mm-wide case (that is 12.3mm thick) feels like the perfect combo of modern proportions with a versatile size that is as casual as it is formal. The case is water-resistant to 50 meters and has an expansive sapphire crystal over the movement on the rear. The more OCD-inclined of you will appreciate that the case appears to be designed around the size of the movement so that there is not a lot of extra room on the back of the case between the edges of the movement and the edge of the case. I have to admit that it always looks better when a movement fills up a case in this way.

Attached to the Glashütte Original Senator Chronometer watch is a fitted black alligator strap. Again, it is an easy element to miss, but by fitting the strap to the case, Glashütte Original is further able to offer a refined look. The strap comes on a matching gold deployant clasp, but continues to have the brand’s signature “screwed in pin,” which means you need a tool and steady hands to resize the strap.

In my opinion, the Glashütte Original Senator Chronometer is still a star of the larger Senator collection – even though the family of timepieces from Glashütte Original has a lot of impressive timepieces. Of course, the Glashütte Original Senator Chronometer isn’t cheap, but compare it to some of the competition and you’ll see more than enough value here. Price for the Glashütte Original Senator Chronograph reference 1-58-01-01-01-04 watch in 18k rose gold is $30,300 and the 18k white gold reference 1-58-01-01-04-04 model is $32,200. glashuette-original.com

Necessary Data
>Brand: Glashütte Original
>Model: Senator Chronometer reference 1-58-01-01-01-04
>Price: $30,300 USD as tested
>Size: 42mm wide and 12.3mm thick
>Would reviewer personally wear it: Yes.
>Friend we’d recommend it to first: Traditionally designed and styled high-end watch lover who can also enjoy a movement designed for gear-heads to appreciate.
>Best characteristic of watch: Excellent combination of design and technical elements, as well as use of German watchmaking strengths to offer something beautiful as well as useful. Precision-oriented systems all work well, and legibility is impressive.
>Worst characteristic of watch: Lack of offering a steel case really limits interested customers. Would be that much more impressive with a week of power reserve. Senator case design is attractive but visually showing its age against more uniquely finished competition.