By John Galt
Glashütte Original have released two new versions of their PanoReserve and PanoMaticLunar pieces to their line for 2015. The two timepieces are available in either rose gold with a gorgeous matt black finish or in satin brushed stainless steel with a dark blue dial.
The case size is 40mm which is perfect for the colour combination, any bigger case size and the bold colours would become too overwhelming to the eye. The new pieces build on the Glashütte trademark design of off-centre displays for the hours and minutes thus with no over-lapping of important indicators on the dial, If you were wondering A.Lange & Söhne does this as well. The sub dial for the seconds, placed at 6’oclock on the hour dial, has been thoroughly thought out so not to obscure the view of the hours and minute track. Both pieces feature a large date window at 4 O’Clock with white numerals. With the date window placement at 4 O’Clock it leaves a nice blank space for other complications. At 2 O’Clock Glashütte Original have added a moon-phase indicator on the PanoMaticLunar with the PanoReserve, as the name suggests, having a power reserve indicator instead.
Both pieces are available in either colour combination but my favourite is the rose gold with black dial. The warm feel of the rose gold case, hands and applied indices are perfectly accentuated by the dark matt dial.
Turning the pieces over you are greeted with exhibition case backs but both pack different beating hearts. Glashütte Original have again married up on the PanoMaticLunar like a few other occasions i.e. the PanoInverse by matching a moon phase with their in-house 90-02 automatic movement offering 42 hours of power reserve with their typical Glashütte Original striped finish. The off centre rotor has been carefully skeletonised featuring a 21K gold oscillating weight.
The PanReserve, as with many other Glashütte Originals with added power reserve indicators, comes with a manually wound 65-01 calibre again offering 42 hours power reserve and a hand engraved finishing.
Both the new Pano models come with a choice of straps, red gold is offered with either a matte black or nubuck Louisiana alligator strap while the stainless steel comes with either dark blue calf leather or nubuck Louisiana alligator strap. All options come with folding clasp.
Conclusion
The rose gold with black dial is stunning with its warm glow and midnight black dial it just oozes sophistication. Glashütte Original have also surprised me as well with their stainless steel versions having blue dials which with some other luxury brands they are normally only reserved for their precious metal releases. This is a big step forward for them offering blue dials on stainless steel which I’m sure will gain them customers who want that beautiful blue dial but not pay for a precious metal case just to get it. Bravo Glashütte Original. For more info, please visit glashuette-original.com
John Galt – Contributing Editor
John Galt caught the horology bug back in 2010 on his first visit to a London watch show and has snowballed since; John has become an avid writer and blogger of timepieces of all kinds, from everyday timepieces to modern Luxury Haute Horology, his favorite brands being HYT and Greubel Forsey that push the bounders of modern watch-making. John keeps a keen interest in the UK watch scene with their many emerging brands and timepiece’s. John Galt currently contributes watch related articles for online publications in the UK and USA. You can follow John on Twitter @johng73 Read his articles here.
