The Glashütte Original Senator Cosmopolite is in fact a world-timer watch, but one with a much different dial layout than most world-timers. A typical example of this complication uses both a city disc and 24-hour indicator along the dial’s periphery, which clutters up the dial somewhat but allows the wearer to read the time in the major 24 time zones at a glance. This is less useful, however, when you want to know the time in a timezone with a 1/2 hour or 3/4 hour offset, such as Indian Standard Time which is UTC+05:30. The Glashütte Original Senator Cosmopolite addresses this with a different implementation of a world-timer complication, with the currently displayed second timezone visible at 8 o’clock as either STD (Standard Time), or DST (Daylight Savings Time).
Without the standard world-timer layout to consume most of the dial space, Glashütte Original has been able to pack a lot of information into this display. A small seconds sub-dial occupies the 6 o’clock position, a day-night indicator for the destination timezone can be found at 9 o’clock, and both a power reserve indicator and a home time day-night indicator are tucked into the 12 o’clock sub-dial. An additional large date display (or Panorama Date as the brand calls it) for the second timezone occupies the 4 o’clock position. Blue printed Arabic numerals and applied blue indexes make the destination time quite legible despite all the information on offer, with the home time dial using black printed numerals for contrast.
Home time is set via the use of the crown at 2 o’clock, and destination time via the crown at 8 o’clock. While travelling, the wearer can also turn the crown at 4 o’clock either clockwise (to advance the time) or counter-clockwise (to reverse it) until the desired destination timezone’s IATA code (International Air Transport Association) appears in one of the apertures at 8 o’clock. Once set, the central hour and minute hands will shift in 15-minute increments to match the new timezone. Even the day/night indicator at 9 o’clock and Panorama date aperture at 4 o’clock will update to reflect the new destination time automatically, should the time be advanced past midnight, for instance.
The Glashütte Original Senator Cosmopolite features a 44mm by 14mm stainless steel case, which while on the large side, is certainly reasonable for the amount of complexity on offer here. Water resistance is rated at 5 Bar or approximately 50m, which will survive an immersion but shouldn’t be worn while swimming. The watch comes attached to a blue Louisiana alligator strap with the option of either a tang buckle, a standard length fold fastener, or a short fold fastener. The exhibition caseback is also in sapphire and allows a view of the Caliber 89-02 within.
Unfortunately, Glashütte Original have not supplied any images of the movement as of yet, so we’ll need to wait for the watch to be available in the metal before we can provide any eye candy. But, we’re told that this is an automatic movement with a micro-rotor, featuring an oscillating weight edged with 21ct gold. The screwed balance uses four 14ct gold adjustment screws, along with a swan-neck fine adjuster for rate symmetry. The movement oscillates at 28,800 vph or 4Hz, offers a 72 hour power reserve, and has 63 jewel bearings. Decoration is reported to be quite extensive with Glashütte striping on the standard 3-quarter plate, polished and blued screws, and bevelled edges.
The Glashütte Original Senator Cosmopolite is a sophisticated and balanced offering from the brand, with a wealth of information on display for frequent travelers that doesn’t suffer from the standard maladies of a world-timer. Combined with a large-but-wearable case size, good water resistance, and a generous power reserve, I think Glashütte Original are onto a winner for someone who wants a reliable and versatile traveler’s watch that is bold enough on the wrist to make a statement without being too showy about it. Price for the Glashütte Original Senator Cosmopolite is €20,700. glashuette-original.com
