Glashütte Original Senator Chronograph and Navigator: Honoring 100 Years of Innovation

Glashütte Original Revisits a Century of Watchmaking History with New Chronographs

Glashütte Original has unveiled two new chronographs that celebrate a pivotal moment in the Saxon town's watchmaking history. The Senator Chronograph and Senator Chronograph Navigator mark 100 years since Glashütte's transition from pocket watches to wristwatches—a transformation that began in the 1920s and eventually produced the town's first modern wristwatch chronograph, the UROFA Caliber 59.

A Historical Transition

A century ago, Glashütte's watchmakers faced a fundamental change in how people told time. The Saxon town had built its reputation on precision pocket watches, but by the 1920s, demand was shifting decisively toward wristwatches. Early wristwatch movements were initially viewed with skepticism in Glashütte because their precision and reliability struggled to meet the standards long established by pocket watches.

In 1926, UROFA and UFAG were established with the goal of developing and producing wristwatches in Glashütte, with Dr. Ernst Kurtz appointed to lead the two companies. His challenge was to translate the town's established standards of pocket watchmaking into the much smaller format required for the wrist.

The UROFA Caliber 59 Legacy

One of the key developments under Kurtz was the UROFA Caliber 58, nicknamed the "Raumnutzwerk" or "space-efficient movement." This caliber adapted proven principles of pocket watch construction to make better use of the limited space available inside a wristwatch. Caliber 58 went on to become a major success for Glashütte, helping establish the town in the growing wristwatch market.

More importantly for the story of the new Senator Chronographs, it laid the groundwork for another development that followed in the early 1940s: the UROFA Caliber 59. Commissioned to develop a chronograph specifically for pilots, the requirements were demanding: the watch had to withstand pressure of 15 bar for at least 90 minutes, incorporate shock protection and a flyback mechanism, and maintain accuracy of -3/+12 seconds per day.

Modern Interpretation

The new Senator Chronograph and Navigator watches are powered by Glashütte Original's automatic Caliber 37-24, a modern integrated column-wheel chronograph movement measuring 34.2mm in diameter and just 8mm thick. Like the historic Caliber 59, it incorporates a flyback function, allowing the chronograph to be stopped, reset, and immediately restarted with a single press.

The movement also drives the central hours and minutes, running seconds, 30-minute chronograph counter, and Glashütte Original's signature Panorama Date. Running at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz), Caliber 37-24 provides a power reserve of up to 70 hours.

Two Distinct Styles

Both watches share a 41mm stainless steel case measuring 12.9mm thick, but draw inspiration from different historical sources:

Senator Chronograph Navigator

Drawing inspiration from 1940s pilot's watches, the Navigator prioritizes legibility with a matte black dial, large Arabic numeral appliqués filled with Super-LumiNova, and luminous hour markers. The design features a large cone-shaped crown and traditional mushroom-shaped chronograph pushers.

Senator Chronograph

Reaching further back into Glashütte's precision timekeeping history, the Senator takes inspiration from observation watches produced during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The silver-white dial features a fine grainé finish with solid gold Roman numeral appliqués and blued steel hands.

Technical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the significance of the flyback function?

The flyback function allows the chronograph to be stopped, reset, and restarted with a single press of the pusher. This feature was originally developed for pilots who needed to time successive events without resetting the chronograph manually.

How do these watches differ from previous Senator Chronographs?

These new models feature the Caliber 37-24 movement with silicon balance spring and 70-hour power reserve. They also introduce Glashütte Original's first quick-change system for the folding clasp, allowing it to be transferred between compatible straps without tools.

What is the Panorama Date?

The Panorama Date is Glashütte Original's signature big date complication, displayed through two separate windows. It provides excellent readability and has become a distinctive feature of the brand's timepieces.

According to aBlogtoWatch, this story was reported on August 31, 2026.

For more information about German watchmaking and chronograph complications, visit our German Watchmaking Guide and Chronograph Complications Explained tutorials.