Glashutte Original Senator Chronographs: A Century of Saxon Watchmaking Heritage

Glashutte Original Honors 100 Years of Wristwatch Chronograph Development

A century ago, the watchmakers of Glashutte, Saxony, faced a fundamental transformation. The small German town had built its reputation on precision pocket watches, but by the 1920s, demand was shifting decisively toward wristwatches. What followed was a period of rapid development that would eventually produce Glashutte's first modern wristwatch chronograph, the UROFA Caliber 59. Now, Glashutte Original is revisiting two branches of that history with the new Senator Chronograph and Senator Chronograph Navigator watches.

From Pocket Watches to Pilot Chronographs

The transition from pocket to wrist was not immediate. Early wristwatch movements were viewed with skepticism in Glashutte because their precision struggled to meet the standards long established by pocket watches. By the 1920s, however, changing consumer habits made the shift difficult to ignore. In 1926, UROFA and UFAG were established to develop and produce wristwatches in Glashutte, with Dr. Ernst Kurtz appointed to lead both companies.

One of the key developments under Kurtz was the UROFA Caliber 58, nicknamed the "Raumnutzwerk" or "space-efficient movement," which adapted proven principles of pocket watch construction to the smaller wristwatch format. This caliber laid the groundwork for the UROFA Caliber 59 in the early 1940s — the first modern wristwatch chronograph produced in Glashutte, designed specifically for pilots with a flyback mechanism.

Modern Caliber 37-24: Flyback Chronograph Technology

Both new Senator Chronographs are powered by Glashutte Original's automatic Caliber 37-24, a modern integrated column-wheel chronograph movement. Key specifications include:

The flyback function allows the chronograph to be stopped, reset, and immediately restarted with a single press — a feature directly descended from the historic Caliber 59's pilot's watch requirements. The movement also features a silicon balance spring for increased resistance to magnetic fields, solid gold regulating screws, and Glashutte Original's signature swan-neck fine adjustment.

Two Distinctive Designs, One Shared Architecture

The Senator Chronograph Navigator draws inspiration from 1940s pilot's watches with a matte black dial, large Arabic numeral appliques filled with Super-LumiNova, and a large cone-shaped crown. The Senator Chronograph reaches further back, taking inspiration from late 19th-century observation watches with a silver-white grainé dial and solid gold Roman numeral appliques.

Both share a 41mm stainless steel case measuring 12.9mm thick, with 50 meters water resistance and sapphire display casebacks. Prices start at $16,100 USD on leather straps and $17,100 USD on stainless steel bracelets.

FAQ

What makes the Caliber 37-24 significant?

The Caliber 37-24 is Glashutte Original's in-house integrated column-wheel chronograph with flyback function, silicon balance spring, and 70-hour power reserve — combining historic pilot's watch functionality with modern technology.

What is the difference between the Senator Chronograph and Navigator?

The Navigator is inspired by 1940s pilot's watches with a black dial and Arabic numerals, while the Senator Chronograph draws from classic observation watches with a silver dial and Roman numerals. Both share the same case and movement.

Are the straps interchangeable?

Yes, both models feature a quick-change system for tool-free strap changes, and the stainless steel bracelets include a fine-adjustment system. For the first time, Glashutte Original has developed a quick-change system for the folding clasp as well.

Source: aBlogtoWatch, August 31, 2026

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