First introduced at Baselworld 2016 as a time-only wristwatch, Glashütte Original Senator Excellence is distinguished by the calibre 36 inside, a newly developed, solidly built movement. Now the calibre 36 has been upgraded with new complications, with either a big date display or both a date and moon phase.

Known as the Senator Excellence Panorama Date and Excellence Panorama Date Moonphase respectively, the new models stick to the same styling as the time-only model.

The dials are grained silver, with colour provided by blued steel hands and red minute markings. Notably, the hour markers and lettering are not just printed, instead they are laser engraved and then filled with black lacquer, a finish that provides greater longevity.

Powered by the calibre 36-03, the Senator Excellence Panorama Date has the brand’s signature extra-large date at five o’clock.

Two discs positioned on the same level (many oversized dates use discs that are stacked) show the two digits of the date.

With the addition of a lunar display at 10 o’clock, the Excellence Panorama Date Moonphase looks just a tad fancier.

This has inside the calibre 36-04, with the moon phase disc is a shiny metallic blue, with the moon and stars in silver.

While the complications differ, both movements are almost identical, with the same key features, namely a free-sprung silicon hairspring and a 100-hour power reserve, accompanied by 24 days of timekeeping tests to standards similar to that of COSC.

Both feature the same 40mm case that’s 12.2mm high, available either in stainless steel or rose gold. That makes them thicker than the time-only Senator Excellence that’s just 10mm high, an increase dictation by the size of the date mechanism.

Price and availability 

The new Senator Excellence watches are already available at Glashütte Original boutiques and retailers, priced as follows:

Senator Excellence Panorama Date steel (ref. 1-36-03-01-02-01) – US$10,400 or S$15,900

Senator Excellence Panorama Date rose gold (ref. 1-36-03-02-05-01) – US$20,900 or S$35,000

Senator Excellence Panorama Date Moonphase steel (ref. 1-36-04-01-02-01) – US$11,400 or S$SGD 17,900

Senator Excellence Panorama Date Moonphase rose gold (ref. 1-36-04-02-05-01) – US$21,900 or S$36,900