Tonneau-shaped, or even square, dive watches are not new. Past examples either featured round elapsed time bezels on form cases, useless stationary bezels (as with the Roger Dubuis Easy Diver), or tonneau-shaped bezels turning on a round track (don’t ask). Franck Muller has smartly put the dive timer bezel on the dial, in between the hour markers and minute track.

An orange triangle marks the start of the dive, while the first 20 minutes are highlighted in blue, a feature carried over from historical dive watches that relied on US navy dive tables that are no longer used.

The inner bezel is operated by a pair of pushers on the left of the case: the button at eight o’clock advances the timing ring in one minute steps, while the upper button at ten advances it in five minute steps. A locking mechanism between the two buttons secures them once the bezel has been set, preventing accidental advancement. Inner elapsed time bezels are not new – Bell & Ross did it with the BR02 diver – but Franck Muller’s version is unusual, albeit fussy to operate.

Rated to 100m, the Skafander diver is large, measuring 46mm wide and 57mm long, while standing 15.6mm high. It’s available in either steel or 18k rose gold, matched with a black-coated titanium bezel.

Price and availability 

The Skafander in steel (ref. SKF 46 DV SC DT) is priced at SFr13,800 or S$21,486. Delivery is expected in September 2018.

A limited edition dedicated to “poor but sexy” Berlin, the newest iteration of the Senator Chronograph boasts unusual, but appealing, colour combinations – “Bourbon Grey” or “Dry Silver” – giving it a look distinct from the stock version.

Launched at the 68th Berlin International Film Festival, where Glashütte Original is a title sponsor, the new chronograph is available in three variants. The first is stainless steel, and limited to 100 pieces. Its dial is “Bourbon Grey”, accented with dark blue rings on the registers and beige Super-Luminova.

Fitted with the same dial is the red gold version, which is limited to 25 pieces.

And then there’s the platinum edition, limited to just five watches and equipped with a “Dry Silver” dial that’s matched with baby blue rings on the sub-dials, a colour palette unusual on a watch this large and masculine. The platinum version is also distinguished by the blue sapphire cabochon that tops the crown.

Dials aside, ‘The Capital Edition’ is identical to the stock models. The cases are 42mm in diameter, and fitted with the cal. 37, a solidly constructed in-house calibre with a 70-hour power reserve. It’s automatic and equipped with a column wheel, while the horizontal coupling mechanism is simplified, making it relatively slim for a self-winding chronograph movement.

It’s decorated in a manner typical of Glashütte Original movements, with striping on the rotor and bridges, solarisation on the wheels and blued screws. And it has a 21k gold rotor rim as well as a swan’s neck regulator index (though the balance has four solid gold screws for regulation).

Price and availability 

The Senator Chronograph ‘The Capital Edition’ is already available at Glashütte Original boutiques and authorised retailers. Prices are as follows:

Stainless steel (ref. 1-37-01-04-02-07) – €13,500 or S$23,100

Red gold (ref. 1-37-01-04-05-07) – €26,700 or S$49,000

Platinum (ref. 1-37-01-06-03-35) – €47,000 or S$86,400