Contemporary yet traditional, the Pano collection has been a staple of Glashütte Original’s offerings. The latest Pano wristwatch is a departure from the line’s typically clean styling – the PanoLunarTourbillon Limited Edition. Limited to 25 watches with a platinum case, the new watch is a variant the standard tourbillon model, dressed up with impeccable engraving on the dial and movement.

Initial thoughts

With hand-engraved filigree decoration across the dial (and movement, this is easily one of the most attractive in the Pano collection, more so than the standard PanoLunarTourbillon.

Similar to the decoration usually found only on the balance cock of Glashütte Original movements, the engraving is made up of pronounced lines and a complex pattern, giving the watch a markedly different character from the standard model.

The hand engraving was executed in Glashütte Original’s dial factory in Pforzheim

And the look is further enhanced by the metallic blue of panorama date, hands, indices and moon phase, a blue-on-silver livery that provides a sharp and elegant contrast.

While the look is elegantly ornate, it’s a big watch, clocking in at 40 mm wide and 13.10 mm tall, probably a bit too big for a watch of this style. The case size suits contemporary tastes, but something thinner and perhaps 38 mm in diameter would work better with the design.

German aesthetic

Underneath the decoration, the watch is identical to the standard PanoLunarTourbillon. It retains the appealing, asymmetrical dial layout that’s a key feature of the Pano collection – something that admittedly brought to mind the Lange 1, though less so with the newer Pano models. Overall, the dial is clean and legible, and asymmetrical yet balanced.

In keeping with the traditional Teutonic take on the tourbillon, the watch features a flying tourbillon, invented by German watchmaker Alfred Helwig in 1920.

Cantilevered on the bottom rather than being held in place by a bridge on top, the cage of the tourbillon is modelled on Helwig’s original design, one that complements the dial engraving very well.

The movement

Visible through the case back is the in-house cal. 93-12. Decorated similarly and equally attractive as the dial, the movement also features a large, stainless steel plaque emblazoned with “Flying Tourbillon” – a superfluous feature that distracts from the engraving.

That aside, the finishing is excellent in typical Glashütte Original style, which in turn is now known as the German style of movement decoration (and one shared by A. Lange & Söhne as well). That means blued screws, gold accents, and the occasional jewel in a gold chaton.

Key Facts and Price

Glashütte Original PanoLunarTourbillon – Limited Edition
Ref. 1-93-12-01-03-30

Diameter: 40 mm
Height: 13.10 mm
Material: Platinum
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 50 m

Movement: Cal 93-12
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, moon phase and flying tourbillon
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 21,600 beats per hour (3Hz)
Power reserve: 48 hours

Strap: Blue alligator

Limited edition: 25 pieces
Availability: From end-August at boutiques and authorised retailers
Price: €126,720; or 205,800 Singapore dollars

For more information, visit Glashuette-original.com.