A tribute to the German city of Dresden, the PanoMaticInverse Limited Edition depicts the city where the predecessor of Glashütte Original was founded in 1845. It retains the inverted movement construction that characterises the model, displaying the escapement on the dial, but here the three-quarter plate on the front sports a hand-engraved rendering of Dresden landmarks, the Frauenkirche and Academy of Fine Arts, while the bridges on the reverse are engraved with the Elbe promenade.

Initial thoughts

Although the brand itself was founded after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Glashütte Original (GO) has its roots in the very beginning of watchmaking in the Glashütte area. Because the brand was formed from the East German state-owned watchmaking enterprise, it was vertically integrated from the beginning, making it a true manufacture.

It is somewhat under-appreciated compared to its neighbour, A. Lange & Söhne, although the two brands focus on different segments of the market, with Glashütte Original offering more affordable timepieces. The brand’s steel watches, for example, usually retail for under US$15,000. However, GO is capable of German haute horologerie, as demonstrated by its top-of-the-line timepieces like the Senator Chronometer Tourbillon.

The PanoMaticInverse “Dresden Tribute” is one of the brand’s high-end offerings, with a retail price of US$47,400. Even though that’s a big number, the watch delivers substantial tangible quality. In addition to the hand-engraved bridges on the front and the back, it features a platinum case and of course and in-house movement.

The only weakness of the PanoMaticInverse, and the wider Pano collection, is its visual similarity to the Lange 1. The Lange 1 arrived first with this type of aesthetic, so the Pano styling inevitably feels derivative.

The inverse movement construction displays the balance wheel and the hand-engraved balance bridge on the dial side.

Hand-engraved artistry

A limited edition of 25 watches, the new PanoMaticInverse captures Dresden’s historical landmarks on the front and back. Abandoning the traditional striping on the dial-side three-quarter plate, it is instead decorated with a hand engraving of the dome and “lantern” of the Frauenkirche, the church in the centre of the old city, and in the foreground, the nearby Academy of Fine Arts that faces the Elbe river. In the background are a hot air balloon, birds, and clouds.

The decoration continues on the back. The movement is fitted with a skeletonised rotor that depicts the “lantern” of the Frauenkirche, while the bridges on the reverse are engraved with the promenade along the Elbe river, including the bridge that spans the water.

The watch is otherwise similar to the standard model.

With the signature Panorama Date at one o’clock, the time is indicated by blued steel hands on a clear sapphire dial set on top of the three-quarter plate. Although the movement is more monochromatic than usual due to the engraved decoration, it still retains familiar elements of fine finishing, including blued screws and bevelled edges along the bridge and cock.

The platinum case measures 42 mm wide and 12.3 mm high. Inside is the self-winding in-house cal. 91-03 with 45 hours of power reserve. One of the unusual features of the movement is a GO signature, the duplex swan’s neck regulator that promises finer regulation and better accuracy.

Key facts and price

Glashütte Original PanoMaticInverse Limited Edition
Ref. 1-91-03-01-03-61

Diameter: 42 mm
Height: 12.3 mm
Material: Platinum
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 50 m

Movement: Cal. 91-03
Functions: Hours, minutes, and small seconds
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 45 hours

Strap: Blue alligator strap with platinum folding clasp

Limited edition: 25 pieces
Availability: Available at Glashütte Original boutiques and retailers starting April 2024
Price: US$47,400

For more, visit glashuette-original.com