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The PuristS
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In 2001, Glashütte Original presented the astonishing PanoRetroGraph, a hand-wound chronograph with fly-back and countdown alarm function. This watch was the first to introduce the meanwhile typical GO face, with its off center time display. A year later, in 2002, the PanoRetroGraph's 'civilized' version without the countdown alarm was unveiled: the PanoGraph. Together with its non-chronograph counterpart, the PanoReserve, the watches started what today is known as the Pano-series. While these three were still based on hand-winding movements, the year 2003 brought the first self-winding Pano-watches, but not a chronograph. It consequently would be wrong to say that the launch of a self-winding chronograph in the Pano-series at this year's Basel fair came unexpected. The PanoMaticChrono, as it is called, is the logical complement of the series that started three years earlier. What came a bit unexpected, however, was its dial layout, which left the young tradition of the Pano-series in a few, but quite essential aspects. In spite of merely combining the new self-winding movement with the - itself already rather unconventional - face of the PanoGraph, GO confronted us with a very different appearance. In 2003, a group of PuristS community members had been kindly invited by the then-designated president of the company, Dr. Müller, for a presentation of novelties. Also welcoming us was the man who had brought back the manufacture into the league of haute horologie, Heinz W. Pfeifer. At one point of the presentation, he retrieved an interesting item from his pocket, and showed us a watch dial, featuring a subchapter ring on a higher layer, above the offset hour and minute display. Clearly this was the dial of a new chronograph, and upon our very insisting queries, Mr. Pfeifer stated that this would eventually become the new self-winding chronograph's appearance. Unfortunately, but understandable, we were neither allowed to photograph the dial, nor to report about it. As a consequence, those who attended that last year's presentation, were not too astonished by the new chronograph. However, it is still a tiny difference between seeing a lone watch dial, and a complete and working watch ...
At first sight, the new PanoMaticChrono is an absolutely stunning timepiece. I know, I keep saying this about all watches that were issued by Glashütte Original, but this does not compromise the truth behind it. Especially with the Pano-series, Glashütte original has found a unique style, and by complementing the series piece by piece, creates an own and unmistakable signature. The most apparent style element, of course, is the large offset chronograph second counter, which resides on a separate ring, placed above the rest of the dial, somehow resembling a highway access architecture. This ring makes observing the chronograph running a really special experience. All other indications rest beneath the second counter, resulting in a slightly obstructed view on them.
In order to make the best from the situation, the zero-points of both, the small permanent second at 10, and the 30 minutes-chronograph counter at 2, have been relocated inwards, so the correct resetting of the minute counter can be easily checked.
This unconventional appearance should be noted, if possible BEFORE informing the company's president that his new watch is defect, with the minute counter improperly resetting; which was what I did ... After getting over this embarrassing situation, let's continue with the analysis of the great PanoMaticChrono. The dial colour and surface structure is known from the Pano-series, except that now the three subdials seem to be recessed, and are framed by hair thin gold lines - very nice! The platinum version, limited to 200 pieces, features a silver-plated dial made from massive yellow gold, showing a stunning sunburst guilloche pattern.
The GO-typical panorama date is balanced by the company logo on the left of the dial. Since the dial is everything else but empty, the manufacturer left away the instructive designations for the chronograph buttons, which in the last year initiated my comment about the "video recorder syndrome", when I regarded the PanoMatic dials. In this specific case, however, this decision has a downside, too. Like the hand-wound PanoGraph, the PanoMaticChrono has an unconventional ergonomics, with the start/stop chrono pusher being located at 4, and the reset-pusher at 2, which is exactly contrary to what all other chronograph manufacturers did it since the invention of the multipusher mechanism. This inevitably results in pressing the upper pusher whenever one wants stop the running chronograph. On a normal chrono, this could result in serious damage, since pressing the reset button while the chronograph is running is not a good idea. At least, this consequence will not happen with the PanoMaticChrono, since its movement features a so-called flyback mechanism, which allows the instant resetting and restarting of the running chronograph by simply pushing the reset button. Another novelty, and a fine improvement in my opinion, is the luminous substance on the hour and minute hands, making the PanoMaticChrono the first non-Navigator GO which is legible in the dark (well, I forgot the silver-faced "Autodate", which has the Union's hands). The casework is as marvellous as is typical for GO. Especially that silky-smooth satin finish on the sides has to be felt under fingertips to really appreciate it. A propos smoothness: As already experienced with the PanoGraph, Glashütte Original succeeded in making the operation of the chronograph pushers smoother than any other I have tried before. There is one other difference, when the PanoMaticChrono is compared with the PanoGraph: The movement design made it necessary to leave out the date quick-setting via the crown. This function is now engaged by means of a separate pusher, located at 10. And this pusher also is the very only point I feel I have to criticize: Besides the fact that some people might take it as a cause to renew their comments regarding design similarities between Glashütte Original and its neighbouring competitor, Lange, such a prominent pusher for a function that is normally used but once every two months, means begging for trouble; especially, since this correction pusher operates as smoothly as its chronograph counterparts. Consequently, changing the date is easy - too easy. Additionally, the pushers location itself makes it very probable that it is engaged more often than is wanted: Any chronograph user knows that it is absolutely normal for using one fingertip (either thumb of index finger) to balance the pressure that is exerted on the chronograph pusher. Thus, the watch case is pressed against the finger using the chronograph pusher, greatly facilitating the operation. This may sound complicated, but is an instinctive behaviour. As a consequence, the index finger's tip will press against the case exactly at the 10 o'clock position, whenever the thumb presses the start/stop pusher. And here is the date correction pusher, accurately on the ergonomically worst location possible.
That my reservation in this respect is not merely theoretic, is proved by another watch brand, Ulysse Nardin: Their first series of GMT watches had the + and - pushers for adjusting the hour hand on exactly opposite sides of the case. Whenever the user tried to push one button, he automatically also pushed the other, resulting in operational flaws, even mechanical troubles. Very quickly, UN changed this layout and relocated one of the pushers. Therefore, I strongly suggest that GO replaces the prominent pusher with a more conventional corrector, which has to be operated with the tip of a ball-pen or something similar; like generations of calendar watches had before, without any problems. But back to the PanoMaticChrono's good characteristics; in fact, we now approach it's best part: the movement.
The newly developed cal. 95 movement is a wonderful piece. Apparently, its optical appearance has been given more than just casual attention during the development stage. Roughly a half of the movement is visible, offering plain sight on all what makes a chronograph movement so beautiful: the chronograph activation levers, the wonderfully finished column wheel, and the astonishingly large screw balance wheel. Astonishing, because a large-diameter screw balance, oscillating at a high rate of 28,800 A/h is certainly rather uncommon. Not only mass inertia, but also the air turbulences, resulting from the screws moving at high speed, certainly are factors that have to be taken into account during the development. Of course, the movement finish is up to GO's very high standard; engraved balance cock, bevelled edges, screwed gold chatons.
The rest of the movement is hidden by the automatic winding mechanism, which includes a very interesting innovation. Some would even say, a typical German innovation, because it shows a care for details you would await in a premium car of German origin as well: If you ever had to inflate an empty car tire, you know that you need a long time, until you see at least a small result, and the flat rubber takes some shape. After the tire is filled with a certain amount of air, it becomes increasingly harder to continue inflating it. The same happens when winding a watch's mainspring. Ideally the automatic winding system would build up power quickly, so that the balance amplitude is high and stable enough to guarantee good accuracy. But then, it should lower its energy input, in order to keep the watch from working at full spring tension, which maximises stress and wear on the mechanism.
Glashütte Original found a solution to the problem, by spending the cal. 95 two mainspring barrels, with different transmission ratios. At first, the rotor is winding the first mainspring bi-directional, until it is full. This happens effectively and quickly, building up a solid power reserve for stable accuracy. But then, a patented step gear is introduced into the power transmission, which results in the rotor winding only unidirectional, building up power slowly, thus reducing wear on the parts, and keeping the balance wheel's amplitude within a smaller range of variation.
The PanoMaticChrono certainly is an absolutely wonderful watch, that will find many friends. Of course, it is apparent that it is not a typical chronograph, at least not a so-called "instrumental chronograph", which has been designed with clearest legibility in mind. I have to admit, that the PanoMaticChrono will only seldom be found on the wrist of fighter pilots, which, however, might also have to do with the watch's price. The watch's unconventional dial layout, it's extremely high level of sophistication and finish, and the fact that it is not offered in a steel case, but only in pink gold and platinum, are clear signs that the PanoMaticChrono is not a replacement of the very successful Senator chronograph, with its trusty and beautiful cal. 39 modular movement. Upon my query, it was made very clear that the Senator chronograph, especially the Navigator series, will be kept in production.
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