The Glashütte Original Senator Rattrapante watch is one of the world’s finest split-seconds chronographs.  Beautiful and technically brilliant, this tour-de-force Glashütte Original watch was greeted with great enthusiasm by connoisseurs of German haute horlogerie–the kind of collectors who have as their benchmark for fine chronographs the deservedly famous A. Lange & Söhne Datograph.  

Like the Datograph, the Glashütte Original Senator Rattrapante watch has a movement which can rightly be described as a “masterpiece”.  Even a cursory look through the sapphire back confirms that this is one of the world’s most intricate and aesthetically beautiful chronograph calibers–a structure of shimmering bridges with gold chatons, blued screws, and a system of gleaming levers greet the eye, crowned by the twin column wheels and curvaceous pincer which govern the complicated chronograph functions.  Its stunning three-dimensional complexity and beautiful finish punctuates the inherent excellence of the mechanism; key features of note include an escape wheel embedded between endstones (a deluxe construction which minimizes friction and optimizes amplitude), and a floating bearing system for the rattrapante pincer which improves the opening motion for both halves of this distinctive component.  What’s more, the chronograph also gives you another technical specialty–a flyback function. 

Originally introduced in 2007 in platinum with the quietly provocative slate gray dial, the Glashütte Original Senator Rattrapante watch is now also available in 18K rose gold, with a more classical silvered dial.  Both versions are compelling, though I favor the rose gold version because of the sheer loveliness of those blued steel hands.