I've reconsidered over the years

Jan 23, 2023,16:17 PM
 

For many years I loved the Senator Rattrapante and thought it was underrated. With a slightly more experienced eye for design, I can revisit it today and say the dial has problems. The date window at 4 o'clock does not provide proper balance to the off-centre subregisters.


Somebody with more technical ability than me would be able to comment on whether the Senator Rattrapante borrowed the panoramic date window gearing from another model. Production of this model was limited, even by Glashutte Original's standards. The 4 o'clock date window location works well with the Pano(retro)graph, as that dial is carefully balanced. Unlike a smaller date window (e.g. Bell & Ross), the Pano date stands out and must be considered a big part of the dial design.  

Consider the dial layout of today's Senator Chronograph. We can see the designers went in this direction when they developed the modern integrated chronograph movement. I think we can agree that the level of craftsmanship and finishing of the Senator Rattrapante movement is strongly preferred to the modern movement, but (I think) the front of the watch matters when considering long term ownership satisfaction.


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Glashutte Original Senator Rattrapante. .

 
 By: amanico : January 23rd, 2023-06:28
One of these watches which made me dream and which still makes me dream. When discuss Rattrapantes, we most often forget it. Strangely, because it was a very good one. Here is the platinum, limited to 100 pieces Credit: Govberg. Movement side, taken by Cr...  
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Also IWC as far as I remember was tall

 
 By: Ajas : January 23rd, 2023-09:12
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Yep!

 
 By: amanico : January 23rd, 2023-11:10
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The movement looks spectacular. Reminds me of a Lange

 
 By: nasseriq : January 23rd, 2023-07:17
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With a simpler less baroque decoration, yes.

 
 By: amanico : January 23rd, 2023-11:10
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I owned this one, but....

 
 By: stere : January 23rd, 2023-09:36
...sold it because of the poor legability. There was no contrast between hands and dial and this drove me crazy. Well I guess a small improvement would change the situation. The hands should be curved (it works well on IWC Portugeese with gray dial). Mayb... 
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Remind me who he is? I probably know him, indeed.

 
 By: amanico : January 23rd, 2023-11:10
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let him do it himself

 
 By: stere : January 23rd, 2023-12:36
;-)
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Yep! Good idea!

 
 By: amanico : January 23rd, 2023-12:45
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Good idea to wear it again…

 
 By: p.boxster : January 29th, 2023-14:31
Indeed a beauty, esp. the movement; and so far I can still read it 😜 ...  
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Legibility is my favourite pet-peeve with watches ...

 
 By: Marcus Hanke : January 23rd, 2023-20:28
... and especially polished steel/rhodium or white gold hands are really problematic. For me, perfectly blued hands would be the the logical choice for this watch. Marcus
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You have a good point.

 
 By: amanico : January 23rd, 2023-20:36
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Good cost money;)😉

 
 By: ZSHSZ : January 23rd, 2023-13:08
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;)

 
 By: amanico : January 23rd, 2023-15:55
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O.k ... we can settle on a four piece GO collection. 😃

 
 By: COUNT DE MONET : January 23rd, 2023-16:24
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Well, let's not forget the PanoRetrograph!

 
 By: amanico : January 23rd, 2023-20:37
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I've reconsidered over the years

 
 By: jmpTT : January 23rd, 2023-16:17
For many years I loved the Senator Rattrapante and thought it was underrated. With a slightly more experienced eye for design, I can revisit it today and say the dial has problems. The date window at 4 o'clock does not provide proper balance to the off-ce... 
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That movement is simply spectacular! Wow

 
 By: Chronometer (aka yacomino) : January 23rd, 2023-17:31
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Thanks for looking, Chronometer.

 
 By: amanico : January 24th, 2023-07:15
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Always liked this piece...

 
 By: bruckner4 : January 23rd, 2023-23:27
but like a lot of the modern splits, heft is an issue. Patek 5959 still the dream...
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The kind of problem I would love to have. :))))

 
 By: amanico : January 24th, 2023-07:16
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It reminds me of the GO Panograph I used to own

 
 By: loujo : January 24th, 2023-01:48
In the early 2000s, I was enamored with GO Panograph after seeing the watch in pictures. I loved the big date implementation, the unique chrono minute counter, and most important of all, the exquisitely hand finished manual movement with column wheel. I a...  
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This one and the PT PanoRetrograph....

 
 By: MichaelC : January 24th, 2023-03:36
GO Legends!
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Yes, my friend, yes!

 
 By: amanico : January 24th, 2023-07:18
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