Glashütte Original's Panoruna Tourbillon: A New Chapter in Watchmaking
This year marks a monumental milestone for Glashütte Original as they celebrate 180 years of watchmaking in the picturesque region of Glashütte, Germany. The brand has recently inaugurated its exclusive Dial Manufacturing Facility, a significant addition that pays homage to the craftsmanship and heritage of this historic town renowned for its watch industry. To commemorate this momentous occasion, Glashütte Original has unveiled the Panoruna Tourbillon, a limited edition release that encapsulates the essence of this celebrated craftsmanship and tradition.
The Panoruna Tourbillon: Inspired by Glashütte’s Landscape
The Panoruna Tourbillon features a striking rose-colored dial that harkens back to the iron-rich red earth of Glashütte, reflecting the unique hues of the region’s landscape. This iconic color is a result of the high concentration of iron oxide found in the soil, a nod to the area’s rich mineral resources. Long before watchmakers settled here, mining had been a vital industry in Glashütte for centuries. For instance, the nearby Müglitz River is famed for revealing its famous red stones at every bend. It is here, on the same reddish soil, that the Dial Manufacturing Facility of Glashütte Original now proudly stands.
Meticulously Crafted Dials: A Testament to Tradition
The Panoruna Tourbillon showcases an intricate dial that embodies 180 years of knowledge and expertise in Glashütte’s watchmaking tradition. Glashütte Original stands out as the only company in the region with its own in-house dial factory. The shimmering rose-colored dial evokes the image of iron ore, embodying the artisan knowledge and skills of the dial makers poured into its creation. This captivating hue, produced by complicated galvanic processing, allows the surface's crystalline structure to display varying shades of red that change according to the light and angle of view, creating a vibrant interplay of colors. The off-center hour and minute displays contribute to a serene contrast, with fine decorative elements that further elevate this feature.
Key Features of the Panoruna Tourbillon
Adjacent to the prominent hour and minute displays are three complex mechanisms that hold special significance in Glashütte’s watchmaking legacy. Firstly, the flying tourbillon rotates once every minute, with a small second hand tracing its orbit, a design pioneered by watchmaker Alfred Helwig in the 1920s. Though many years have passed since this intricate mechanism was introduced, its monochromatic design adds a modern touch to this classic complication. Every component of the rotor and escapement is dressed in a silver hue, enhancing this delicate yet weightless architecture.
At the 4 o’clock position, the Panoramic Date is featured, a distinctive function shared across many models and symbolic of the Glashütte Original brand. The date is displayed against a blue background, with white numbers appearing seamlessly between two concentric discs mounted on the same plane, without a separating bar. Also included is the beautifully curved moon phase display at 2 o’clock, a long-standing achievement of Glashütte Original that has become a hallmark of the brand. This miniaturized night sky, replicated with a dark blue background adorned with silver stars, showcases the artistry crafted within its own dial manufacturing facility.
Harmonious Asymmetry in Design
Like other models in the Panoruna series, the latest addition features an asymmetrical layout that reflects a harmonious balance inspired by the golden ratio. This off-center proportion endows the dial with exquisite equilibrium, allowing the Panoruna Tourbillon to embrace traditional Glashütte design while seamlessly merging classic elements with innovative touches. The rose-colored dial is elegantly framed by a 40mm platinum case, finished with both polished and satin textures. Blue hands, printed text, indices, alongside the backgrounds of the panoramic date and moon phase displays complement the overall color scheme of this magnificent timepiece. The watch is also available with a blue Louisiana alligator leather strap featuring a platinum folding clasp or a synthetic strap option.
Innovative Mechanisms Within
Inside the Panoruna Tourbillon, tradition and innovation coexist beautifully. The meticulously finished automatic movement features a silicon hairspring that is resistant to magnetic fields encountered in daily life, boasting a power reserve of up to 60 hours. Through the sapphire crystal case back, one can admire the rhodium-coated Glashütte ribbed plate, adorned with perlage finish, and the tourbillon cage executed with chamfered polishing, showcasing the tradition of Glashütte’s watchmaking artistry.
The Panoruna Tourbillon is not just a watch; it symbolically represents both the past and present of the esteemed Glashütte Original manufacture. Limited to just 50 pieces, this exquisite timepiece will be available at Glashütte Original boutiques and authorized retailers worldwide.
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About Glashütte Original
The history of Glashütte Original has been a continuous journey since 1845, maintaining the utmost values of true manufacturé watchmaking. Located in Glashütte, Saxony, Germany, Glashütte Original’s manufacture masterfully fuses traditional artisanal skills with innovative technology. Upholding a rich heritage, the brand manufactures up to 95% of the movement's components and exquisitely crafted dials in-house, ensuring the highest standards of German watchmaking excellence.
Website: Glashütte Original - German Watchmaking Art