Just before the big BaselWorld 2009 exposition, Glashütte Original (hereafter GO) presents their Senator Navigator Perpetual Calendar.

This 44mm pilot watch in stainless steel has a matt black dial (as a pilot’s watch always should have) with large Arabic numerals and blued hour and minute hands. I don’t know if I am a big fan of too much functionality on a pilot’s watch, especially if they seem not very functional (moonphase and leap year).

However, as GO put it themselves in their press release: “The added perpetual calendar functions have been seamlessly integrated into the dynamic design of this efficient timepiece.” Probably only few will actually control the flight control stick in an aircraft, so it doesn’t really matter of course. As you can see on the picture below, the leap year is indicated with the small hand at 12 o’clock. The red ‘L’ in this subdial indicates that it is a leap year.

GO Senator Navigator Perpetual Calendar

Inside ticks GO caliber 100-07, a manufacture caliber, that has a power reserve of more than 55 hours (+/- 10%) and features a reset mechanism to reset the second hand that enables quick synchronization. The reset button is being operated from an extra button on the side of the case at 8 o’clock.

Glashuette Original Senator Navigator

The vintage look strap (calf skin) gives this watch a real pilot’s watch look.

Other Basel novelties by Glashütte Original are the Senator Meissen Tourbillon and the Lady Serenade Chronograph. I will do some coverage on both later on.

What do you think of a pilot’s watch with all these fancy features? Please share your thoughts by clicking ‘comments’ below.