Glashütte Original Senator Kalenderwoche/Calendar week

Ref 100-05-13-02-04

This is a real sleeper that in no way shows off what it contains, at first glance it just looks like a completely "regular" watch.

A closer inspection, you see that there is something that does not look like it use to do. What do these red numbers mean?

As you may have already guessed from the name, this is a weekly view. So finally there is a watch for the craftsmen and those who plan their days weekly.

This is then shown in the upper window and Glashütte Original has succeeded in the art of having 2 pieces of "Panorama date" on the same level where the discs are also on the same level.

This is then completed by also displaying the day of the week.

The movement is said to be more complicated than their perpetual calendar, we will return to this later.

This model was not so long-lived as it was only manufactured between 2006-2012. I had the privilege of watching it at the release in Basel 2006 and really wanted it already then.

Since then, I have never been able to forget this one and have looked for it every now and then. The steel version rarely comes up for sale so it took some time to find this one.

The dial is really successful on this model, looks simple but it is loaded with complications underneath.

The size is 40 mm, the height 13 mm and water resistant to 5 Bar.

This came with a crocodile leather strap and fold fastener but has later been fitted with an original steel bracelet.

Of course, it has anti-reflective sapphire glass on both the front and back.

Now if we are going to look more closely at how to set the watch, everything except the hands is adjusted with small pushers on the sides with a small tool.

There are a total of 5 pushers on the sides for the various functions. The second hand reset function is not something I use, I would rather have seen that the movement had a hacking function

The Panorama Date, the dial is made of German Silver with a fine matte surface that looks sandblasted.

The week window with the red numbers.

The day of week which could be obtained either with German or English text.

So when we turn it over, it looks like a regular Caliber 100 movement, which is interesting when everything unique about this movement is hidden.

In general, it works like a Caliber 100 movement. Automatic winding, Nivarox 1 balance spring, 28800 bph, swan-neck, 55 hours power reserve and Incabloc shock protection.

71 jewels is unique for the Caliber 100-05 too.

The rotor with the logo with parts made of 21K gold.

Of course the swan-neck fine adjust the movement is in this movement too.

Here is a lot of gears stacked on top of each other.

Under the dial are the number discs and the mechanism for week, day & date display.

Photo credit: Glashütte Original

This requires a small discrete set of parts totaling 206 pieces to make the calendar week mechanism work.

Photo credit: Glashütte Original

During every change, the spring storing the energy is tensioned one-sixtieth in order to save up enough energy for the big change that occurs at the end of the year.

The change from calendar week 53 to 01 takes place when calendar week “54” is next on the list. A release opens the stored energy and the week wheel turns the seven

steps necessary to get to calendar week 01. In order to guarantee a gentle turning of the display disk, Caliber 100-05 was additionally outfitted with a centrifugal force brake .

Photo credit: Glashütte Original

The calendar module has its own spring which is recharged during the year to be able to make the switch at the turn of the year.

Photo credit: Glashütte Original

This movement has a total of 475 parts and it maintains the highest level as only the Master Watchmakers at Glashütte Original are the ones who work with this type of complicated movement. 

This watch is a pure pleasure to look at when you realize how impressive it is to fit all these functions into a movement that is only a little over 7mm thick. 

The steel bracelet gives the watch a sportier look and with the quick adjustment in the clasp, this is one of the most comfortable bracelets.

There is only a small amount of Luminova at the hands.

So it will be hard to read the time in the dark without a flashlight.

It works great on a 7,5" wrist like mine.

I was hoping to the last that Glashütte Original would re-release this model. But now it doesn't feel so necessary anymore.