Glashütte Original: Homage to the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts with a spectacular guilloche fest: the PanoInverse Limited Edition

The unique architecture of the Academy’s striking dome (“lemon squeezer”) was inspiration for the artisanal guillochage on the movement of the Glashütte Original PanoInverse Limited Edition

Have you thought that Glashütte Original’s PanoInverse, a core member of their collection, is now there for a good decade already? We didn’t, but we recall numerous versions, but this new one, (rather frugally) named PanoInverse Limited Edition, really is special:

The watch:

Glashütte has formerly mainly used hand-engraving techniques to adorn the large open spaces left by eccentric dial layouts and the typical ¾ movement plates. This time, they commissioned a guilloche artisan to apply an edgy-wavy pattern inspired by a landmark building of Dresden’s old town, the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts, which had a glass cupola of characteristic construction nicknamed the “lemon squeezer”:

(Glashütte Original PanoInverse Limited Edition and the inspriation for its guillochage design, the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts. Image © Glashütte Original)

Glashütte Original transposed the 3D structure onto the 2D canvas of a watch, which combined with the subdials, the chatons and the blued screws results in a really spectacular object, and is to us even more attractive than the hand-engraved floral motives previously made:


For those who appreciate the subtle 3^rd dimension in the details, rest assured, this is rewarding as well, as are the various texture one will detect:


On the back, one clearly notices another advantage, in this particular case, of the ¾ plate: lots and lots of surface to decorate!


The guilloche pattern has a gradient from the inner to the outer areas:

Specifications

• Movement: Calibre 66-09, manual, 28.800 A/h / 4Hz, 41h PR, fine relief-like pattern guilloché on both sides
• Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, power reserve
• Case: 42mm x 12mm case in platinum, grey Louisiana alligator nubuck leather strap
• Limitation: 25 pieces

Conclusion:

When it comes to Glashütte Original, we’re oftentimes conflicted: frequently, we feel the brand tries hard to make its mark next to the ‘big brother’ down the street’ A. Lange & Söhne, while retaining the ‘Glashütte style’ for (their) higher end watches. They price their watches a bit below those of Lange, but when one touches and feels Glashütte Original’s pieces, one senses a lack of those haptic qualities, like weight for example, which give this ‘germanic touch’ of solidity. Plus, there are more competitors in Saxony than ever before – good or bad.


That being said, the new PanoInverse Limited Edition is a delight for those who appreciate artisanal crafts in a more modern yet still elaborately made pieces, less ‘baroque’ as their competitors at times tend to be, and at a ‘monochrome with spice’ aesthetic theme. Once more it´s good to see what GO is (still?!) able to deliver when they are focused on something special.

Our congratulations for the 25 owners for their eclectic choice!

the eclecticum