Elegant masterpieceMaster of its Class: Senator Meissen Tourbillon
A classically elegant masterpiece is the latest result of the long-time collaboration between the Meissen Porcelain Manufactory and the Glashütte Original watch manufactory. Two world-famous Saxon inventions unite in the Senator Meissen Tourbillon: Meissen porcelain and the flying tourbillon. The latter is an invention by Alfred Helwig from 1920, who served as an instructor at the German School of Watchmaking in Glashütte. The balance, pallet lever, and escape wheel are housed in a cantilevered carriage that turns 360° once a minute, thus neutralizing rate deviations of the balance due to gravity. The subsidiary seconds display is attached to the carriage of the flying tourbillon and is framed by a polished gold second scale for added clarity.
The Senator Meissen Tourbillon is a picture of stylish classicism in its 40 mm rose gold case, outfitted with exquisite technology. The passing of time is measured by traditionally blued hour and minute hands that glide across the surface of the wafer-thin, white Meissen porcelain dial. The hours are marked by hand-painted Roman numerals that are painstakingly applied to the dial and require the utmost skill from the Meissen factory’s script painters. The Glashütte Original lettering and the crossed swords that are the trademark of the Meissen porcelain manufactory are also hand painted. The painting of the dial alone requires eight hours to complete.
Another significant challenge is posed by milling the cutaway needed to observe the flying tourbillon at the 6 o’clock position on the 0,8 mm thin porcelain dial - a process necessitating long years of accumulated knowledge at the Meissen manufactory in dealing with the porcelain’s unique qualities.
The Senator Meissen Tourbillon is powered by the exquisitely finished automatic manufacture Caliber 94-11, which can be admired through the antireflective sapphire crystal back of the rose gold case. The 48-hour power reserve makes for easy handling, efficiently meeting the needs of the modern wearer. The Louisiana alligator skin strap and folding clasp, attached to the case by integrated lugs, ensures a comfortable and secure fit.