Travelling Through Asia With The Glashütte Original Senator Cosmopolite

As a photographer, my work takes me all around the globe. While this never happens without a mechanical watch around my wrist, I have to admit that it is usually my iPhone that provides me with the right time in the timezones my colleagues and family reside.  Glashütte Original is determined to change this with the new Senator Cosmopolite, which was my travel companion during a recent trip through Asia.

At first sight, the Senator Cosmopolite is a daunting watch. Measuring 44mm in diameter it is large, with three crowns, several subdials and other indicators only adding to its imposing looks. However, a short explanation sufficient to make me acquainted with it, and before I knew it, I was flicking through the different time zones like I had owned the watch for years.

Those different time zones proved to be a great asset, as my travels took me through several of them, including Myanmar, which has a half hour offset. Most watches with multiple time zones cannot handle these, but for the Senator Cosmopolite, it was a piece of cake. Because the watch is also relatively large, its many functions are very easy to read, making me actually neglect my iPhone for checking the time.

My travels usually take me through a wide variety of different surroundings and social settings. From the countrysides of Myanmar to Michelin-star restaurants in Hong Kong, yet for the Senator Cosmopolite, it made no difference. It went as easily with my shorts and polo shirt as it did with my dinner jacket.

While the Senator Cosmopolite blended easily in with my diverse personal style, it was an eye catcher for fellow watch enthusiasts. I struck up several conversations with complete strangers who were fascinated by it. Even those who didn’t have a direct interest in watches were attracted by it, an attraction that only increased when I started telling them about the different functions of the Glashütte Original.

The fact that Senator Cosmopolite is crafted from steel and not a precious metal adds to the robust feeling that the watch gives you. Although a beautiful product, it doesn’t give you a need to feel overly protective while travelling, which adds to the enjoyment you get from it.

While the front is a display of beautiful functionality, the back of the watch shows the reason why many people buy a Glashütte Original in the first place. Showing the finest in German craftsmanship and watchmaking a decentral rotor with a 21 karat gold weight segment sits among the typical Glashütte three-quarter plate with stripe finish. It has to share the draw for attention with that of the balance wheel, which is secured between two swan neck regulators on a hand engraved balance cock. A stunning sight by any measure!

While the trip through Asia was demanding, the Senator Cosmopolite held its ground with ease. It was reliable, robust, precise, and easy to read and operate. It is beautifully made, yet not too extrovert in showing this off, making it a perfect travel companion for those who want to make no consessions to their love for Haute Horlogerie while exploring the world.