Monday, May 8, 2017

Glashütte Original - Pavonina: diversity and exclusivity

Since the Pavonina was introduced in 2015, the Saxon watchmaker has demonstrated its creative aesthetic, offering a wide selection of different models. With red gold, steel and two-tone cases, matching or contrasting lugs, optional diamond-setting, coloured dials, mother-of-pearl, guilloché motifs in the centre or around the periphery of the dial, and a choice of different strap colours and materials, including a metal bracelet with distinctive hollow oval links – all these possibilities permit a range of The newest options announced at Baselworld 2017 follow the same trend. 

The cushion-shaped case with its 1920s styling remains unchanged, and comes in a single size: 31 x 31 mm with a depth of 7.5 mm. In stainless steel or red gold, or a combination of the two, its diamond-set crown is available in either the same metal as the case, or in red gold on the steel case, and is water-resistant to 50m. The innovative flexible lugs, for which Glashütte has registered a patent, ensure even greater comfort in wear, and provide a modern foil to the classic cushion shape. Like the crown, the lugs can also be in red gold on the steel case, with an optional band of 42 tiny brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 0.14 ct), for an additional touch of luxury. The lugs accept a wide variety of straps and bracelets, which helps to widen the appeal of the Pavonina watches, particularly as they are so easy to switch over.


This year the focus is on bright colours – alligator leather in vivid red, orange, pink, turquoise and dark blue, contrasting with the paler hues of taupe and rosé (alligator) or gilt beige (calfskin) – so you can change the look of your watch to suit your mood. Glashütte has promised an interactive tool on its website, which clients will soon be able to use to select the case, dial and strap of their Pavonina, and add a personalised engraved message to create a totally exclusive watch. 

 

The other new feature can be found on the dial. This is the first time we have seen a Pavonina with Roman numerals. Glashütte, which makes its dials in-house, has created a new typeface of slim and delicate characters, in keeping with the feminine style of the watch. Placed at each quarter-hour, with eight slim baton indices in between, they don’t overpower the white iridescent mother-of-pearl dial. The traditional guilloché motif of the collection is limited to the inner portion of the dial, where its sunray design emphasises the tapering steel or red gold hands.

 


In terms of functions, Glashütte has always focused on simplicity for the Pavonina collection. There are just two options – simple two-handed models, or two hands plus a date in a window at 6 o’clock – driven by an in-house quartz movement. The 2017 models are all simple two-handed watches. The Calibre 03-02 has improved protection against magnetic fields, and is beautifully decorated, with Glashütte striping on the mainplate, an engraved logo picked out in gold against a silver background, and chamfered edges. The battery provides an autonomy of 48 hours.