What We Know
Last year, Glashütte Original released a trio of porcelain-dial watches as part of its collaboration with Meissen, Europe’s oldest porcelain manufacturer, dating back to 1710. Today, the two historic German houses are partnering again, this time to release a new porcelain-dial watch inspired by Jugatsu-zakura, a Japanese cherry blossom that flowers intermittently during the colder months. The “Cherry Blossom” Senator Meissen retains all of the original collaboration’s specs: It measures 40mm wide and 10.2mm thick, is set in red gold, and features an exhibition sapphire crystal caseback. It also comes on a dark blue Louisiana alligator leather strap with a red-gold pin buckle.
The dial is made of a thin slice of white porcelain that acts as a canvas for the hand-painted layers, which are fired at 900° Celsius between each layer to achieve maximum depth and intensity.
Glashütte Original’s lettering and Meissen’s crossed swords logo are hand-painted near the center, but besides that, the dial has a blank format. The exclusion of any hour markers, numerals, or indices allows the cherry blossom motif, with its slender branches that extend upward and delicate, pale-pink flowers, to shine—punctuated only by solid-gold hour and minute hands.
Powered by Glashütte Original’s in-house automatic Caliber 36-16, the watch offers 100 hours of power reserve and operates at 4 Hz. The movement also features a silicon balance spring and a stop-seconds mechanism. (aka hacking seconds). The “Cherry Blossom” Senator Meissen will be available in all Glashütte Original boutiques and select retailers worldwide, priced at $38,200 USD.
What We Think
I grew up in a town called Cherry Hill in New Jersey, named for its rolling cherry trees that bloom every spring. I remember each year looking forward to seeing the streets (and eventually, the sidewalks) lined with pink and white petals. So naturally, I have a soft spot for cherry blossoms.
The timing of the release is what’s most interesting here. After all, most cherry trees have long finished their blooming cycle by October, settling into dormancy until temperatures rise in late winter or early spring. By specifically highlighting the Japanese Jugatsu-zakura, which blooms outside the traditional cherry blossom season, the watch plays with our expectations of the flower. It’s a reminder that even nature has its exceptions, and that something as delicate as a cherry blossom can appear where and when we least expect it.
This idea comes through in the watch without it feeling overly literal. The white porcelain dial and red gold case create a soft, almost warm quality, while the dark blue leather strap adds a bit of contrast that keeps the watch grounded. I also appreciate how the individual blossoms have room to breathe on the dial, making it feel more like a painting than a floral pattern. I normally prefer a small or midsize watch for my petite wrist, but I think the artwork is a perfectly worthy trade-off for the larger case.
The exhibition caseback adds another welcome dimension to the watch. From the front, the focus is on the delicacy of the porcelain and painted blossoms. From the back, it shifts to the watch’s mechanics, with the hand-engraved balance cock and decorated Caliber 36-16 on full display. Overall, I think it’s a wonderful way to bring together Meissen’s porcelain craftsmanship with Glashütte Original’s watchmaking without one overshadowing the other.
The Basics
Brand: Glashütte Original
Model: Senator Meissen “Cherry Blossom”
Reference Number: 1-36-16-05-05-01
Diameter: 40mm
Thickness: 10.2mm
Case Material: Red gold, exhibition caseback
Dial Color: Meissen porcelain, hand-painted with a “Cherry Blossom” motif
Water Resistance: 5 bar (50m)
Strap/Bracelet: Dark blue Louisiana alligator leather with a red gold pin buckle
The Movement
Caliber: 36-16
Functions: Hours, minutes
Power Reserve: 100 hours
Winding: Automatic, bi-directional
Frequency: 28,800 VpH (4 Hz)
Additional Details: Silicon balance spring, stop-seconds mechanism
Pricing & Availability
Price: $38,200 USD
Availability: Glashütte Original boutiques & select retailers
Limited Edition: Yes
For more, click here.
