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Glashütte Original's Art & Technique collection showcases their abilities to create beautiful movements manufactured to incredible precision. Since Topper Jewelers began selling Glashütte Original in 2011, the PanoInverse has been one of the most popular models in the series and for that matter in the entire Glashütte Original line. While the watch has only been available as a manual wind model, this year, Glashütte Original has added a new PanoMaticInverse that features an automatic movement and a grand date complication. This article will take a look at how the two inverse models are similar, as well as the unique attributes in the new automatic model.The best access point to understanding the watch is to look at the two parts of the name: Pano and Inverse. "Pano" is the Glashütte Original term for a watch with a small off-set dial. Unlike most timepieces which feature a minute and hour hands at the center of a dial, the Pano watches feature a minute and hour hands off-set between nine and 10 O'clock. Below each main Pano dial is another smaller dial that features the second hand and indices. "Inverse" refers to the location of the dual swan neck regulators. The swan neck regulators are the aesthetically adjustment points that surround the rest of the "balance complete", or the heartbeat of the watch. In other popular Pano models such as the PanoLunar (with moonphase) and PanoReserve (with power reserve indicator) the dual swan neck is adjacent to the the traditional German three-quarter plate and can be seen looking through the sapphire crystal case back. On each of the "Inverse" models, the entire balance complete is brought to the front of the watch and is the main focal point of the dial.
The PanoMaticInverse (left) and the PanoInverse (right).
Another view of the PanoInverse.
A look at the "Pano" dial of the new PanoMaticInverse.
The "Pano" dial of the PanoInverse.
The "butterfly" or dual swan neck regulators in the PanoMaticInverse.
The "butterfly" or dual swan neck regulators in the PanoInverse.
The new PanoMaticInverse differs from the PanoInverse both in its look and complications. while both feature the signature Glashütte ribbing that's found on their signature movement plates, the color scheme is different. The new PanoMaticInverse is significantly lighter in dial color and the small watch dial uses heated blued hands and indices. In comparison, the PanoInverse features steel colored hands and indicies as well as a black outer portion of the "pano" dial. While both dials are galvanized steel that feature Glashütte Original's signature ribbing pattern, the reason the PanoMaticInverse's dial is lighter is because it is plated in rhodium, the metal commonly used as a plating on top of 18kt white gold. The PanoMaticInverse has a slightly more formal tone and comes on a traditional black alligator strap, while the PanoInverse is paired with a dark gray nubuck alligator strap that looks more like suede.The automatic is a much more complicated piece with the jewel count going up from 31 to 49. Most of the increase is from the inclusion of the "Panorama Date" complication. The Panorama Date is more than just two independent digit disks, but a built out module of the movement. This Panorama Date takes the place of the PanoInverse's Power Reserve Indicator. A power reserve indicator is especially useful with a manual movement, but perhaps less so in an automatic watch.
Panorama Date display in the new PanoMaticInverse.
Power Reserve Complication in the PanoInverse. A feature not included in the PanoMaticInverse.
The PanoInverse features a relatively spartan caseback, as almost all of the aesthetic features are on the movement's dial. Instead of featuring the traditional three-quarter German plate, the entire case back is taken up by the Glashütte ribbing pattern. The PanoMaticInverse also uses a completely circular plate, but it has a smaller diameter. A large attractive rotor adorned in 18kt extends to the edge of the sapphire crystal of the display back.
Comparison view of the case back of the PanoMaticInverse (left) and PanoInverse (right).
The PanoInverse ($12,600 on strap) and PanoMaticInverse ($14,900) are incredible displays of the manufacturing and artistic abilities of Glashütte Original. Which design do you prefer?
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