The Endless Summer: Glashutte Original's summer collection

Image 1 of 10

Summertime has arrived for watch lovers with Glashutte Original's 2016 selection of elegant timepieces. The casual stylishness of the men's models makes them perfect for a summer evening, while watches in the ladies' collection radiate joie de vivre.

Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date

With its streamlined steel case and subtle curves, this sporty timepiece offers a modern interpretation of 1970s spirit: elegant design, refined mechanics and a touch of vintage. The blue version offers a "distinctive 1970s look and feel and a really excellent dial colour," says Quill and Pad. "But the real treat, of course, is the eye candy spotted through the sapphire crystal case back when you turn the timepiece over."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

The indexes, and hour and minute indicators, are fashioned in white gold inlaid with Super-LumiNova for luminosity. The watch is complemented by a bracelet in satin-brushed stainless steel.

Lady Serenade

This classic watch combines bicolour metallic tones and an elegant cream-white bracelet. With its classic stainless-steel case, mother of pearl dial and diamond-adorned bezel and crown, the Lady Serenade is a timepiece that offers "charm and sensuality", says World Tempus. The watches' Louisiana alligator leather bracelets "stand in elegant contrast to a finely worked case in stainless steel or warm rose gold."

Pavonina

The cushion-shaped Pavonina is a "celebration of self-assured femininity" that offers a modern take on designs from the 1920s, according to Glashutte Original. The silver-coloured guilloche dial is framed by a stainless-steel case, while diamonds on the dial and moveable lugs create reflections that shift as the wearer moves. The piece is complemented by a sky-blue calfskin bracelet.

Senator Perpetual Calendar and Senator Panorama Date Moon Phase

The classic Senator collection now includes two deep-blue versions, whose galvanic hue and stainless steel case are the product of the firm's Pforzheim dial manufactory. The pieces are complemented by a dark-blue alligator leather bracelet with folder clasp.

Senator Excellence

Of course, a watch is for life, not just for summer, so alongside the seasonal range, Glashutte Original also announced a new collection of Senators at this year's Baselworld – the Senator Excellence, which offers a refined, timeless style.

With black Roman numerals on a white dial, a case made of red gold or stainless steel and a classic three hand design featuring blue pear-shaped hands, the Excellence is "a real beauty," says Hodinkee.

Glashutte Original has put particular attention into the Excellence's movement which boasts a power reserve of up to 100 hours at a frequency of 4 Hertz (28,800 vph) stored in only one barrel - a rarity in the watch world.

The Excellence hides its innovation beneath a deceptively classic form, Glashutte Original says: "In developing the new (movement) the designers and watchmakers at Glashütte Original have made time for what is essential… The automatic movement with classic hour, minute and seconds functions has been thought through with care," the watchmaker says.

"Exceptionally user-friendly, it meets, at the same time, the highest standards of the watchmaker's art."

Completing the Excellence range is a black dial model with Arabic numerals coated with lume to allow the watch to be read at night. This version has the "character of a pilot's watch," Hodinkee says.

In stainless steel, the Senator Excellence is available for $9,700 (£7,330), while the red-gold version costs almost double, at $17,700 (£13,360).