The newest Senator Chronograph Panorama Date appears before us in stainless steel – strong, cost-effective, wear-resistant. It’s the kind of watch that makes you believe that better things are possible. The watch originally appeared clad in red gold and even in platinum. So the new Senator seems to go a long way towards becoming economical.

Political metaphors notwithstanding, the Panorama Date model really serves the collection well here. The watch is unconventional without being excessive – it breaks with tradition just a little bit. The dial is black – very nice – but the luminous hands and markers are an unexpected blue. This makes for a classic watch with an unusual flavor.

The dial array itself is also a little unconventional. There are subdials all around, but they cede space to the very large date display on the entire bottom arc of the watch face. It’s rare that a practical decision can look so stylish, but here we see exactly that. I’ve always considered the date display to be the most important information on the dial after the hours and minutes, and the Panorama Date makers clearly felt the same way.

In fact, the chronograph functions (including the pushbuttons) are surprisingly muted on this timepiece, and even though I’m a lover of the complication, I find myself happy with that decision. The buttons are unobtrusive, the displays are legible but contained, and the large date windows are well-sized to promote easy readability. All in all, the rather unexpected details of the dial array make the watch work very well. I like the blue luminosity, at least at first blush. I would have to wear it for a while to see if I was still enamored with it a month hence. But for now, the Glashütte Original Senator Chronograph Panorama Date in stainless steel hits all the high notes and delivers a surprisingly winning demeanor. It gets my vote.