Looking at the case in steel, the thin double-step bezel and the curved lugs help give the watch a more casual, almost sporty look. This is further accentuated by the prominent fluted screw-down crown. The pushers are rectangular and follow the situation silhouette, however. It seems like Glashütte was trying to walk a fine line between creating this watch look too sporty or too formal.At 42mm wide and 14.6mm thick, this is a fairly big sized watch and this is more a result of technical constraints as an automatic chronograph movement can only be so thin. While aesthetically, the watch would not look out of place with a suit, it is certainly not inconspicuous enough to become a genuine dress watch. It is rated to 100m of water resistance along with the corresponding rubber strap means that you may take it swimming with you — only remember not to function the pushers underwater.The dial is where a number of the biggest design changes are introduced that lend this view its casual look. The base dial is varnished in a deep, rich black, unlike its precious metal siblings, and for those accustomed to looking at conventional three-dial chronographs or even the A. Lange & Söhne Datograph, the Glashütte turns things on its head — literally. The 12-hour counter is now at 12:00, with operating seconds and power reserve at 9:00, 30-minute counter at 3:00, and the panorama date down at 6:00. Considering all the functions this view provides, it’s no surprise that there’s a busy dial and while most of it’s well designed, I do find that the “Glashütte I/SA” printed directly above the 12:00 sub-dial to be unnecessary and also a bit of an eyesore.

Advent is already running and Christmas is fast approaching. We decorate the tree and the whole house, we prepare the chimney, we make a list of food we need for the Christmas family dinner and we think about gifts we want to give to our close relatives. The countdown has started and it’s time to get ready for the big day in order not to run after hours, minutes or even seconds.

Glashütte Original proposes two iconic models for your festive consideration. For men, the PanoMaticLunar; for ladies, the PanoMatic Luna. Available in different case, dial or strap colours, these timepieces will be the finishing touches to your outfit or will light up the eyes of the one to whom you offer them.