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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11The Glashütte Original Senator Meissen 1-36-16-03-05-01 and the black-dial Senator Excellence 1-36-01-03-02-66 share a 40 mm case, a 100-hour power reserve, a 4 Hz beat rate, 5 bar water resistance and a 20 mm strap width. The differences lie in the case metal, the dial, the display and the edition status. The Meissen is a limited red-gold dress watch with a hand-painted porcelain dial that shows hours and minutes only. The Excellence is a stainless-steel watch with a luminous black dial, a seconds hand and a seconds-stop function.
Specifications side by side
The figures below come from Glashütte Original’s official product descriptions for each reference. They describe these two specific references, not every model in the Senator family.
| Attribute | Senator Meissen 1-36-16-03-05-01 | Senator Excellence 1-36-01-03-02-66 |
|---|---|---|
| Case metal | Red gold | Stainless steel |
| Diameter | 40.00 mm | 40.00 mm |
| Height (thickness) | 10.20 mm | 10.00 mm |
| Dial | White MEISSEN porcelain with hand-painted “Mystic Maison” decoration | Matte black varnish with curved Arabic numerals, railroad chapter ring and Super-LumiNova on parts of the dial |
| Display | Hours and minutes | Hours, minutes, seconds and seconds stop |
| Movement | Automatic Calibre 36-16 | Automatic Calibre 36-01 |
| Power reserve | 100 hours (manufacturer-stated) | 100 hours (manufacturer-stated) |
| Frequency | 28,800 vph / 4 Hz | 28,800 vph / 4 Hz |
| Water resistance | 5 bar | 5 bar |
| Strap width | 20 mm | 20 mm |
| Edition | Limited to 150 pieces worldwide for this reference | Not stated as limited in the product description |
| Documented testing | Not stated for this reference | 24-day in-house test that the manufacturer says exceeds German chronometer-standard requirements, confirmed by a test certificate and a “Q” engraving on the case back |
| Price | Price available upon request | Price available upon request |
Case and dial: the most visible difference
Red gold against stainless steel
The Meissen is cast in red gold, which gives it a warm colour and a precious-metal feel, and it is the more expensive material to make a watch from. The Excellence uses stainless steel. Both cases measure 40.00 mm across, but the Meissen is 0.20 mm taller. On the wrist that difference is small, though a thinner case slides more easily under a shirt cuff, and the Excellence has the slight edge in that respect.
Porcelain dial against black varnish
The Meissen dial is white porcelain bearing a hand-painted “Mystic Maison” decoration. Porcelain is a craft material, so each dial is individually decorated, and small variations between dials are part of the appeal rather than a defect. The Excellence dial is a matte black varnish with curved Arabic numerals, a railroad chapter ring and Super-LumiNova applied to parts of the dial. Glashütte Original describes the Excellence dial as highly legible in the dark. That is the manufacturer’s description; no independent luminosity test is cited for either watch.
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- Dial Diameter: 42mm
- Housing Material: Stainless Steel
- Movement Type: Automatic 36-03
- Strap: Louisiana Alligator Leather (Black)
- Power Reserve: 100 Hours
Other variants change the picture
Neither product line is a single design. A silver-grainé dial variant of the Excellence, reference 1-36-01-01-02-64, uses the same Calibre 36-01 specification but a different dial, so the black dial, seconds hand and Super-LumiNova details described above belong to reference 1-36-01-03-02-66 alone. The Meissen family also includes a Cherry Blossom porcelain variant, which the manufacturer describes with a 0.8 mm porcelain dial. That figure applies only to the Cherry Blossom and should not be attributed to the Mystic Maison reference compared here.
Display: two hands against three
The Meissen shows hours and minutes. The Excellence adds a seconds hand and a seconds-stop function, which halts the seconds hand so the time can be set precisely to the second. If you want a seconds display for timing or a precise setting routine, the Excellence provides it; the Meissen does not.
Rank #2
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Movement, reserve and frequency
The two watches run different movements, Calibre 36-16 in the Meissen and Calibre 36-01 in the Excellence. The manufacturer’s pages list the same 100-hour power reserve and the same 28,800 vph (4 Hz) beat rate for both references. Those are stated specifications, not independently measured results. Matching numbers on a product page do not mean the two movements behave identically in daily wear, so choose between these watches on design, display and edition status rather than on the stated movement figures alone.
Edition status and documented testing
The Meissen 1-36-16-03-05-01 is limited to 150 pieces worldwide. That cap applies to this reference only and does not automatically extend to every Meissen edition, so check the reference number on any watch you are considering. The Excellence 1-36-01-03-02-66 is not described as limited in its product copy.
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- Glashutte Original SeaQ Automatic Green Dial Men's Watch 1-39-11-13-83-34
The Excellence is the only one of the two whose product description details a test regime. Glashütte Original states that it underwent a 24-day in-house test exceeding German chronometer-standard requirements, and it points to a test certificate and the “Q” engraving on the case back as confirmation that it passed. That assurance belongs to the Excellence reference. The manufacturer’s pages for the Meissen do not state an equivalent test, so do not assume the Meissen has been subjected to the same procedure.
Water resistance and strap fit
Both watches are rated at 5 bar. This is a manufacturer’s water-resistance rating, which describes resistance to pressure in controlled conditions. It is not a statement that either watch is suitable for swimming or diving, and the product descriptions do not make that claim. Keep both watches away from water exposure unless the manufacturer’s documentation for your specific reference says otherwise.
Both references list a 20 mm strap width, and Glashütte Original offers additional strap options for its Senator models. A 20 mm nominal width is a starting point for finding replacement straps, but it does not guarantee a fit. Confirm the lug and end-link dimensions, and the clasp type, against the exact reference before buying a strap.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Price and how to buy
Neither product page publishes a price. Glashütte Original lists both watches as price available upon request and directs buyers to contact the manufacturer or a point of sale to arrange an appointment. Any price you see quoted elsewhere should be checked against the reference number, because the listing may describe a different dial, strap or edition.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- power reserve of 40 hours.
- Light Blue dial
- Glashutte Caliber 39-34
- Domed dial with a very fine sun-ray finish & a gradient dark to lighter glacier blue effect.
Which watch fits which buyer
- Choose the Senator Meissen 1-36-16-03-05-01 if you want a red-gold dress watch with a hand-painted porcelain dial, you are comfortable with a two-hand display, and the 150-piece edition limit matters to you.
- Choose the Senator Excellence 1-36-01-03-02-66 if you want a stainless-steel watch with a seconds hand, a seconds-stop function, a luminous black dial, and a documented 24-day in-house test.
- Check the reference number before you compare prices or availability, since the black dial, seconds and Super-LumiNova details belong to this Excellence reference and not to every model in the line.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
