Robert Mühle Zeigerdatum/en
Bring on the Complications: the New Robert Mühle Zeigerdatum
Glashütte, September 2016
Mühle-Glashütte is now honouring the life and work of its founder with its new Robert Mühle special edition, which also breathes fresh life into a classic complication that is now a rare treasure: the date hand. As you would expect from a timepiece made in a genuine manufacturing workshop, the mechanism was personally designed by Mühle-Glashütte's expert watchmakers themselves. This exclusive characteristic is even more enhanced by the fact that this special edition watch is limited to a total of just 100 pieces.
After founding his family company in 1869, Robert Mühle played a significant role in establishing the excellent reputation of the German town of Glashütte as a top watchmaking location thanks to his high-precision measuring instruments. This year, he would have celebrated his 175th birthday. This is reason enough for Mühle-Glashütte to celebrate its namesake by launching a traditionally manufactured classic timepiece that reflects the values practised by Robert Mühle in the most stunning way possible. The new Robert Mühle Zeigerdatum not only boasts the combination of maximum precision and excellent readability that characterises every Mühle watch, but also stands out due to not one, but two additional functions in its mechanical movement, the so-called "complication". These functions are clear for all to see thanks to the watch's large transparent case back.
The "RMK 03" movement, which was designed by the manufacturer's very own watchmakers, forms the heart of the timepiece and is based on the Robert Mühle RMK 01 calibre with an up/down display that has already been given a new design. In the RMK 03, it welcomes an additional complication in the form of the date hand, which is located in the second third of the module plate. With the small-second display at the 6 o'clock position acting as the perfect finishing touch, the movement contains an impressive tally of 180 components with a total of 33 jewels and therefore features nearly 35 more components than the RMK 01.
In keeping with the spirit of Glashütte's classic watchmaking tradition, the new movement is additionally adorned with screwed gold chatons and a finely engraved balance cock.
When it comes to its fine regulation and cover plate, the calibre is yet again a prime example of outstanding craftsmanship because, as is only right for a top-quality Mühle watch, it contains the company's patented woodpecker neck regulation, which is particularly shockproof. In addition, the cover plate was designed as a three-fifth plate with a separate balance cock for the escape wheel.
This time measuring instrument is not only beautifully engineered on the inside, but also stunning on the outside. With their clear silver accents, its three totalisators shine out elegantly against the anthracite-coloured background of its face, while the hour numerals and indices, which are painstakingly applied manually, perfectly complement the watch's polished stainless steel hands. To top it off, the watch's 44-millimetre-wide case made of brushed and polished stainless steel and its crocodile leather strap with a stainless steel folding clasp provide a suitably glorious setting for the Zeigerdatum's exclusive complication. After first being used in a pocket watch back in 1793, this complication became somewhat of a thing of the past after the introduction of the date window. To put it simply, this complication is the ideal historic treasure for a timepiece like the R. Mühle & Sohn special edition, which above all represents a precise time measuring instrument that will take pride of place on every wrist.
Technical Details of the Robert Mühle Zeigerdatum
Movement
- RMK 03, hand-wound. Ø 36.60 mm; H 8.35 mm. 180 components. 33 jewels, three of which are set in screwed gold chatons. Glucydur balance with a Nivarox spring, 21,600 A/h. Stop-second. Hand date with fast correction. 56-hour power reserve with up/down display. Engraved balance cock with patented woodpecker neck regulation. Three-fifth plate with Glashütte long-slot click.
Case
- Brushed/polished stainless steel. Ø 44.00 mm; H 12.56 mm. Water-resistant to 10 bars. Anti-glare sapphire crystal. Transparent case back made of sapphire crystal.
Strap
- Crocodile leather strap with a stainless steel folding clasp.
Dial
- Anthracite. Applied hour numerals and hour indices. Hands: Polished stainless steel.
Price
- Upon request
Limited edition
- 100 units
For watch aficionados and those interested in unique timepieces: How exactly does the date mechanism work
The date is powered by the hour wheel (1). When the hour wheel rotates, it activates the ratchet wheel (2), which controls the date hand and makes one revolution around its own axis every 24 hours. Once every 24 hours, a cam on the ratchet wheel locks into the teeth of the hand wheel (3) and moves the date shown to the next day (or a distance of 11.61290 degrees). The hand wheel is held in position by the stop spring (4). The corrector (5) at the 9 o'clock position can be used to move the hand forward in intervals so that the date can be quickly and easily corrected in the case of months with less than 31 days or after the watch has not been worn for quite some time.
Thilo Mühle on the Robert Mühle Zeigerdatum
What makes this particular timepiece special?
The manufacture line means a lot to us. It constitutes the standard of our in-house manufacturing and of our constructional competency. In the Robert Mühle Zeigerdatum you can clearly see: From the construction of the caliber and the complications to the production of the greater part of the parts used to the assembly, everything is taken care of in-house. To me, every timepiece that is completed in this line serves as confirmation that we have invested time, knowledge and money in the right areas over the past years. Thanks to the feedback of our clients, we also notice that they appreciate it.
When will this model be available?
The Robert Mühle Zeigerdatum will be released at our specialist retailers in time for holiday business. Every model will be delivered in a high-quality wooden case with a watchmaker’s magnifying glass framed in wood.
Which novelties of the in-house manufacturing line R. Mühle & Sohn await us next?
On this topic, not much is given away. We already have a very nice idea – but we are still messing about with it. Obviously, the in-house manufacturing line will have a solid position in the collection of Mühle-Glashütte nautical instruments.