Here is a brand that we did not covered in a long time, Mühle-Glashütte, a family-run company specialized in marine chronometers and timepieces known for their excellent legibility. Today we’re presenting their latest model, the Terrasport I Beobachter, a 44 mm pilot piece inspired by the historical pilot watches made in Glashütte.

Classic observation watches were a consistent component of traditional aviator gear. They were worn by board navigators, therefore had to be extremely precise, reliable and had to have a good legibility. Plane position during flight could be calculated with these timepieces, usually 55 millimeters wide, in conjunction with an octant. This type of watch complemented both the pilot’s chronograph as well as the smaller three hand models of the crew.

Observation watches came in two different dial variants. The first variant was equipped with large hour hands with a minute scale on the dial border, as seen in the Terrasport I (see image above). The second variant was equipped with a small inner hour scale as well as a separate outer minute graduation. This enabled the navigator to tell time quickly, which was necessary for navigation and to define the results of aerial reconnaissance. The Terrasport I Beobachter follows this design (Beobachter means observer in German).

Both the black and the cream dial of the Beobachter clearly and distinctly stand out against the indices and hands. The open arrangement of the duplex dial structure as well as the fine scaling both, in conjunction with the red apex of the second hand, enable the reading of time exactly to the second.

Inside you’ll find a modified Sellita SW-200-1 caliber, featuring a Mühle patented woodpecker neck regulation and a specific Mühle rotor and will offer 38 hours of power reserve.

The U.S. MSRP, depending on your choice of leather strap of bracelet is $1,999, or $2,199.

For more about Mühle-Glashütte go to www.muehle-glashuette.de/en/home/