The German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Rettung Schiffbrüchiger – DGzRS) is responsible for Search and Rescue in German territorial waters in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, including the Exclusive Economic Zone.

Founded in Kiel in 1865, its headquarters are in Bremen. It currently operates some 61 vessels on 54 stations, twenty of which are seagoing cruisers between 20m and 46m in length, and 41 vessels are inshore lifeboats. They are operated by both employees and volunteers, and the DGzRS is entirely financed by membership fees, private donations, and legacies.

The Mühle-Glashütte S.A.R. Rescue-Timer has supported the DGzRS for two decades, and to mark their ongoing relationship, the watch brand is adding a new S.A.R. model in the form of the S.A.R. Mission-Timer TITAN.

The new watch is in a 43mm sized titanium case with a black ceramic bezel. It has a thickness of 13mm and water resistance of 50m. Its black dial is characterised by the distinctive S.A.R. over-sized Super-LumiNova coated triangles at 3, 6, 9 and 12 o’clock (the hands and indices are also similarly lumed). The triangles aren’t just lumed, but are recessed cut-outs so as to increase the amount of Super-LumiNova able to be used. The minute track can be read up to an eighth of a second.

The date at 4 o’clock is larger because of the use of the automatic Calibre SW 400-1, which beats at 28,800 VPH and has a power reserve of 40 hours. This movement is the older sibling of the SW200-1, and the SW400-1’s date display is 44% bigger than that of the SW200-1. The movement has the Mühle- Glashütte rotor and the woodpecker neck fine adjustment (regulated in six positions and ranging between 0 and +8 seconds/ day).

The case back is where the really interesting feature that distinguishes this limited edition, is located. Each individual watch in this limited edition has an engraving showing the coastline of Germany and the operational area of the sea rescuers on the North and Baltic Seas and the name and silhouette of one of the 63 sea rescue cruisers or boats of the current rescue fleet – which makes each a pièce unique.

The S.A.R. Mission-Timer TITAN comes in special packaging created in partnership with Koehler Paper and communications agency Lehanka. Coming on a rubber strap with a titanium safety clasp and extension and screwed strap attachment bridges, the RRP is AUD 5,700/ EUR 2,900.

[Photo credit: Mühle-Glashütte]

Categories: German watches, Limited Editions, Mühle-Glashütte, watches