Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. MeisterSinger & Mühle-Glashütte Team Up for the 30th Anniversary of German Reunification
Eastern and Western watchmaking companies reunited for a series of special editions.
For more than 40 years Germany was divided (1949-1990). On one side was the GDR (German Democratic Republic), part of the Eastern Block, under Russian influence; on the other was the FRG (Federal Republic of Germany), part of the Western Block, under Western Europe and American influence. Following the momentous Fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989, Germany was finally reunified on 3 October 1990. Since then, this day is known as the “Tag der Deutschen Einheit“, the German Unity Day. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of this crucial historical event, two watchmaking companies, one from the West, one from the East, unite to create special edition models. Meet the MeisterSinger N°03 “30 Jahre Deutsche Einheit” and Mühle-Glashütte Teutonia IV “30 Jahre Deutsche Einheit.”
World War II had an enormous impact on the world, in particular on Europe, which almost immediately after the signature of the armistices was divided into two blocks. One was under American influence, the other under Russian influence, which in turn culminated in the Cold War. Right in the middle of that was Germany, a country that was literally split in two. Two blocks, the GDR and FRG, separated by a line which physically symbolised the “Iron Curtain” and that separated Western Europe and the Eastern Bloc. And the most striking evidence of this separation was the Wall erected in Berlin. Still, in 1989, a series of revolutions in nearby Eastern Bloc countries caused a chain reaction in East Germany that ultimately resulted in the fall of the Wall, in November 1989. It took a few more months, but on 3 October 1990, German was reunited. This date is an important one for German citizens, a date that is celebrated each year with the “Tag der Deutschen Einheit“.
The two watches you’re about to see celebrate the 30th Anniversary of German Reunification, but they also celebrate reunification on a larger scale. On one side is Mühle-Glashütte, a brand located in the south of ex-eastern Germany (in Glashütte). The other brand, MeisterSinger, is located in Münster, Westphalia (west of Germany, near the Dutch border). And this East-West alliance perfectly sums up the idea of reunification.
While very different watches on paper, both brands have decided to use a similar colour scheme based on gold, black and red to match the colours of the German flag. Each brand is presenting two versions of their respective watches; one limited to 30 pieces with a gold bezel and accents, the second limited to 60 pieces in steel.
First is the Mühle-Glashütte Teutonia IV “30 Jahre Deutsche Einheit”, a watch based on a classic model for the brand. Measuring 41mm in diameter and 12.6mm in height, it has a typical Glashütte-like design, with a combination of elegance and a certain robustness. The round case is made of stainless steel on both editions, both have a black dial with applied indexes and a red seconds hand. The bi-colour version adds to that an 18k yellow gold bezel and all the dial elements (hands and markers) are gold coloured. The stainless model is identical on most points, yet the markers feature a combination of silver and gold. The back of the watch reveals a Sellita SW-200 automatic movement, with a specifically decorated rotor showing the unity between the two brands.
The second piece, the MeisterSinger N°03 “30 Jahre Deutsche Einheit,” is also a classic for the brand. This single-hand watch – a signature display of MeisterSinger – has a 43mm diameter and 11.5mm height. Once again, both editions have a black dial with gold-coloured applied markers and red accents on the dial. The only noticeable difference between the two editions is the addition of a 18k yellow gold bezel on the 30-piece bi-colour limited edition. The watch is also equipped with the same Sellita SW-200 automatic movement, with an identically decorated rotor.
Price and availability
The Mühle-Glashütte Teutonia IV “30 Jahre Deutsche Einheit” and MeisterSinger N°03 “30 Jahre Deutsche Einheit” watches are limited to 30 pieces in bi-colour and 60 pieces in full steel, all respectively priced at EUR 3,490 and EUR 1,990. A donation of EUR 100 to the Heinz-Sielmann Foundation is included in the price.
More details at www.meistersinger.com and www.muehle-glashuette.de.
