Hands-on with the Mühle-Glashütte Yacht-Timer Bronze

It seems like it was not that long ago that we were talking about Mühle-Glashütte, with their ProMare Go (you can see that review HERE). Funnily enough, while I certainly dug that watch, it was not the first on my list to borrow from the brand. That honor landed with today’s watch. However, given it’s limited edition nature and oxidization-prone case, a loaner wasn’t in the cards. That is, until a non-functional display unit came up for lending. So, we got to spend some time – sort of – with the Mühle-Glashütte Yacht-Timer Bronze.

Normally, if a brand was offering up to send over a non-functional sample to look at, we’d give it a hard pass (and we have before). These sorts of samples are meant more for the show circuit, and really don’t work for our approach to seeing how a watch would work in regular, day-to-day life. For the Mühle-Glashütte Yacht-Timer Bronze, though, we made an exception. The bronze alloy of the case can be volatile (part of it’s charm) so we understood why the brand wouldn’t want to hand over a functional model, and thereby besmirch a watch intended for a paying customer (there are only 500 being made, after all).

Normally, when we’ve got the word “yacht” attached to a watch, it means a goofy (to us non-boaters) sort of a split-lap countdown chronograph complication. That is most definitely not the case here. This is a sporty three-hander meant for the water (300m WR). I suppose the yachting pretensions come from the bronze? Though here, it’s more of a brushed finish, so polishing really isn’t something you may want to do. Just accept the oxidization (or patina) for what it is, and roll with it.

I’ve seen my share of bronze-encased watches, and it seems to me that the cooler colors tend to work well with the cases. That’s showing up here – in spades – with the dark blue. It’s a different tone than we saw on the ProMare Go (LINK), and definitely in a flat finish, but it’s a similar sort of an idea. As a matter of fact, all of the matte surface area is something I really liked about the watch. Perhaps it’s just the way my mind works, but the shinier a watch is, the dressier it feels. Flatten things out, though, and I get the vibe that this is a watch meant for work. In this case, on the deck of a boat, one presumes.

Tucked into the case of the Mühle-Glashütte Yacht-Timer Bronze is a SW 200-1 automatic movement, along with some customizations specific to the brand (see that all below). While this sample was, of course, non-functional, one would presume that the movement would be just as accurate and reliable as any other watch that contains the SW-200. In other words, a capable daily driver, for certain. To keep it dry for that 300m WR rating, you’ve got a steel caseback and crown screwed into place, which also manage to bring a little break from the warm bronze tones.

At 44mm, no one is going to call the Mühle-Glashütte Yacht-Timer Bronze. While it’s larger than I’d prefer, personally, I thought it fit well to my wrist, helped along by the relatively thin profile (12.5mm) for a watch of this size. Though, given the more casual nature that the finishes lean the watch toward, sizing is not as much of a concern, at least in my book. And of course, with the crown offset as it is, you shouldn’t run into any problems with it digging into your wrist.

At the end of the day, you have to ask the question – who, exactly, is the Mühle-Glashütte Yacht-Timer Bronze for? On one hand, I’d say boating enthusiasts can find some love for the watch, though it’s not bringing anything sailing- or yachting-specific to the party (really, it’s a dive style watch).. I think those who were fans of the bronze case explosion that overtook the independent brands a few years back, and are looking to go a bit more upmarket now, would also be drawn to it. Then, there’s folks like me, who may just be enamored of the warm and cool color palette wrapped around a capable, do-anything sort of a watch. Whatever camp you’re in, if you’re interested, bear in mind that only 500 of these are being made, and they’ll run you $2,950 to join the club. muehle-glashuette.de

Review Summary

Brand & Model: Mühle-Glashütte Yacht-Timer Bronze
Price: $2,950

Who’s it for? Just check out the paragraph above
Would I wear it? Absolutely
What I’d change: The circular date window. With everything else on the dial being straight edges, the circle feels out of place

The best thing about it: Just how well the blue and bronze work together

Tech Specs from Mühle-Glashütte

Movement: SW 200-1 Mühle Version, automatic, Mühle version with woodpecker neck regulation, own rotor, characteristic surface finishes, stop-second, fast date correction, 38-hr power reserve
Case:
- Bronze with a screwed-down stainless steel back
- Bidirectional bezel, Bronze
- 2.5 mm thick, domed and double anti-glare sapphire crystal
- Transparent case back
- Screw-in crown, stainless steel
Water-resistant to 30 bars