WatchTime - August 2012

TEST
Mühle-Glashütte Marinus GMT
SPECS
MÜHLE-GLASHÜTTE MARINUS GMT
Manufacturer: Mühle-Glashütte GmbH,
Müglitztalstrasse 7, D-01768 Glashütte,
Germany
Reference number: M1-28-53-KB
Functions: Hours, minutes, second time
zone via 24-hour hand, date display, stopseconds
mechanism
Movement: Automatic ETA 2893-2
“Elaboré”; 28,800 vph, 21 jewels, Incabloc
shock absorption, Mühle’s own rotor
and woodpecker’s neck fine adjustment
mechanism, 42-hour power reserve;
diameter = 25.6 mm, height = 4.1 mm
Case: Stainless steel; bi-directional
rotating bezel with calibrated scale made
of black anodized aluminum; sapphire
crystal is domed on top and nonreflecting
inside; fully threaded back with transparent
pane of sapphire; water resistant to
300 meters
Strap and clasp: Rubber strap; simple
folding clasp with safety stirrup and easyto-use
extension mechanism
Rate results:
(Deviations in seconds per 24 hours)
Dial up +5
Dial down +6
Crown up +3
Crown down +3
Crown left +5
Crown right +3
Greatest deviation of rate 3
Average deviation: +4.2
Average amplitude:
Flat positions 281°
Hanging positions 245°
Dimensions: Diameter = 44 mm,
height = 12.2 mm, weight = 139 g
Variations: With extendable stainlesssteel
bracelet ($3,099)
Price: $2,899
100 WatchTime August 2012
Photo: OK-PHOTOGRAPHY
Mühle has given ETA’s automatic caliber
2893-2 additional components: a
new rotor and its patented woodpecker’s
neck fine adjustment mechanism (see detailed
photo). As in an ordinary swan’s
neck fine adjustment mechanism, the
woodpecker variation can be precisely
adjusted thanks to a setting screw and a
curved opposing spring. The advantage
over a swan’s neck is that the regulator’s
pointer cannot slip over the spring or
vice versa. Even if the watch receives a
sharp blow, both of these components remain
in their preset positions because the
opposing spring has a raised edge that
fits into a milled depression on the upper
side of the pointer.
The modifications that Mühle made
to the ETA movement are substantial,
but its embellishments are rather plain,
except for the blued screws. However,
the movement is quite precise. Our electronic
timing machine calculated an average
daily deviation of +4.2 seconds and
a maximum difference of only 3 seconds
among the various positions. The watch
gained no more than 3 seconds when
worn.
Mühle’s woodpecker’s
neck fine
adjustment mechanism
allows for precise
adjustment yet is
shock resistant.
Reliable rate behavior is only one of
this watch’s many good points. Thanks
to moveable but firmly screwed lugs, the
Marinus GMT fits comfortably around
the wrist. Its large, luminous hands are
very legible, but their shiny surfaces can
cause glaring reflections in certain lighting
conditions. The large threaded crown
is easy to grasp. The only weakness we
found here is the possibility of human error:
when the crown is pulled out to its
first setting position, the 24-hour hand
can be advanced by turning the crown in
one direction, and the date display can be
adjusted by turning it the other way.
There’s a good chance that the wearer
will confuse the two functions and misadjust
the time zone or the date or perhaps
both.
Looking at all of its details, the Marinus
GMT has good-quality craftsmanship,
and is as easy to operate as it is to
read and to wear. Only the stubborn
clasp detracts a bit: the closure lacks
safety buttons and it won’t open unless
the wearer uses a lot of force. But that
won’t be a problem for the macho men
likely to wear this watch.