Mühle-Glashütte

Mühle-Glashütte is a family-owned watchmaker based in the German town of Glashütte. Its history began in 1869, when Robert Mühle founded the family business. The company has worked with measuring instruments, marine chronometers and mechanical watches. Its connection to aviation can be seen in the Marinefliegeruhr-I, a naval aviation watch first introduced as part of its 1996 wristwatch collection. A new edition of that watch has been created for 2026.

The Marinefliegeruhr-I Edition 2026

The Marinefliegeruhr-I Edition 2026 is a limited release based on one of the three watches in the company's first wristwatch collection.

The original model appeared in 1996. The new edition keeps several details from that design while adding updates to the case and movement.

The watch has a dark blue leather strap with light-coloured contrast stitching. It also has a folding clasp and lancet-shaped hands with greenish-yellow luminous material.

These details follow the style of the original watch.

The 2026 edition is limited to 300 pieces. Each watch in the series includes the movement specified for this release.

For aviation enthusiasts, this model is notable because it returns to a watch with a direct naval aviation identity.

From Measuring Instruments to Watches

The Mühle family business was founded in 1869.

Over time, the company has made different types of measuring instruments. Its work has changed, but precision measurement has remained part of its history.

In 1994, Hans-Jürgen Mühle re-established the company under the name Mühle-Glashütte GmbH nautische Instrumente und Feinmechanik.

The company began making marine chronometers that year. Its first wristwatches followed two years later, in 1996.

This background connects the company's current watches with its earlier work in instruments and time measurement.

A Family Business Across Generations

The Mühle family has lived in the Glashütte region for more than 700 years.

Family members have worked in the town's watchmaking industry across six generations.

Thilo Mühle joined the company in 2000 as a member of the fifth generation. In 2007, that generation formally took over management of Nautische Instrumente Mühle-Glashütte.

The company remains owned by a long-established local family.

Its family history also includes difficult changes. In 1972, the business was expropriated and converted into the state-owned VEB Feinmechanik Glashütte.

Mechanical Development

Mühle-Glashütte also develops its own watch movements and complications.

The MU 9411 was the first hand-wound movement fully designed by the company.

In 2016, it introduced the Robert Mühle Zeigerdatum with the RMK 03 mechanical hand-wound movement.

Other developments include a moon phase display, an up/down display and a hand date.

These examples show how the company has continued to work on mechanical watch functions.

For pilots and aviation fans, Mühle-Glashütte offers a connection between precision instruments, family watchmaking and naval aviation design. The Marinefliegeruhr-I Edition 2026 is a clear example of that history.