The Low-down

For more than 150 years the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (DGzRS) has ensured safety on the North and Baltic Seas. Since its foundation, the society, which is financed purely by donations (2019 donations totaled 55M euros), has rescued over 85,000 people from distress at sea. The S.A.R. Rescue-Timer has been the official watch for the maritime rescue workers of the DGzRS on their missions since February 2002. The watch was developed together with them and tailored to the tough requirements at sea.

Mühle-Glashütte has been introducing special editions of the S.A.R. leading up to the 20^th anniversary which will be celebrated in February 2022. In 2015, a limited edition of 150 pieces was available to purchase through the DGzRS only, to commemorate their 150th anniversary. In 2017, Mühle presented a limited edition in Bronze to celebrate 15 years of the S.A.R. Rescue Timer. In 2020, Mühle announced a new S.A.R. Rescue Timer which was developed in cooperation with the DGzRS and retailer Wempe, and sold exclusively at the Wempe shop In Hamburg.

The S.A.R. Rescue-Timer LUMEN is not a limited edition, and features dial covered in Super-LumiNova with skeleton hands in black coating. This is the most functional watch yet for the DGzRS, since the lighting on sea rescue cruisers is often turned down to an absolute minimum to allow the best possible visibility at sea. Mühle-Glashütte CEO, Thilo Mühle states “Good readability by day and night was a basic requirement when developing the S.A.R. Rescue-Timer 20 years ago. In the new variant of the emergency watch, we have focused on this property – and completely covered the dial with luminous material.”

The case remains original – 42mm in stainless steel with rubber bezel; a screwed-down stainless steel back and a screw-in crown. It is fitted with an impressive 4mm-thick scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and the watch is water pressure tested up to 100 bars. In addition to the rubber and stainless strap, now there is an option for textile strap with color scheme and logo of DGzRS.

The S.A.R is powered by automatic Sellita SW 200-1 modified by Mühle with custom rotor and featuring shockproof woodpecker neck regulation that is regulated in six positions. It is set to ensure accuracy values of between 0 and a maximum of +8 seconds per day.

IMHO

The Mühle S.A.R. Rescue Timer has remained almost unchanged over the years, apart from a few limited editions. The bronze version in 2017 was sold out immediately. Therefore, I commend Mühle for not making this dope version, a limited edition. The all-lume dial just takes this rugged tool dive watch to whole another level. I am also sensing a (welcoming) trend in tool watches offering all-lume dial. Other than the coolness factor, all-lume dials are more functional for low-light and night visibility than the lumed hands and markers.

The skeletonized hands are also very functional for this type of dial. Mühle is also making and marketing the most out of their investment in developing the woodpecker neck regulation. The new canvas strap with stripes and DGzRS logo screams trendy tool watch. The 42mm case with integrated lugs makes it very wearable daily tool watch. I personally like it on the bracelet, but I may change my mind after trying out the fabric strap.

Tech Specs

Case: 42mm, stainless steel, rubber bezel
Dial: Cream with a Super-LumiNova coating and skeletonized hands
Movement: Sellita SW 200-1 automatic movement, woodpecker neck regulation, stop-second, 38 hours power reserve
Price: €1850 on rubber strap or canvas strap, €1950 on bracelet