Marketed as a timekeeper for adventures, the new Muehle Glashuette Terranaut III Trail may be a nice choice for people searching for a reliable tool that looks like a pilot’s watch, is powered by a good Swiss-made movement, and wouldn’t break a bank even if you are a student majoring in Liberal Arts.
At this time, you can get the Terranaut III Trail in four variations that consist of two finishes for its round 40-mm case and two choices of the matte black dial.
To my shame, it took me some time to grasp the difference between the faces. I mean, they are both black and they are both matte-finished, what else could be different, right?
If at this time of the day you are as slow as yours truly, here is the hint: one of them lacks the minute track, the other one, surprisingly, has it printed in light grey on the outer part of the dial closer to the bezel flange.
As for the cases, it is much easier here: both are stainless steel, but one of them is just plain brushed steel and the other comes in a nice matte black PVD treatment. The finish makes it look almost as gorgeous as the recently introduced ceramic timekeepers from Panerai, but at a fraction of the price (the collection starts well below the $1000 mark).
With its laconic, military-style dial layout, the watch not only offers superb, almost unrivaled legibility both day and night but can also be worn both on expeditions as well as on a daily basis with casual dress.
Like many other German watchmakers, Mühle Glashütte doesn’t make its own calibers, but imports high-quality Swiss movements to animate its timekeepers.
In this particular case, the movement of choice was a customized Sellita SW 220-1 self-winding ebauche. What is really surprising, given the gadget’s price, is that they decided to use an upgraded version of the caliber to power this watch.
Equipped with M-G’s patented woodpecker neck regulation that protects the index hand (and hence the balance shaft) from severe shocks, the modified movement offers even more reliability and robustness than the original job.
To make the caliber even more exclusive (for a mass-produced movement, of course,) the brand decided to equip it with a custom oscillating weight that features Glashuette solar grinding decoration. The latter is perfectly visible through a sapphire crystal that covers its display back.
At a recommended price of €890, the Terranaut III Trail looks like a watch of choice for the price-conscious crowd that searches for a high-quality military-style timepiece.
See also: Fortis Spacematic 2012 Limited Edition
Photos: Mühle Glashütte
Muehle Glashuette Terranaut III Trail specification
Price: Starts at €890
Movement: Automatic, Sellita caliber SW 220-1, modified for Muehle Glashuette (woodpecker neck regulation,) 26 jewels, 28,800 vph, Swiss Made
Movement decoration: Branded rotor finished with Glashuette solar grinding
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Power reserve: 38 hours
Case: Brushed stainless steel / Steel with black PVD treatment
Shape: Round
Size: 40.00 mm
Case height: 10.00 mm
Dial: Black
Numerals: Arabic, luminous (beige Superluminova)
Hour markers: Baton-shaped, luminous (beige Superluminova)
Hands: Luminous
Water resistance: 100 meters
Strap: Black “Russia” smooth dyed calfskin leather with stainless steel pin buckle
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective
Back: Sapphire