Are you like me and love top-quality German dive watches with a no-nonsense attitude? Brands like Sinn, UTS, and of course Muhle Glashutte? If you do then I have a feeling you are going to enjoy the Rasmus 2000 collection of uber divers from our friends up in Glashutte. Pay no mind to the fact that the guys who designed this watch live in the cold mountains of Saxony, pretty far from any oceans. Further, a term you see on many of their watches is "Nautische Instrumente," which obviously is "nautical instrument." The Rasmus 2000 is just one of many ocean-worthy watches from the brand, and in my opinion is one of their best looking pieces at that.
Before discussing elements of the watch itself, it is important to point out some unique things that Muhle Glashutte does. Actually Muhle Glashutte isn't alone among small German watch brands in that they don't merely use stock ETA or Sellita movements. Instead, they use these movements and build on them, adding a lot of their own, arguably improved parts. The best part is that they don't BS the buyer in dressing up the name of the movement. They could easily do that as there is a lot of their own features in many of their movements, but instead they make it clear that inside the Rasmus 2000 is a base Sellita SW200 automatic movement, but that it includes some of their own features. In this instance the SW200 has three things that make it unique for Muhle Glashutte.
First, and most simply, is the unique Muhle Glashutte finishing. They claim that their own surface finishing techniques help reduce friction while increasing the longevity of the metal. Perhaps just a bit, but finishing the parts of a movement and then reassembling it is a big chore. So that does add value. Next is using a custom automatic rotor made by Muhle Glashutte. The claim it offers optimal weight and weight distribution to move as effectively as possible. Last is the patented "woodpecker neck regulation." Ever heard of a watch with a swan neck regulation? Well Muhle Glashutte has a woodpecker neck. They aren't the same thing. With this comes an entirely custom balance cock over the balance wheel. The special system is designed to prevent shock from deviating the adjustment of the balance wheel, and thereby reducing the accuracy of the watch.
I think it is pretty cool that Muhle Glashutte offers these special parts. It honestly means more to me at this price than if they tried to make their own movement. The idea is that they take the best mass produced Swiss watch movements available, and improve upon them even more. Further, if you get a Muhle Glashutte watch with a chronograph, they place their own special 3/4 plate on top of base Valjoux 7750 and 7753 movements which is said to improve upon those calibers as well.
Brands in Glashutte especially are very well known for regulating stock movements they purchase from other companies very well. Then again, the competition is fierce in Glashutte because many of the brands not only make their own movements, but make pretty kick-ass mechanical watch movements. Anyhow, the automatic SW200 movement in the watch has the time and date with a 38 hour power reserve.
The Rasmus 2000 case is in steel, and given a lovely tool-like sandblasted finishing. At 44mm wide and 17.5mm thick, it isn't a small watch, but it certainly could be larger. The case back of the watch tapers in a bit which gives the illusion it isn't as thick. It makes good use of all that metal though. The case is highly anti-magnetic and has a 3.5mm thick domed and AR coated sapphire crystal. All that gives the watch... you guess it... 2000 meters of water resistance (200 bars). If you are clever you'll notice that the dials of these watches all say "300 ATM." Yea, that is a typo on these pre-production models. It should say "200 ATM" (which it does on the retail versions).
You gotta love the screw-down crown (with guards) located at 4 o'clock and the unique rotating divers bezel. The insert with the numerals isn't just a simple ring, and the special shape is cool, and also offered in a few colors. The case is also the same as that used on the last Muhle Glashutte watch we looked at (also a diver) hands-on, the Seebataillon GMT. One element of the design that often causes confusion is the crown. On the crown is the image of a windmill. How does this relate to diving? Well it doesn't. "Muhle" however means "mill," and long ago many grain mills were powered by wind... hence the name "windmill." Further, "Muhle" is the name of the family who started the brand, so in a sense, it is their family sign.
For many, the best part of the Rasmus 2000 is the dial. Offered in three version, the metallic dials are sharp looking and easy to read. The hands and hour markers have a lot of lume, and are attractively designed as well. Each with sunburst polish, the dials come in black (M1-28-83-KB), blue (M1-28-82-KB), and orange/yellow (M1-28-87-MB). Something about that golden metallic yellow attracts me, but I have a feeling the blue or black models sell the most being a bit more conservative.