The Ghostly Appeal of the MeisterSinger No.03 NL Edition Mystique

Ever since 2004, the Germand brand of MeisterSinger has made it a habit of presenting annual special editions geared towards the Dutch market. This line of so-called NL Editions has not only captured the hearts of the Dutch but is actually quite popular outside of our small country as well. However, since production volumes are low and very limited, getting your hands on one is a challenge. In the past, we’ve seen the Bell Hora being turned into an NL Edition, as well as the Perigraph and Stratoscope. This year it’s the No.03’s turn to to be turned into an NL Edition, as it dons a ghostly Mystique blue dial.

As with every MeisterSinger NL Edition so far, this new one can easily be made out as one, thanks to the crown on the left. It’s a signature touch to the range of special editions that started in 2004 and continues to please enthusiasts and collectors, not just in the Netherlands. The steel case is 43mm in width and 11.5mm in height, so it has some generous proportions. The finishing is a mix of brushed and polished surfaces, with a sapphire crystal giving way to the dial.

What sets this 2023 NL Edition apart is not only the placement of the crown, but in fact, its deep blue sunray brushed dial. Instead of opting for the most possible contrast by printing the indices and markings in white, MeisterSinger took it in the opposite direction. The tone-on-tone “ghosted” numerals are printed in gloss to at least have some sort of separation from the blue main dial. Around the outer perimeter is the signature timing track that breaks down each hour in 5-minute increments and identifiable markings for quarter and half hours. The only other touch of colour comes from the white needle-like central hand.

Underneath the steel and sapphire crystal caseback, there’s the familiar Sellita SW200-1 workhorse, delivering a running time of up to 38 hours and beating at a rate of 28,800vph. Although no image has been supplied of the backside of the watch, above is an image of a regular No.03 caseback to give you an idea of how it would look. Six screws hold the caseback in place, which is engraved with the brand’s name, the model and its limitation, etc. The central crystal reveals a signed rotor with finished Geneva stripes.

The MeisterSinger No.03 NL Edition is limited to 123 pieces in correlation to the year of its release. It is supplied with two vintage-style leather straps, one in yellow and one in black, both fitted with a steel pin buckle and a quick-change system (most likely quick-release push-pins). The watch is available from the end of October for a price of EUR 2,300.

For more information, please visit MeisterSinger.com.