The Union Glashütte 1893 Johannes Dürrstein Edition Moon Phase in Rose Gold

In 1893, Johannes Dürrstein, a distributor for A. Lange & Söhne, founded his own watchmaking business, which eventually evolved into what we now know as Union Glashütte. Today, the Swatch Group-owned brand is famous for keeping the traditions and aesthetics of Saxon watchmaking, offering a range of competitively priced models across seven collections. The 1893 series, reserved for manually wound timepieces, draws inspiration from past designs while incorporating modern technology and seeks to capture “the very essence of Glashütte’s watchmaking heritage.” The latest to join this collection is the 1893 Johannes Dürrstein Edition Moon Phase in 18k rose gold, an elegant update of a previous model.

The 30m water-resistant, round case of the Union Glashütte 1893 Johannes Dürrstein Edition Moon Phase measures 41mm in diameter, 12.23mm thick, with 50.05mm lug-to-lug and features the domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides and a pressed display caseback. The case is mainly brushed, with a polished finish applied to the bezel, caseback and fluted crown, the latter decorated with the brand’s U logo in relief. There’s a corrector at 10 o’clock to adjust the date.

Compared to the earlier stainless steel version of the 1893 Johannes Dürrstein Edition Moon Phase, the updated white enamel dial introduces several thoughtful refinements. Large Roman numerals now mark the hours, and the minutes track has been redesigned. The peripheral date ring now only displays odd dates, with tiny dots marking the even numbers. The small seconds subdial at 9 o’clock incorporating a 24-hour indication has been simplified by removing the hour indices but retaining the dedicated rose gold hand. Now, the subdial features numerals and dots at 5-second intervals inside a railroad-style seconds ring, indicated by a small blued hand with an oval counterweight.

The moon phase aperture is presented without the scale for the 29 1/2-day lunar cycle, enhancing the dial’s clean and elegant appearance. The framed day and month apertures remain below the 12 o’clock index, while the “Mondphase” inscription is balanced with the other dial elements. The Union Glashütte logo is completed by a limited edition mention in German. Another German word printed next to the subdial at 9 o’clock, “Handaufzug,” signifies the manual winding movement inside. Finishing the design are heat-blued hour and minute hands and a rose gold date hand featuring a crescent tip, all perfectly in tune with the watch’s refined aesthetic.

The Union Glashütte 1893 Johannes Dürrstein Edition Moon Phase is powered by the manually wound UNG-58.S1 movement, showcasing the signature Glashütte three-quarter plate with decorative stripes. A gold medallion on the balance cock signifies the use of silicon for the balance spring for better anti-magnetic properties and improved accuracy. The movement, featuring gold engravings, polished ratchet and transmission wheels, and blued screws, is a pleasure to observe. The UNG-58.S1 runs at 28,800 vibrations/hour and has a 65-hour power reserve.

The rose-gold-cased Union Glashütte 1893 Johannes Dürrstein Edition Moon Phase is limited to 131 pieces. It is paired with a brown calfskin strap embossed to resemble crocodile leather and features a quick-change spring bar system; the strap is secured with a pin buckle. The price is EUR 13,900. For more, visit union-glashuette.com.