Biography of Hans-Jürgen Mühle

The Biography of Hans-Jürgen Mühle

With great passion, entrepreneurial foresight, and a deep connection to his hometown of Glashütte, Hans-Jürgen Mühle has led the family business Mühle-Glashütte through turbulent times. His story – and that of watchmaking in Glashütte – is told in his impressive biography “Glashütte für immer verbunden. Mein Leben im Zentrum der deutschen Feinuhrmacherei.”, which is now available in a revised second edition.

A Life Dedicated to Precision Engineering

Born in September 1941 in Schweidnitz, Hans-Jürgen Mühle fled with his mother to Glashütte in the post-war years. There, he trained as a precision mechanic and later studied precision engineering and optics in Leipzig and Jena. At an early age, he took over his father’s business—until it was nationalized in 1972. After many years working within the VEB Glashütter Uhrenbetriebe, most recently as commercial director, he took a bold step after reunification.

In 1994, he re-founded the family business under the name Mühle-Glashütte GmbH nautische Instrumente und Feinmechanik. Just two years later, the company began manufacturing high-quality wristwatches – becoming an essential part of the newly revitalized watchmaking town of Glashütte.

In his biography, Hans-Jürgen Mühle looks back on the decades of upheaval before and after reunification. Personal experiences, key business decisions, and his deep connection to the city and its horological heritage create a fascinating portrait of a man who helped shape Glashütte’s future.

The second, updated edition of the book is now available in our online shop or at the German Watch Museum Glashütte.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I find technical details for my Mühle wristwatch?

The most important technical information on watches in our current collection can be found on our website by visiting the “Wristwatches” page and selecting your collection and model. Technical details for your model can also be found in the instruction manual for your watch. If you have any further questions, especially regarding older models, please feel free to contact us.

What precision can I expect from my Mühle wristwatch?

It is normal for mechanical watches to display a certain amount of tolerance because fluctuating temperatures, the tension of the winder springs or the position in which a watch is stored or worn can all affect its operation and accuracy. As we do not know how a watch will be worn, we always regulate our watches so that they are slightly fast, with a precision of between 0 and max. +8 seconds per day. Why? Because we want to ensure that Mühle watch wearers are never too late because of their time measuring instruments.

How often does my mechanical Mühle wristwatch need to be serviced?

Mechanical watches should be serviced from time to time. Over the years, the processes taking place inside the movement cause a certain amount of abrasion due to parts wearing. This abrasion contaminates the oil and sometimes forms deposits, which may cause the precision of the watch to deteriorate. We therefore recommend that our watches be fully serviced every four to five years. We advise wearers to get the watertightness of their watches checked every two years.