Ruhla – 1970s

During the 1970s, the East German watch industry was further restructured and UMF Ruhla became part of the VEB Kombinat Mikroelektronik Erfurt. It was in this decade that Ruhla moved towards developing both analogue and digital quartz products.  The first quartz digital watches were put into production as the UMF 28-40 calibre.
An electro-mechanical stop watch was tested during the first space mission undertaken by Sigmund Jähn of the East German Air force aboard Soyuz 31 and 29 to and from the Salyut 6 space station in August/September 1978.

Ruhla Calibre 24-35 Chronograph Silver Dial – (1973)

Ruhla Calibre 24 Round Gold Star burst Case Brown Dial Date – (1976)

Ruhla Calibre 24 Grey Dial Quarter large Numerals – Goodbye Lenin Alex’s Watch – (1977)

Ruhla Calibre 24 Grey Dial Chrome Indices – (1974)

Ruhla de luxe Calibre 24-33 Silver Dial Blue Indices (1975)

Ruhla Calibre 24 Chequer and Rocket Dial -(1974)

Ruhla de Luxe Chequer Dial Calibre 24-33 (1975)

Anker branded Ruhla Calibre 24 Gold Dial Quarter Numerals and Date – (1976)

Aseikon 21 branded Ruhla Calibre 24 Green Stripe Dial – (1976)

Lottery 17 branded Ruhla Calibre 24 White dial sub seconds (1974)

Ruhla Calibre 24-31 White Dial Arabic Numerals Small Seconds (1972)

Ruhla Calibre 24 White dial sub seconds (1974)

Aseikon 21 Space Style 2000 branded Ruhla Calibre 24-32 Gold Plated Case Striped Dial (1975)

Samoz branded Ruhla Calibre 24 (1976)

Ruhla Calibre 24 Red dial ladies (1973)

Ruhla Calibre 24 Arabic numerals even numbers (1976)

Meister Anker branded Ruhla Calibre 24 Blue-grey dial (1979)

Oxford branded Ruhla calibre 24 (1979)

Ruhla de Luxe Calibre 24-32 Black Plastic Dial Raised Gold Batons (1975)

Services branded Ruhla Calibre 24-33 Silver Dial Chrome Case Roman Numerals (1979)

Bitunia 21 Super branded Ruhla Calibre 24-00 Silver Dial Chrome Case (1971)

Anker branded Ruhla Calibre 24-33 Black Dial Gold Large Roman Numerals Date Function (1974)

United Watch Works branded Ruhla Calibre 24 Silver Dial Chrome Case – 1978

Ruhla Calibre 24-33 Sports Watch Blue Dial White Minute Ring Round Brushed Silver Case – 1974

Ruhla Calibre 24 Jugenduhr Quarter Roman Numerals Red Dial – 1970

Ruhla Calibre 24 Round Cropped Brushed Silver Case Silver Dial Black Arabic Numerals – 1977

Meister Anker Calibre 24 Deep Red Dial Roman Numerals – 1979

Aseikon 23 branded Ruhla Calibre 24 TV Case Brown Metallic Dial – 1979

Aseikon 23 branded Ruhla Calibre 24 Chrome Case Light Blue Dial – 1975

Ruhla Sports Dial Calibre 24-33 (1976)

Ruhla Calibre 24-33 Chrome TV Case Blue Dial (1976)

Ruhla Waterproof Calibre 24 (1970)

Ruhla 24 Calibre with Red dial Black Indices 1970s

Ruhla Calibre 24-33 Round Case Gold Dial (1973)

Ruhla Calibre 24-33 Grey Dial Cushion Case (1974)

Ruhla Calibre 24-33 Blue Plastic Dial Chrome Numerals and Indices Chrome brushed case (1975)

Ruhla Calibre 24-33 Blue Dial (1973)

Ruhla Calibre 24 (1973)

Karex Branded Ruhla Calibre 24 (1976)

Ruhla Calibre 24-33 1973

Ruhla Digital 73 Calibre 24-34 Red Dial TV Shape Brushed Chrome Case (1973-78)

Ruhla Digital 73 Calibre 24-34 Red Dial Rounded Brushed Chrome Case (1973-78)

Ruhla Digital 73 Calibre 24-34 Orange Dial Rounded Brushed Chrome Case (1973-78)

Ruhla Digital Calibre 24-34 Orange Dial Large Chrome Polished Case (1976)

Ruhla Digital 73 Calibre 24-34 Blue Dial Rounded Brushed Chrome and Gold Plated Case (1973-78)

Aseikon 25 branded Ruhla Digital Calibre 24-34 Two Tone Blue Dial Screw Back Case (1974)

Karex branded Ruhla Jump Hour Digital Watch mid 1970s Calibre 24-34

Karex branded Ruhla Digital Calibre 24-34 White and Beige Dial (1974)

Ruhla Calibre 87-02 Stopwatch 1978

Bykowski and Jähn after landing wearing Ruhla Quartz – Gemeinsam auf der Erde und im All

Ruhla Calibre 87-01 Stopwatch Four Function

Sigmund Jahn Ruhla Quartz Calibre 28-33 Cosmonaut’s Watch (1978)

Ruhla Calibre 28 Movement

Fully automated assembly of the calibre 24. Production workers are no longer required only maintenance mechanic Lothar Vogeslang (above) oversees the work of the production line. Berliner Zeitung 14/15 July 1979

“I must go back to the factory!” Work Veteran Louis Langbein’s wish is granted, (pictured above) the watch tool maker is warmly welcomed at his old workplace. NBI Wk51-1975

The 8.75-meter-long watch assembly machine is monitored by a service technician and two trained watchmakers. Neue Berliner Illustrierte 50/76 – Die Uhr aus dem Automaten (week 50, 1976)

The Clock is only as good as its worst part – checking Ruhla Duoclocks. Neue Berliner Illustrierte (NBI) 51/75 1975 pg.22

UMF Ruhla technicians develop digital stopwatch for Sigmund Jähn’s space flight. Weltraumflug UdSSR/DDR 1979 Verlag Zeit im Bild

GDR Citizen’s Ruhla 1975

Ruhla Festival 1973 – Festival Parade

Ruhla Festival 1973 Commemorative Watch Calibre 24-33 Tropicalised Case

FDJ 10th Youth and Student Festival 1973

FDJ Festival Participant wearing a commemorative Festival 1973 Ruhla

Cosmonaut Sigmund Jähn’s reception 1978 – Erich Honecker in the background. The FDJ member to Jähn’s left wears a Ruhla Tropicalised Watch

Ruhla Calibre 24 Blue Dial Gold Case (1971)

Ruhla Calibre 24 Round Brushed Chrome Case Green Numerals (1976)

Ruhla Calibre 24 Womens Watch with White Dial Roman Numerals (1979)

Ruhla Calibre 28-33 Gold Case Red textured Dial Date Function (1977-80)

Gillex branded Ruhla Calibre 28-33 Gold Case Red textured Dial Date Function (1977-80)

Ruhla Calibre 24 Gold Case Faceted Bezel (1974)

Lifetime branded Ruhla Calibre 24-32 Gold Dial Faceted bezel (1975)

Ruhla Tropicalised Calibre 24-32 with Snap close crown (1974) – later dial

Ruhla Calibre 24-32 with Gold Dial Black Arabic Numerals (1974)

Aseikon 23 Space Style branded Ruhla Calibre 24-33 Brown Metallic Dial Chrome Case with Date (1974)

Aseikon 23 Space Style branded Ruhla Calibre 24-32 Smokey brown dial with Rocket symbol (1974)

Ruhla Ladies 1970s Pendant Watch

Ruhla Early Digital Clock 1974

Ruhla Trapezoid Red Plastic Alarm clock Calibre 69-40 (1970s)

Ruhla-trapezoid-alarm-clock-1970s-aqua-blue

Ruhla Blue Pastic Trapezoid Clock with heavy arabic numerals 1970s

Ruhla trapezoid Alarm Clock box early 1970s

Ruhla-blue-plastic-alarm-clock-with-integrated-light-Kalibre 69-40/95

Ruhla Square Red Plastic Alarm with light mechanism

Ruhla Blue Plastic Square Alarm Clock with Brown Dial and White Chapter Ring

Ruhla Blue Plastic Trapezoid Alarm Clock

Ruhla-trapezoid-alarm-clock-1970s-aqua-blue-side

Sutronic branded Ruhla Quartz Calibre 14-32 (without date) Silver dial black batons (1979-85)

Ruhla Eurochron Calibre 14-33 Octagonal Case White Dial White Chapter Ring (1979 – 1985)

Meister Anker branded Ruhla Quartz 14-33 Grey dial Round Case (1979-85)

Aseikon Super 21 branded Ruhla Calibre 24-32 Silver dial Blue markings Large Cushion Case (1975)

Anker KR branded Ruhla Calibre 24-33 Blue Dial with Thick White Band White Batons Red Second Hand Chrome Case (1979)

Anker branded Ruhla Calibre 24-32 Ladies Watch White Dial Quarter Arabic Numerals Orange Flashes (1972)

Ruhla Calibre 24-32 Silver Dial Gold Indices and numerals at 12, 3 and 9 (1972)

Aseikon 23 branded Ruhla Calibre 24-33 Space Style Purple dial (1974)

Aseikon 23 branded Ruhla 24-33 Colombo Style Red dial (1976)

Amidor Super 23 branded Ruhla calibre 24-33 Gold case faceted bezel even numbers only (1972)

Ruhla 2 Jewel Calibre 24-42 Green Dial Gold Numerals at odd Quarters (1973)

Ruhla Car Keyring Calibre 24-32 Black Dial Blue Plastic Case

Ruhla de Luxe Calibre 24-32 Cream Dial Black Chrome Batons Chrome Case (1974)

Ruhla de Luxe Calibre 24-32 Champagne Dial Chequer and Rocket Detail Blue Batons Chrome Brushed Case (1974)

Ruhla Calibre 24-33 White Dial Large Arabic Numerals Long Brushed Chrome Case Date (1975)

Ruhla Calibre 24-33 Brown Dial White Minute Ring Gold Round Brushed Case Date (1975)

Ruhla Calibre 24-33 Black Dial Gold Chapter Ring Gold Engraved Batons (1974)

Jumbo branded ruhla calibre 24-33 red dial divers style black bezel (1975)

Ruhla Divers Style Calibre 24-33 Black Dial Red And Black Bezel (1977)

Ruhla Calibre 24-32 Red Dial Gold Cushion Case (1973)

Ruhla Calibre 24-32 Ladies Chrome Cushion Case Blue Dial Arabic Numerals (1974)

Ruhla Pocket Watch Calibre 24-32 Champagne Dial Chrome Case (1977)

Ruhla Calibre 24-31 Radar Dial Chrome Case (1973)

Anker Branded Ruhla Calibre 24-32 Indigo Blue Sector Dial Crown Logo (1976)

Meister Anker branded Ruhla Ladies Diving Watch Black Dial Red Minute Ring (1979)

Aseikon 21 branded Ruhla Calibre 24-30 Blue Dial Chrome Chapter Ring (1975)

Ruhla Calibre 24-32 Waterproof Silver Dial Gold Case (1975)

Ruhla Anker Calibre 24-32 Brushed Silver Dial Gold Case (1974)

Aseikon branded Ruhla Calibre 24-33 Brown Tiger’s Eye Dial White Batons Gold Case (1978)

Aseikon 21 branded Ruhla Calibre 24-32 Green Dial Chrome Faceted Case (1976)

Ruhla Calibre 24-32 Waterproof Silver Dial Black indices (1971)

Anker 04 branded Ruhla Calibre 24-32 Blue Dial White Hands and Indices TV Case (1974)

Ruhla de Luxe Calibre 24-33 Brown Dial Red and White Batons Chrome Brushed Cushion Case (1977)

Ruhla Calibre 24-32 Orange Crystal Chrome Case (1972)

Anker KH branded Ruhla Calibre 24-30 Oval Clear Plastic Case Crean Bezel and Strap (1978)

Ruhla Caliber 35 16 Jewel Square Gold Case Cream Dial 12 and 6 Numerals (1970)

Ruhla 7 Jewel Calibre 39-40 Ladies Watch Ivory Dial Even Numerals Faceted Crystal (1971)

Ruhla Jugenduhr Calibre 24-32 Green Dial 12, 3, 6 and 9 Numerals Gold Case (1970)

Ruhla de Luxe Calibre 24-33 Gold Dial Chequer with Date Function Gold Case (1975)

Ruhla Caliber 24-31 Sub Seconds Red Dial Gold Case (1970)

Anker branded Ruhla Calibre 24-32 Gold Dial 12 and 6 numerals Gold Case (1976)

Ruhla deLuxe Calibre 24-33 Chequer Dial Brushed Chrome Case (1975)

Anker branded Ruhla Calibre 24-30 Cola Colour Plastic Fashion Watch (1974)

Aseikon 23 Branded Ruhla 24-33 Silver Dial Crome Case Faceted Bezel (1976)

Ruhla Tropicalised Calibre 24-32 Silver Dial Arabic Numerals Plastic Case Waterprotected (1970s)

Ruhla de Luxe Calibre 24-32 Black Plastic Dial White and Gold Batons Gold Case (1973)

Ruhla Calibre 24-30 Acrylic Plastic black case White Dial Arabic Numerals (1970s)

Standard Super de Luxe branaded Ruhla Claibre 24-32 Chrome Case Silver Dial Black Quarter Numerals (wk43 1974)

Ruhla Calibre 24-32 Green Dial Gold painted batons Gold Brushed Cushion Case (circa 1970)

Ancre 21 branded Ruhla Calibre 24-32 Green Dial Round Chrome Case Quater Numerals (1971)

Ruhla de Luxe Calibre 24-33 Chrome Cushion Case Black and Blue Batons Checker Centre Date Function (Wk25 1974)

Ruhla Calibre 22-01 LCD Quartz Chronograph 24 Hour Example Module Import Japan (1979-81)

Ruhla Caliber 24-32 Green Dial White Numerals Gold Flat Brushed Case (Wk 39 1978)

Phillitime branded Ruhla Calibre 24-32 Gold Brushed Dial Arabic Numerals Gold Round Case with dust gasket Plastic Anchor Escapement (Wk38 1972)

Aseikon 23 branded Ruhla Calibre 24-33 Silver Dial Chrome Case Arabic Numerals Date Function (Wk 43 1977)

Ruhla de Luxe Calibre 24-33 Silver Brushed Dial Black Chequer Blue and Black Batons Date Function Chrome Case (Wk 24-1974)

Anker 04 Branded Ruhla Calibre 24-33 Blue Dial Chrome Divers Case Ladies Watch (Wk24 1975)

Suzaco branded Ruhla Calibre 24-30 Brushed Blue Green Dial Silver and White Batons Chrome Case (Wk23 1979)

Ruhla Calibre24-30 Childrens Football Watch White Dial Green Red Flag (Wk42 1977)

Ruhla Calibre 24-33 Ladies White Dial Black Roman Numerals Date Functions Gold Case (Wk29 1979)

Ruhla Calibre 24-32 Silver Brushed Dial Gold Quarter Numerals and Batons Chrome Case (Wk25 1973)

Ruhla Calibre 24-32 White Hands and Arabic Numerals Grey Blue Dial Chrome Case (Wk10 1979)

Ruhla Calibre 24-32 Green Metallic Dial Large White Roman Numerals Gold Case (Wk40 1976)

Aseikon 21 Branded Ruhla Calibre 24-33 Two Tone Smoked Dial White Hands Oval Chrome Case (Wk 24 1974)

Ruhla Calibre 24-30 Acrylic Cola coloured Case and matching plastic strap (Wk34 1979)

Oxford Branded Ruhla Calibre 24-33 Chrome TV Case Green metallic Dial (Wk32 1979)

Anker KR Branded Ruhla Calibre 24-33 Gold Case Faceted Bezel Silver Dial (Wk24 1977)

Amidor Super 23 branded Ruhla Calibre 24-33 Gold Dial and Case (Wk52 1973)

Ruhla Calibre 24-42 2 Jewel Ladies Red Dial Gold Cushion Case (1971)

Ruhla Anker Calibre 24-32 Dark Blue Metallic Dial Gold Batons Gold Brushed Cushion Case (Week 24 1972)

Ruhla Calibre 24-32 Silver Brushed Dial Black Batons Waterprotected Round Chrome Case (Week 36 1970)

Ruhla Anker Calibre 24-33 Black Dial with Gold Chapter Ring Gold Batons Date Function Gold Case (Week 06 1971)

Bitunia 23 branded Ruhla Calibre 24-33 Gold Colour Dial Gold Case Arabic Numerals Date Function (1971)

Aseikon de Luxe branded Ruhla Calibre 24-33 Ladies Banded Silver Dial Minute Ring Chrome Case (Week 32 1977)

Aseikon branded Ladies Ruhla Calibre 24-32 Gold Brushed Banded Dial Gold Batons Numerals at 12 and 6 Gold Case (Week 45 1976)

Meister Anker branded Ruhla Calibre 14-33 Gold -Dial Round Gold Case Date Function (1979-1985)

Ruhla Quartz Calibre 14-33 Square Chrome Case White Centre Dial Black Minute Ring Date Function (1979-1985)