Glashütte Original Watches: a Look into the History

Watches all over the world are no longer just about telling the time. They’re now seen as symbols of status and style, which has resulted in an increase of fashion-savvy watch designs. Sales in the watch industry are mainly focused on Europe, Asia, and the US. In terms of value, Switzerland is the largest manufacturer of watches; however, there is one area of Germany that has become famous for its watch-making abilities: Glashütte.

The beginning…

Located in the depths of Germany is the small town of Glashütte. With a population of around 7500 people, Glashütte has become renowned for its expertise and skill in the watchmaking industry for more than 170 years.

For almost four centuries, the town of Glashütte was known for its silver mining, but this changed as Ferdinand Adolph Lange launched the first watch firm in 1945. He created Glashütte’s first watch brand and was then joined by pioneers Moritz Grossmann, Adolph Schneider, and Julius Assmann. All of them together created the famous watch manufacturing industry that firmly put this small town on the map.

A rise on the economy

Naturally, this watch trade had a massive impact in the Glashütte area as the watchmaking industry soared, meaning the need for skilled craftsmen rose. So in May 1878, the first “German School of Watchmaking” in Glashütte was opened. The school quickly earned a reputation through its exceptional teachers and graduates.

The small town survived two World Wars and now boasts an impressive 13 watch companies, including a new generation of smaller brands such as Nomos Glashütte. Nomos was founded in 1991 and showcases a more minimalist design. The company is known for manufacturing up to 95% of their mechanical movements in-house at the factory and by hand. This makes the watch an authentic piece of equipment.

In 1994, Mühle Glashütte, another established brand which was traditionally known for the manufacture of instruments for the local watchmaking industry, as well as tachometers and car clocks, made its transition into the watch manufacturing world. They created easy-to-read and robust timepieces.

Moving forward

May 2011 saw the return of Tutima Glashütte to the area after 66 years. Tutima originated in Glashütte in 1926 and produced a top quality line of wristwatches. The company is family owned and they returned to their routes of Glashütte in 2011 with the same drive and passion that they are known for internationally.

Thanks to the revival of older companies and the introduction of newer ones, the future of the wristwatch industry in Glashütte looks extremely positive. If you’re in search of a timeless watch with authentic roots combined with high-quality and design, then Glashutte original watches are perfect for you.