History of Glashütte Original

Glashütte Original is a living, authentic manufactory for fine mechanical masterpieces of time. It stands for high exclusivity, traditional watchmaking since 1845, and “Handmade in Germany.” Glashütte Original is specialized in elegant, modern, and luxurious wristwatches with autonomous, innovative movements. The precious timekeepers embody typical German virtues such as precision, functionality, and reliability while symbolizing quality, exclusivity, and authenticity as well as more than 160 years of continuous, fascinating, and eventful watchmaking in Germany.

1845 The roots of the manufactory reach back to the year 1845. Pioneers like Lange, Assmann, Schneider, and Großmann found a new watch industry in the city of Glashütte that attains world renown and composes Glashütte Original’s heritage: complicated watch movements, precise timekeeping, and precious materials.

1878 Conveying knowledge: The international demand for precision watches from Glashütte makes more and more highly specialized experts necessary. Thus, Moritz Großmann’s founding of the German School of Watchmaking represented a logical and economically founded step.

1951 The war and the end of the war force Glashütte’s watchmakers to start over. Thanks to difficult political conditions, all independent Glashütte watch companies are combined into one: VEB Glashütter Uhrenbetriebe (GUB). Mechanical watches continue to be invented, developed, produced, and assembled in Glashütte under the brand name Glashütte Original, which had been created in 1921.

1990 With the fall of the Berlin Wall, VEB Glashütter Uhrenbetriebe (GUB) becomes Glashütter Uhrenbetrieb GmbH.

1995 Successful renaissance of true manufacture production. They soon take over the world’s markets.

2000 Takeover by the Swatch Group AG, who sees an excellent addition to its brands in the fine manufactory.

• World premiere of the PanoRetroGraph, the first mechanical chronograph with countdown function, sectoral 30-minute counter, and triple repeater gong.

2002 Inauguration of the company’s own Alfred Helwig School of Watchmaking. 12 watchmakers and 3 tool makers are educated annually.

2003 A new era commences for Glashütte Original with the inauguration of the new manufactory building.

2004 World premiere of the PanoMaticChrono-the extravagant with automatic winding.

• Glashütte Original awards the SAECULUM Glashütte Original Music Festival Award for the first time, honoring an artist for his or her life’s work in the musical arts.
  

2005 The PanoMaticChrono is awarded the Saxon State Prize for Design as well as the German readers’ award Watch of the Year 2005.

• Introduction of new collection lines Senator and Sport Evolution.


• Premiere of the new women’s line Star Collection, a multifaceted collection.


• Launch of the new customer magazine Momentum-Magazine for Contemporaries.
  

2006 Introduction of new collection lines Senator Karree and Senator Navigator.

• German Watch Museum Glashütte-Nicolas G. Hayek foundation established.


• Five of Glashütte Original’s exclusive models are awarded first prizes in national and international watch competitions.