Glashütte Original is among a handful of elite luxury brands in Germany, its roots and traditions going back to 1845. Watchmaking apprenticeships began in Glashütte in the mid-19th century and it soon became the epicentre of German horology. This Saxon watch industry had a worldwide reputation of excellence by the early 20th century, but financial and wartime difficulties, along with fierce Swiss competition, took a toll. Both world wars left their mark on Glashütte, putting the tenacity and steadfastness of the Glashütte townspeople to the test. The changes to the economic system led to the merger of all existing Glashütte watchmaking companies in July 1951. After German reunification, the Glashütter Uhrenbetrieb GmbH was entered into the commercial register on 16th October 1990. The company became the official legal successor to the majority of watchmaking enterprises that had existed in Glashütte since the end of the Second World War. It was acquired by the Swatch Group in 2000 and over 95% of production is now achieved in-house.
Glashütte Original combines state-of-the-art production technologies with traditional handwork to create some the most refined, sophisticated luxury timepieces in the heart of Germany’s watchmaking center. The brand is known for its exclusivity as only a few hundred pieces of any given model are produced annually, with limited editions particularly valued by connoisseurs and collectors alike. Vertical integration allows for harmonious overall designs with a masterful attention to detail regarding cases, dials, movements and hands. Glashütte Original is proud to include “Made in Germany” on its dials and the Saxon design language is clearly evident throughout its portfolio.
Notable pieces include the Grande Cosmopolite Tourbillon, which is among the greatest travel-friendly mechanical watches of the 21st century. Presented in 2012, the watch features multiple time zones with both central and sub-dial hands, and perpetual calendar with day of week and day/night indicator, month and leap year indicators, and Panorama date display. If you need to adjust your timezone back after a flight, all calendar displays will move backwards together to accommodate. February/March adjustments also work seamlessly in either direction with the use of only one crown. These innovations are a world’s first and the company registered four patents as a result. Capping things off is a minute Flying Tourbillon at 9 o’clock.
In 2002, the company opened the Alfred Helwig School of Watchmaking to develop and maintain new talent for future design and production. The school is a member of the Swatch Group’s international network of Nicolas G. Hayek Watchmaking Schools. This allows for greater international prospects for students in the future.
Glashütte Original belongs to a select circle of watch manufacturers that have an in-house dial production. The brand produces its own dial blanks, using materials such as brass, German silver, bronze or gold. Galvanization or the application of lacquer continue the production process, with pad-printing following (a silicone or rubber balloon picks up ink from a “cliché” or negative engraving). In the case of a complex dial like the Grande Cosmopolite Tourbillon, twelve different prints must be applied in sequence and the entire process is governed manually. Whether mounting appliques, precious stones or applying Super-LumiNova, almost every aspect of dial production is done by hand.
Watch collections include the Senator, Pano, Spezialist, Vintage and Ladies lines, with models ranging from time-only pieces to complications such as the Flying Tourbillon, perpetual calendar, moon phase, chronograph and power reserve indicator. Combining artisanship with technology, Glashütte Original honors Germany’s rich watchmaking heritage with luxury timepieces that push the boundaries of both innovation and artistry, with an educational apparatus to ensure future generations of in-house master watchmakers and designers.
FAQs
Glashütte Original is among a handful of elite luxury brands in Germany, its roots and traditions going back to 1845. Watchmaking apprenticeships began in Glashütte in the mid-19th century and it soon became the epicentre of German horology.
Is Glashütte a luxury brand? ›
Glashütte Original watches are one of the most highly respected luxury watch brands within the watchmaking community. Each Glashütte Original timepiece offers a unique balance of premiere elegance and innovative functionality.
How much is a Glashütte vintage watch? ›
How much does a watch from Glashütte Original cost?
| Model | Price (approx.) | Material |
|---|
| Lady Serenade | 17,500 USD | Red gold |
| Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date | 12,500 USD | Stainless steel |
| Sixties Panorama Date | 6,700 USD | Stainless steel |
| Pavonina | 3,400 USD | Stainless steel |
5 more rowsExcellence. The art of German engineering is the epitome of excellent quality all over the world. As a result, timepieces from Glashütte Original bear their “Made in Germany” seal of origin with pride and embody maximum precision, reliability and durability.
Why is Glashutte so expensive? ›
Because their watches are entirely hand-made and use in-house mechanical movements, they're not cheap by any means, but they are competitively priced. A Nomos Club Campus, which uses the brand's manual Alpha movement runs for $1,500 in a 36mm case size.
What is Glashütte famous for? ›
The rise in popularity of first pocket watches and then wristwatches saw Glashütte become world famous. And when war came, where other industries floundered, the town prospered from the demand for precision personal timekeeping, delivered at scale without stinting on accuracy.
How many watches does Glashütte Original make per year? ›
Glashütte Original has 450 craftspeople making tools, components, and watches, with an output of approximately 10,000 watches per year. With this limited capacity, it is extremely important that everything be done right the first time and that production continues moving forward.
What is the most luxurious watch company? ›
Jaeger-LeCoultre
Jaeger-LeCoultre is a Swiss luxury brand of watches that is highly respected by its peers. Many believe it is to be one of the best luxury watch manufacturers and arguably one of the most vertically integrated prestigious watchmakers in the world.
How do I know if my vintage watch is valuable? ›
5 Characteristics of Rare Vintage Watches
- Original Dial. The dial of a watch makes up the vast majority —if not all — of its value. ...
- The Material. Vintage watches that are made from solid gold, platinum, and stainless steel are what are generally most desirable. ...
- Serial Numbers. ...
- Inscriptions. ...
- Documentation.
A common trend here is that future collectible watches are those that have limited numbers. Even if a watch is able to retain value well, if it is produced in very high numbers then it will almost by definition never be collectible. With that said, sometimes versions of highly produced timepieces can be collectible.
Glashütte Original uses its own movements, and has 10 proprietary movement innovations. Glashütte Original is currently owned by The Swatch Group.
Who owns Glashutte watch? ›
In 2000, Glashütte Original became part of the Swatch Group. This watch group – the largest in the world – allowed the brand to begin a process of internationalisation.
In which country best watches are made? ›
Switzerland
Almost every well-known watch manufacturer is located in Switzerland, specifically between the cities of Geneva and Basel.
What are the French watch brands luxury? ›
Cartier. The French luxury brand Cartier is well known all over the world, both for its elegant jewelry and their sophisticated timepieces. For some, they're more of a status symbol than a simple luxury brand.
What is considered a luxury watch? ›
Luxury watches should be made from materials such as stainless steel or titanium for durability and have features like a sapphire crystal glass that is scratch and shatter-resistant. Other materials used include gold, platinum, diamonds, and semi-precious stones.
What is classed as a luxury watch? ›
A luxury watch is meticulously crafted to a high quality, from its movement and manufacture to its materials, and designed to last a lifetime. More often than not, they have a highly intricate automatic or mechanical movement, but there are also exquisitely made luxury quartz watches too.
How can you tell if a watch is luxury? ›
Luxury watches consist of quality, precious metals, such as gold or platinum, that are significantly heavier than other materials. Combine these metals with all the intricate moving parts within a watch, and the timepiece is going to carry some weight.
