Glashütte Original

Glashütte Original is a globally renowned brand synonymous with excellence and timeless elegance. As an authentic prestige manufacturer, it combines German watchmaking tradition with modern production methods under one roof, producing up to 95% of each watch’s components in-house—including intricately crafted dials. 

Glashütte Original timepieces are the result of top-tier German engineering and craftsmanship, blending technical sophistication, dependable precision, and functional design. Some, like the SeaQ, are inspired by vintage Glashütte models, while others boast fascinating features. The Senator Chronograph, for example, features a flyback function for quick reset and restart. The PanoMaticLunar is highlighted by its artfully integrated moon phase. The “Seventies” and “Sixties” collections bring vintage aesthetics into the present, enhanced with innovations like the panorama date. With the launch of the Serenade, Glashütte Original has also created finely tuned timepieces for women, expanding beyond its earlier focus on men’s models. 

The Manufacture

Glashütte Original watches reflect their heritage. They combine clean design with fine materials and sophisticated technology with everyday usability. The term manufacture not only indicates a high level of authentic craftsmanship—it also designates a brand capable of independently creating and producing its own calibers. 

Behind the glass walls of its Glashütte headquarters, the brand continually pushes the boundaries of modern watchmaking. You can see a Glashütte Original watch’s origin in every detail: its classic design, sturdy construction, and traditional elements like the signature three-quarter plate or the screw balance with swan-neck fine adjustment—each meticulously crafted in-house. 

The Historical Heritage

In the mid-19th century, a unique success story began in a small valley in the Ore Mountains, just 30 kilometers from Dresden. Seeking new economic opportunities for the region, the Saxon government supported an ambitious initiative: the planned establishment of a watchmaking industry in the former mining town of Glashütte. On December 7, 1845, the first apprentices began their horological training—laying the foundation for a new era of timekeeping. 

The bold plan paid off. By the early 20th century, Glashütte watches had gained worldwide renown. Even as historical events struck the town hard and the remaining companies were merged into a state-owned entity in 1951, the industry’s flexibility, strength, innovation, and commitment to tradition ensured its survival and continued growth. 

Since 1994, Glashütte Original has carried this tradition forward as the successor to the former state-owned watchmaking companies after German reunification. A member of the Swatch Group since 2000, the brand has been able to expand its position in the international luxury market. Today, Glashütte Original stands for uncompromising quality and technological innovation, bringing German watchmaking into the future. 

The brand also remains dedicated to horological education: the Alfred Helwig School of Watchmaking, part of Glashütte Original, plays a vital role in passing this craft on to future generations. This investment in professional training is a key contribution to preserving this noble art.