GLASHUTTE ORIGINAL MASTERPIECES TOURBILLON

Basic Info

Caliber

Case

Bracelet/strap

Functions

Glashutte

The city of Glashütte was known for its silver deposits, but by the end of the 19th century the mines had been mined and the area impoverished. At this time, the experienced watchmaker Ferdinand Adolf Lange founded the first watch factory in the area.

Original Glashütte

Many watchmakers, as well as specialists in the manufacture of cases, hands and other elements of the exterior design, began to arrive in the city. With the approach of the First World War, the development of the watch industry came to an end. Many watch companies had to disband their staff. No one could predict the further development of demand. Nevertheless, after the end of the war, watch companies began to re-open, and many new ones appeared, including the Deutsche Präzisions-Uhrenfabrik Glashütte (DPUG) company that opened on November 9, 1918. The Original Glashütte logo first appeared on pocket watch dials in 1921.

With the start of World War II, the development of watch companies in Glashütte stopped. The watch manufacturers were obliged to produce goods necessary for the war. At the very end of the war, on May 8, 1945, Glashütte was bombed by an airstrike; in addition, at the end of the war, many factories were confiscated and dismantled by Soviet troops.

On July 1, 1951, all independent watch companies of Glashütte formed the watch conglomerate VEB Glashütte Uhrenbetriebe. The lack of funding, cash flow with other countries and a ban on the import of products led to the complete autonomy of watchmaking. From the production of mechanisms to the manufacture of the necessary tools, as well as the elements of the external design, everything was done locally.

Swatch group

After the reunification of Germany, VEB Glashütte Uhrenbetriebe was converted to Glashütte Uhrenbetrieb GmbH. The new company has become the full heir of most watch companies based in Glashütte in the past. In 2000, Glashütte Uhrenbetrieb GmbH became owned by The Swatch Group Ltd.