Glashutte is a small town of about 4,700 residents near
Saxony, Germany. The town’s name means “tin mine” or “silver mine” and has
been a watch town since 1845, when Ferdinand Lange established a teaching
workshop for watchmakers.
Lange received state funding to set up this school in
order to open new employment opportunities for young men in this depressed
area. After completing their training, the watchmakers remained in
Glashutte to work on specializations and before long, a business had
developed. By 1900, every other home had a watchmaker’s workshop for parts
such as gears, springs, cases, etc.
The quality of these parts equaled that of the Swiss
watchmakers. However, after World War II, Glashutte found itself behind the
Iron Curtain under Soviet power. This power created a state-formed
conglomerate by coalescing factories and suppliers, and for 40 years
Glashutte Watch Enterprises toiled under often extreme conditions to meet
the demands of the state and population. Glashutte Original Watch Company
lost its identity in the wake of the war and post-war Germany.
However, with the reunification of Germany in 1990, the
Soviet’s conglomeration was broken and Glashutte was one of the watch
companies able to re-establish its traditions and preserve and promote its
location. Glashutte’s reputation for hand-crafted attention to detail,
uniqueness, and character in each watch it produces once again flourished.
In 1995, Glashutte celebrated 150 years of masterpiece
watch making by producing the Julius Assmann 1, featuring a perpetual
calendar and a flying tourbillion, which could be worn as a pocket or
wristwatch.
Even today, Glashutte’s factory is impressive. The
machinery used is a combination of old and high-tech. Many of the machines
are from the communist era, particularly the ones that make the tiny screws
and pinions. These machines were considered the best that Switzerland had
to offer at the time and have continued to provide high quality products for
these world-famous watches.
Every component of a Glashutte watch is made in their own
factory and each watch is hand crafted to perfection. While they are
extremely costly to purchase, they are exquisite pieces of art that will
perform perfectly for years.