German town of Glashütte’s historical strengths in watchmaking have returned after its hiatus

When you think of watchmaking, the Swiss immediately come to mind. But other European lands have made their mark.

German brands and watch companies exist across the same spectrum as the Swiss, with group brands and independent watch companies as well. This ranges from those at the pinnacle of fine watchmaking and craftsmanship, such as A. Lange & Söhne,  to smaller companies such as Sinn and Stowa, owned by individuals that enjoy close communication with  enthusiasts. All have managed to carve out a niche in the enthusiast world.

A. Lange & Söhne, a part of the Richemont Group, along with Glashütte Original, part of the Swatch Group, and Nomos Glashütte all come from the German town of Glashütte, a significant watchmaking centre until it became separated from the Western world and produced whatever communist officials dictated.

After the wall came down, the historical strengths of the region returned, and it is again becoming an horological epicentre.

While smaller than that of Switzerland, the German watchmaking industry was strong, independent and innovative. The town of Glashütte in Saxony had to pull together at times to protect itself and its inventions from the neighbouring Swiss, examples being the three-quarter plate-based movements that are characteristic of the area’s work.

Friedrich Albert Lange founded his manufactory in Glashütte in 1845. It continued until circumstances forced a hiatus that only restarted in 1990 with Lange’s great-grandson Walter Lange. The same story goes for the region, which lost income, interest and the development of craftsmen in that break.