German Watch Brands: What do they offer?

If you think about luxury watch brands, most of the names you can name are probably from Swiss grounds. While these Swiss brands produce beautiful timepieces, their German counterparts definitely are not inferior on quality! There are some long lasting German brands that to this day still sell watches! Lets dive in to their watch horology and their offer.

Timo Klinge

Chief Entertainment Officer

Updated at: 17/12/2023

German Watch History

There is a lot of history within Horology that took place between German boundaries. So was the first timepiece that could be worn produced in the beginning of the 16th century, in the German cities Augsburg and Nuremberg. Portable timepieces became possible because of the invention of the ‘Mainspring’ which was invented by the clockmaker Peter Henlein. Back in the days, watches were worn as pendants. This changed in the 17th century, when men began to wear watches in their pockets instead.

A. Lange & Söhne

For most watch enthusiasts, German watchmaking is almost directly associated with the brand A. Lange & Sohne. The brand was founded in 1845 in Glashütte but unfortunately ceased to exist after the 2nd world war in 1948. Luckily this brand was re-registered in 1990 when Lange Uhren GmbH was founded by Walter Lange, great-grandson of Ferdinand Adolph Lange, the original founder. They have some beautiful pieces with simplistic designs, but with beautiful finishing on the cases, and their often open casebacks! Some might say, the finishing on their movements is like no other. This unfortunately comes with a price, because the cheapest you might find online in a good condition sell for €20.000 and upwards. Some rarer models even go for close to €100.000!

Nomos Glashütte

Now for a price point that is a bit more affordable, Nomos Glashütte. Like many other German watch brands, their designs are known for their clean and simple Bauhaus-inspired aesthetics. They often have a very clean and simplistic dial, clear typography, and are mostly seen with a sub-second dial on the 12 o’clock position. Nomos itself is known for the great value for money they offer with their timepieces. Their dials can be seen having very bright colours. From White as snow, to the orange colour of the Dutch. While Nomos was established in 1990, they have already found their place in many enthusiasts their watch-loving hearts. Nomos designs their watches and even their movements totally in-house!

Glashütte Original

As the name already tells you, this brand was also founded in the town of Glashütte. Glashütte Original owns their history to Ferdinand Adolph Lange, the original founder of A. Lange and Söhne. When Germany split up after the 2nd world war in east- and west- Germany, Glashütte fell under the East German piece and had to change to the state-run Glashütte Uhrenbetriebe (GUB). When the Iron Curtain fell, in 1990 Glashütte Uhrenbetrieb registered as a private business once again. In 1994, Heinz W. Pfeifer bought the tiny company, renaming it Glashütte original and bringing back the traditional Glashütte handwork watchmaking as we know it now. In 2000 the brand was bought by the Swatch Group and it to this day still produces under their wings. Since 2002 Glashütte has run the Alfred Helwig School of Watchmaking to keep the Glashütte tradition alive. The watches they can be seen with often have bright unicolour dials and like the Glashütte Pano series, with lots of complications, like a power reserve indicator, a date window and a sub-second dial. The prices of these pieces start at anywhere from €5.000 and upwards, depending on the complications you want.

Meistersinger

A German brand with a very distinctive style is definitely Meistersinger. A watch is useful. You can see what time it is. However? That is the absolute basis. Fortunately, watches are also increasingly seen as works of art. And as an investment. The fact that a watch can be a work of art and an investment transcends the functional value of a watch. Meistersinger hasn't been around very long. Since 2001 they have been making watches with a unique design and a certain recognition: you will only find one hand on your Meistersinger. Where does that come from? That goes back quite some time: the Middle Ages. At the tower clocks people could read how the day went: when it was time to work or when you were allowed to rest. It was only after the Middle Ages, during the industrialization, that it became clear that people needed a tighter time schedule. And so minutes and seconds were introduced. Then you know. Just free information. Everyone knows it: time pressure. stress. You have an awful lot to do today. And tomorrow. And the week after. Which in itself is of course not so bad that you are 'nicely' busy.. Good to know: the watch cases are fairly flat, because they don’t have to offer a minute or second hand. Ideal for when you despite bulky watches. A Meistersinger watch can already be picked up when you are on a budget of €2.500!

Our Verdict

In conclusion, German watch brands offer a diverse range of timepieces with their own unique characteristics and histories. While Swiss brands often dominate the luxury watch industry, German brands like A. Lange & Söhne, Nomos Glashütte, Glashütte Original, and Meistersinger have carved out their own esteemed positions. A. Lange & Söhne stands out for its exquisite finishing and high-end craftsmanship, while Nomos Glashütte offers clean and minimalist designs at a more accessible price point. Glashütte Original, with its rich heritage and commitment to traditional watchmaking, produces watches with bright unicolour dials and intricate complications. Meistersinger takes a distinctive approach with single-handed watches, combining history and artistry in their designs. Whether it's elegance, value, or unique aesthetics, German watch brands deliver quality timepieces that deserve recognition in the world of luxury watches.