Glashutte
Replica Watches
Glashutte
Original is a company with a 160 year history of fine watch
making. It is situated in the town of Glashutte in the Saxony
region of Germany, an area renowned for master watch craftsmen.
During
its history Glashutte has experienced both a thriving business
and hard times. The hard times were the result of both World
Wars, especially the Second World War when the Soviet government
divided the country of Germany and amalgamated all East German
manufacturers into one large watch production firm.
The fall
of the Berlin wall and the reunification of Germany saw the
resurgence of Glashutte. Under the leadership of the grandson
of the original founder it was not long before the company
once again began releasing high quality watches and re-established
themselves as one of the world’s premier watch firms.
The philosophy
behind Glashutte watches however has never wavered. Dedicated
to maintaining the highest quality of production Glashutte
adheres to the theory that to do so they must remain true
to the ideals of keeping tradition alive by building a workforce
of highly skilled individuals. In August of 2002 Glashutte
opened the Alfred Helwig School of Watchmaking to train individuals
in the art of watch and tool making.
It was
also in 2000 Glashutte Original became part of The Swatch
Group, a highly successful firm comprised of 18 major watch
brands including Omega, Blancpain and Longines.
A
Brief Look at the Swatch Group
Originally
known as the SMH Swiss Corporation for Microelectronics and
Watchmaking Industries Ltd was renamed The Swatch Group in
1998. The SMH Swiss Corporation for Microelectronics and
Watchmaking Industries Ltd was comprised of SSIH and ASUAG
both of which held a number of well established Swiss brand
watch companies.
The Swatch
Group employed the services of Nicolas G. Hayek, and under
his leadership soon became known world wide as the most prestigious
watchmaking company in the world.
Today
the Group operates 156 production centers located in Switzerland,
Germany, France, Italy and several Asian countries. They
produce nearly all components required to supply their 18
watch brands as well as much of the Swiss watch industry.
With sales in excess of 3 billion dollars in 2005 (Forbes.com)
the company is expected to continue its success for many
years to come.
Glashutte Replica
Watches - A Brief History
The company known as Glashutte
(Nautische Instrumente Muhle-Glashutte) has a long and prestigious history
dating back to 1845 they are among the world’s premier watch companies.
The history begins in
1869 with one Robert Muhle the company founder who first established the
company in Glashutte a town located in the Ore mountains in the Saxony region
of Germany. Also the home of A. Lange and Sohne this area is known as the
clock making center of Germany.
For many years the company
produced mechanical tools, measuring instruments and nautical devices. They
also supplied many other clock makers in the area with components.
In 1951 the company found
itself stifled by the East German government and was one of many firms that
found themselves merged into one company. It was not until the fall of the
Berlin wall and the reunification of Germany that the company was once again
able to emerge as a robust and viable firm.
1991 saw the firm pay
homage to one of the early master watchmakers of its early days. Julius Assmann
a highly skilled watchmaker who manufactured precision watches using elements
typical of Glashutte. One hundred and fifty years later Glashutte released
the Julius Assmann 1 with perpetual calendar and a flying tourbillion. A
second model Julius Assmann 2 was released in 1997 followed by the Julius
Assmann 3 in 2002.
In 1994 under the leadership
of Hans-Jurgen Muhle, grandson of Robert, the firm was revived as Glashutte
Original. The company began manufacturing high quality mechanical watches
in the tradition of the old masters. In the spring of 1195 Glashutte Original
released a collection of automatic watches each with three hands, an automatic
chronograph and a manual wind chronometer.
In 2000 the company became
part of The Swatch Group, the worlds largest manufacturer and distributor
of watches including companies such as Breguet, Longines, Rado and Blancpain.
As part of this group Glashutte is privy to the intensive research and development
of the latest innovations in watch making.
Glashutte Original produces
a number of lines including the well known PanoDate series, the Sport Evolution
collection and the Star Collection.
