When you think of quality European watchmakers you could be forgiven for automatically allowing your mind to drift to iconic Swiss brands, from Rolex and Cartier to Omega and Patek Philippe. However, superb quality watches are being made in countries beyond Switzerland’s borders. Germany is one such nation.
The country has a great reputation for excellent engineering and design quality when it comes to cars and other areas of manufacturing, but this should also extend to its watchmaking industry. German watches are known for their beautifully made movements and precision.
For this reason, Germany could be considered a sleeping giant for luxurious, stylish watch brands, with a great selection of companies, blending tradition with innovation.
In this article, we explore five German watch brands that have made their mark and are well worth your attention.
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A.Lange & Söhne
A.Lange & Söhne is one of the numerous German watch brands with a history linked to the famous watchmaking area of Glashütte. Its timepieces, including its movements, are still handcrafted in-house, and the brand is known for using a combination of traditional elements while always looking to innovate. The company slogan is ‘State-of-the-art Tradition’.
The A. Lange & Söhne brand was relaunched on 7th December 1990, exactly 145 years after the brand was originally founded, following the German reunification. It released its first timepieces in 1994 and has enjoyed great success in the 30 years since.
Its signature model, the Lange 1, has won multiple awards. It features an outsized date display that is three times larger than watches of a similar size. An eye-catching element of the Lange 1 is that all its displays are off-centred to form an isosceles triangle. Another distinctive element of its watches is its movement design and decoration, which follows the traditional Glashütte style. Lange 1 watches hold their precision even after years of wear, so accuracy is assured. The movements of its watches are made of German silver, rather than the plated brass used by many Swiss brands, giving it a standout, stylish appearance.
A.Lange & Söhne watches are typically a little more expensive than competitors, with prices for its most affordable models coming in at close to the $30,000 mark.
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Glashütte Original
Like A.Lange & Söhne, Glashütte Original hails from the famous watchmaking town of Glashütte. It has a history dating back to 1845, and “combines traditional craftsmanship with the latest manufacturing methods under one roof”. All its components, including dials, are made in-house. It currently offers five collections, Senator, Pano, Spezialist, Vintage, and Ladies. While each collection varies, all combine the precision and style that wearers of its timepieces have come to expect.
Limited-edition Senator watches retail for more than $100,000, although other options are considerably more affordable at around the several thousand dollars mark. Glashütte Original prides itself on the exclusivity of its watches, as (whether limited edition or otherwise) no more than a few hundred of any of its models, even its most popular, are made each year.
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Sinn Spezialuhren
Those looking for a watch capable of dealing with extreme conditions may want to consider a Sinn Spezialuhren. The brand manufactures its mechanical and quartz wristwatches in Frankfurt am Main. It was founded by pilot Helmut Sinn in 1961 and has built a reputation with adventurers, pilots, divers, and more.
Its watches have been on some notable individuals' wrists at significant times. The company’s website points out that Robert Alan Eustace wore an 857 UTC TESTAF when he broke the altitude record by parachuting from the stratosphere, and Reinhard Furrer, the German physicist, wore a 140 S during the Spacelab D1 mission.
It’s not surprising then that all Sinn timepieces undergo a range of tests and certifications to ensure their technical specifications are accurate. The brand also calls on bodies like DNV to ensure the pressure resistance of its diving watches is in line with European diving device standards. Sinn watches at the lower end of the price scale can be purchased for around $1,000.
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Nomos Glashütte
Nomos Glashütte, founded in 1990 by Roland Schwertner, is known for favouring more minimalist designs than other Glashütte watchmakers. While its history is shorter than some competitors, it has firmly established itself as one of the nation’s most popular watchmakers in the past few decades. A testament to its popularity is the fact no other company makes more watches than Nomos. It’s the largest mechanical timepiece manufacturer in Germany.
The brand offers a variety of model families, giving both collectors and those seeking a new watch for regular use plenty to choose from. Among the most popular is the Tangente, which comes in a range of dial colours and variants, all featuring a sleek, minimalist style. Most variants retail for upwards of $2,500, although those willing to look at other model families, such as the Ludwig or Club will find options for closer to $1,600.
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Junghans
Junghans was founded by Erhard Junghans and brother-in-law Jakob Zeller-Tobler in 1861 in Schramberg. By the early 1900s, Junghans had become the world’s biggest clock manufacturer. It started producing wristwatches in the 1920s, in line with growing demand. By the time of its 100th anniversary, it was making 20,000 timepieces a day and exporting them to 100 countries.
Today, the brand remains hugely popular. It makes more than three million watches annually and employs 3,000 people. While much has changed since its early years, the company’s philosophy remains the same. Junghans states its watches are “characterised by meticulousness, skilled craftsmanship, and creative nuance”.
One of its best-known lines is the Max Bill collection, designed by the architect and artist of the same name, featuring minimalist designs. Its ability to bring fresh, modern styles while also maintaining the values that helped it through the years, means Junghans watches are worth considering. Junghans lowest price watches are available from around $400.
We hope this guide has given you a better understanding of some of the leading German watchmakers. Perhaps it will inspire you to take a closer look at them when shopping for your next timepiece.
