Glashütte Original
Glashütte, Germany · Est. 1845
Founded by Heinz W. Pfeifer
Glashütte Original was established in 1845 in the Saxon town of Glashütte, the birthplace of German precision watchmaking. Now part of the Swatch Group, it maintains Glashütte's horological traditions with watches featuring distinctive three-quarter plates, blued screws, and striped Glashütte finishes.
- Founded
- 1845
- Headquarters
- Glashütte, Germany
- Group
- Swatch Group
- Price Segment
- Luxury
- Status
- Active
Key Collections
- Senator — Classic dress watch family featuring the signature panorama date, moonphase and annual calendar complications.
- PanoMaticLunar — Off-centre dial layout with a large moonphase display, one of the brand's most distinctive and popular designs.
- SeaQ — Professional dive watch rated to 200m or 300m, revived from the 1969 Spezimatic Type RP TS 200 diver.
- Seventies — Retro-inspired collection with a cushion case paying homage to 1970s German design.
Timeline
- 1845 — Ferdinand Adolph Lange establishes watchmaking in Glashütte, Saxony, at the request of the Saxon government.
- 1951 — East German government nationalises all Glashütte watchmakers into VEB Glashütter Uhrenbetriebe (GUB).
- 1994 — After German reunification, Glashütte Original is re-established as a private company.
- 2000 — Swatch Group acquires Glashütte Original, investing in new manufacture facilities.
- 2004 — Inaugurates a major new manufacture in Glashütte, producing movements with at least 95% in-house content.
- 2025 — Launched the Seventies 'X' Chronograph in the US market. Featured among best watches at the Golden Globes 2026 ceremony.
- 2025 — Opened dedicated in-house dial manufacture near Glashutte. Released Seventies Chronograph in Plasma and Fusion dials, four Serenade Luna models, and platinum PanoMaticLunar for 180th anniversary.
Frequently Asked Questions about Glashütte Original
- What is the difference between Glashütte Original and A. Lange & Söhne?
- Both trace roots to Glashütte, but they are separate companies. Glashütte Original (Swatch Group) focuses on accessible luxury, while A. Lange & Söhne (Richemont) is positioned in ultra-high-end watchmaking.
- What makes Glashütte Original movements special?
- Movements feature distinctive German finishing — three-quarter plates, blued screws, Glashütte ribbing, and a double 'G' logo. At least 95% of components are manufactured in-house.