Ruhla 1929
Ruhla, Germany · Est. 1929
Founded by Georg Thiel
The family-owned company POINTtec from Munich-Ismaning is one of the largest German watch manufacturers, producing the Ruhla 1929 and Bauhaus brands. Ruhla 1929 honours the legacy of Thuringia's storied watchmaking town — bringing authentic German horological heritage into a contemporary format for modern collectors.
- Founded
- 1929
- Headquarters
- Ruhla, Germany
- Group
- Independent
- Price Segment
- Mid
- Status
- Active
Key Collections
- Classic — Heritage-inspired dress watches drawing on Thuringian watchmaking tradition with Bauhaus-influenced clean dial designs.
- Garde — Robust everyday collection combining German design principles with reliable quartz and automatic movements at accessible prices.
- Space Control — Retro-inspired collection paying tribute to the original Ruhla Space watches worn by Soviet cosmonauts.
Timeline
- 1929 — The Ruhla watch factory is founded in the town of Ruhla, Thuringia, quickly becoming one of Germany's largest watch producers.
- 1951 — Under East German state ownership, Ruhla becomes the official watch supplier for the GDR, producing millions of affordable mechanical watches.
- 1990 — German reunification disrupts production; the original factory eventually closes.
- 2015 — POINTtec, a Munich-based watch company, revives the Ruhla name as 'Ruhla 1929,' honouring the brand's Thuringian heritage.
- 2025 — Revived German brand from Thuringia continues producing affordable mechanical and quartz watches, trading on its GDR-era heritage and original factory history.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ruhla 1929
- Is Ruhla 1929 the same as the original Ruhla?
- Not directly. The original Ruhla factory closed after reunification. POINTtec in Munich revived the brand name as Ruhla 1929, producing watches inspired by the original's heritage.
- Where are Ruhla 1929 watches made?
- Designed in Germany by POINTtec (Munich-Ismaning), which also produces the Bauhaus brand. Movements are typically Japanese or Swiss.