Sternglas
Hamburg, Germany · Est. 2016
Founded by Dustin Fontaine
Sternglas is a German watch brand founded in 2016 in Hamburg, specialising in affordable Swiss-movement watches with minimalist Bauhaus-influenced dials. Inspired by the aesthetic of German precision instruments from the 1930s and 1940s, the brand offers clean, legible designs at accessible price points.
- Founded
- 2016
- Headquarters
- Hamburg, Germany
- Group
- Independent
- Price Segment
- Entry
- Status
- Active
Key Collections
- Naos — Naos is Sternglas’s signature minimalist dress-watch collection, defined by Bauhaus-inspired clarity, slim proportions, and clean dial architecture that anchors the brand’s core identity. Key references: sternglas_story_naos, sternglas_classical_collection.
- Hamburg — Hamburg is Sternglas’s refined chronograph line, shaped by clean German design cues and positioned as an entry-accessible collection that references the brand’s home city and maritime identity. Key references: sternglas_hamburg_entry.
- Marus — Marus is Sternglas’s sportier field-and-outdoor collection, using Arabic numerals and a more casual, robust aesthetic that broadens the brand beyond its Bauhaus core. Key references: sternglas_marus_field.
Timeline
- 2016 — Dustin Fontaine founds Sternglas in Hamburg, Germany, launching via crowdfunding with a Bauhaus-inspired minimalist watch.
- 2018 — Successful crowdfunding and direct-to-consumer launch establishes the brand as a leading German microbrand.
- 2020 — Expands the collection to include automatic movements (Miyota-powered) alongside the original quartz offerings.
- 2023 — Grows into one of Germany's most recognised independent watch brands, with distribution expanding beyond online direct sales.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sternglas
- What movements does Sternglas use?
- Sternglas uses Japanese Miyota movements — both quartz and automatic — offering reliability and value in line with the brand's accessible pricing philosophy.
- What does 'Sternglas' mean?
- Sternglas is German for 'star glass,' evoking the clarity of a watch crystal and the brand's Hamburg origins.
Other independent Germany watch brands
- Archimede — Pforzheim, Germany
- MeisterSinger — Münster, Germany
- Steinhart — Stadtbergen, Germany
- Bruno Söhnle — Glashütte, Germany