Watches the world over are now being seen as fashion accessories, and this has fueled the growth of this segment. The watch industry focuses mainly on Asia, Europe and the US. Switzerland is the largest watch producer by value. However, one area of Germany has become infamous for its watchmaking capabilities.

Situated in the depths of Germany is the small town of Glashütte with a population of around 5,000 people. For more than 165 years, Glashütte has been renowned for its skill and expertise in the watchmaking industry.

For about four centuries the town of Glashütte was recognised for its silver mining, but that all changed in 1845 as Ferdinand Adolph Lange founded the first watch firm. Ferdinand Lange himself created Glashüttes first watch brand and was joined by pioneers Adolph Schneider, Moritz Grossmann and Julius Assmann, whom together created the watch manufacturing industry that put this small town on the map. Continue reading →