Glashütte, a small town in the German state of Saxony, is surrounded by deep forests and mountains. This "holy land of German watchmaking," now a dream destination for watch enthusiasts worldwide, has not had an easy journey. From glass manufacturing to prosperity from silver mining, and then decline due to resource depletion, war, and disease... What was the passion of the great figures who brought a new ray of hope in the watchmaking industry to a town tossed about by harsh fate, and laid the foundation for its firm position today? Let's explore the extraordinary history of Glashütte, a town full of ups and downs.
[Article published on January 9, 2026]
Walking Through Glashütte Part 1 — The Foundations of Heritage and the Dawn of German Watchmaking
The journey of Glashütte to become the center of German watchmaking is like a great novel. It's a story of immense effort and risk, where resilience is ultimately rewarded, but where one must start all over again.
A journey to Glashütte, the hidden home of clocks.
The greatest and most fascinating stories in watchmaking, whether in Japan, Switzerland, or in this case, Germany, often originate from "extremely small regions." What they have in common is the feeling that you have to drive off the beaten path to reach these places.
Surrounded by breathtaking natural scenery, it feels as if you've left civilization behind and are visiting a remote, almost hidden place. In the case of Glashütte, this means leaving behind the classic, international atmosphere of Dresden, the state capital and largest city in the region, and driving south through the Saxon forests and mountains.
This journey may only take about 40 minutes, but it's sure to transport you back in time to another era.
The era of glass, silver, and straw craftsmanship.
The history of Glashütte dates back to the 15th century, when a small settlement likely formed specializing in glassmaking. This explains the town's name, which means "glass factory" in German.
Since all the materials needed for glassmaking—sand, feldspar, soda, lime, etc.—were easily found in the mountains and forests, it was a logical location to establish a production base. Production was probably halted by war, but in 1490, the discovery of silver ore in the mountains marked the next chapter in Glashütte's history.
This not only brought great prosperity to the region but also attracted the attention of its ruler, Duke George of Saxony. At that time, the Germany we know today did not exist; it was a collection of countless counties, duchys, and principalities under the Holy Roman Empire, including imperial cities, free cities, bishoprics, and archbishoprics.
Nevertheless, Saxony was an important and influential part of the empire, and its duke was one of the seven members of the electoral council that nominated the new emperor. Since it was the sovereign right to claim a certain percentage of the discovered silver ore, it may not be surprising that Duke Georg of Saxony granted Glashütte city rights and mining rights in 1506.
Walking through Glashütte, one finds little left to remind one of its past, except for the two crossed hammers depicted on the town's coat of arms. The discovery of silver ore attracted people to the town of Glashütte, but the opposite happened when the resources were depleted. Several protracted wars in the region and epidemics such as the plague made life difficult for the residents of Glashütte.
Because agriculture was extremely difficult in this mountainous region, people were forced to start making straw crafts to make a living.
Request for support from the Saxon government and the emergence of Lange
In the 19th century, Saxony was still a sovereign and progressive state. It invested heavily in industrialization, and in 1813, it opened the first railway between its capital, Dresden, and Berlin. However, Glashütte, nestled quietly in the mountains, was initially forgotten.
The city council sent an urgent request for assistance to the Saxon government, but it took several years for the government to respond and issue a notice soliciting artisans to establish workshops in areas like Glashütte.
Ferdinand Adolph Lange, the official watchmaker to the Saxon court in Dresden, responded to this call. In this affluent environment, art and science were highly valued, and at the age of 15, Lange was able to join the apprenticeship of the renowned watchmaker Johann Friedrich Gutkes, who would later marry Gutkes' daughter.
One of their most notable achievements together was the development of the five-minute clock for the Semperoper in Dresden.
A challenge from scratch and an uncompromising pursuit of quality
After completing his apprenticeship, Lange traveled to watchmaking countries such as France, Switzerland, and England, returning to Saxony with innovative ideas. The Saxon government was not very enthusiastic about Lange's offer to establish a watchmaking workshop in the town, and it wasn't until a year later, when he sent another proposal, that he finally received a positive response.
And so the real challenge began. Starting a watch factory in a town of straw craftspeople is by no means easy.
Lange approached this with the same precision, patience, and unwavering spirit he used to build his own movements. While Glashütte may not have had much prior experience in watchmaking, Lange offered hope and a brighter future, and it was embraced.
The Saxon government provided Lange with a loan to start his business and financially supported his apprentices, but his company still needed to be profitable to survive.
At the same time, Lange was intensely dedicated to providing the highest possible quality. He adopted the metric system long before Germany officially did, divided the work into specialized components, and insisted that every watch be timed and adjusted before it left the workshop. This was a radical approach for its time.
Lange also encouraged employees to start their own businesses after completing their apprenticeship and serving the required number of years. He wasn't afraid of competition; he understood that a sustainable industry requires multiple independent manufacturers and specialized suppliers.
The establishment of the German watchmaking school and the restructuring of the industry
As you walk along Hauptstrasse (the main street) towards the train station, you'll find yourself lined with charming, well-maintained houses. The town maintains a quiet atmosphere, with little indication that it is the center of German watchmaking. However, that impression suddenly changes as you approach the imposing building that has housed the German Watchmaking School since 1881.
Founded in 1878 by Moritz Grossmann, the school supported a thriving ecosystem of artisans and manufacturers, including Grossmann's own workshop and the workshop of Robert Mühle, who established his company in Glashütte in 1869.
By the time the school was expanded in 1923, Glashütte had already weathered the economic aftermath of World War I. Pocket watch production had stagnated, wristwatches were gaining popularity, and Swiss manufacturers had a competitive advantage. Germany responded pragmatically, with foundations funding education and banks consolidating the remaining manufacturers into Urofa and Ufag in 1926.
Ufag later made a name for itself with the Tutima brand, revitalizing the watchmaking industry in Glashütte.
Glashütte was on track, but a darker era was just around the corner. (To be continued in Part 2)
