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Glashütte

Glashütte Original in the modern day is owned by the Swatch Group, but the origin of the company can be traced all the way back to the mid-19th century. The region of the German town of Glashütte became a hub for timepiece talent in the 1800s. As a result, the ‘German School of Watchmaking Glashütte’ was founded in 1878. 

The company had a watch factory in the 20th century, creating pocket watches and movements. It was in 1927 that Glashütte Original first appeared on a watch's dial. Unfortunately, the war forced Glashütte's watchmakers to start from scratch, however the brand continued to make mechanical watches.

Under the privatization of VEB Glashütter Uhrenbetriebe - an East German conglomerate formed in 1951 from the watch companies based in Glashütte - luxury watches made their debut under the Glashütte Original name in 1994. Since its ownership by the Swatch Group in 2000, Glashütte Original watches continue to be some of the most highly coveted timepieces from Germany.