Discover the German Watch Museum Glashütte: History of Watchmaking Art

The German Watch Museum Glashütte offers a wonderful journey through the history of the watchmaking location Glashütte. The museum, opened in 2008, is special in many ways, as it is housed in the building of the former German Watchmaking School Glashütte, built in 1881. The permanent exhibition is dedicated comprehensively to the eventful history of Glashütte, while thematic exhibitions complement the variety.

The Founding of the German Watch Museum in Glashütte

The need to document the watchmaking location Glashütte is almost imperative. No other place in Germany has been shaped by the art of watchmaking as much as Glashütte. From the founding years through the world wars and expropriation in the GDR to the restart after the political change, all manufacturers were affected. In addition, new foundations especially appreciate Glashütte as a location.

The founding of the German Watch Museum Glashütte dates back to March 16, 2006, when the city of Glashütte and the Watch Manufacture Glashütte Original established a foundation. The “Stiftung Deutsches Uhrenmuseum Glashütte – Nicolas G. Hayek” subsequently took co-responsibility for the ceremonial opening of the museum on May 22, 2008. The foundation is named in honor of the late co-founder of the Swatch Group, who was strongly committed to preserving the location.

The Special Location of the Museum

A very special location was also chosen for the German Watch Museum Glashütte. The impressive building of the former German Watchmaking School Glashütte is a perfect venue for the museum. It was specially converted to house both the museum and the watchmaking school “Alfred Helwig” of the manufacture Glashütte Original simultaneously. Thus, history and modernity are wonderfully united.

Permanent Exhibition “Fascination Time – Experience Time”

Those who want to experience the history of watchmaking up close are well served by the permanent exhibition “Fascination Time – Experience Time”. On over 1,000 m² of exhibition space, visitors can admire more than 500 exhibits. The beginnings under pioneer Ferdinand Adolph Lange, who laid the foundation for Glashütte’s success story in 1845, the difficult years during the world wars, the expropriation in the GDR, as well as the GUB - Glashütte Watchmaking Company located there until the rebirth after the political change, are all documented.

The Highlights of the Watch Museum

Probably the most significant exhibit is the monumental Astronomical Art Watch by Hermann Goertz. Impressive in size alone, its maker needed more than 30 years to complete it before it was presented in 1925. The watch not only shows the time and calendar but also planetary constellations and solar and lunar eclipses, among other things. On the first Thursday of the month at 11:00, the watch is wound up anew by the master watchmaker, and guests have the opportunity to watch him at work.

In addition, there are exhibits from all decades of watchmaking art from Glashütte. Precision pendulum clocks, rare pocket watches with complications, marine chronometers, pilot wristwatches from the Second World War, as well as rare prototypes.

Visitors to the museum also have the opportunity to watch the restorers at their fascinating work through a glass partition.

Watch Museum: Address, Opening Hours, and Admission

• Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Admission: Adults €8.50, concessions (seniors, pupils, students) €5.50, family ticket from €14.50
• Address: Schillerstraße 3a - 01768 Glashütte/Saxony

Title photo: By Philclock Philipp Nitzsche Berlin - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27610156