Walking Through Glashütte, Part III: Current Day Excellence

The history of Glashütte is full of challenging times, but the founding fathers of this modest village in Germany would have been proud if they saw it today.

- Martin Green

Not only has Glashütte reclaimed its position as the beating heart of German watchmaking, it has also done so in the grandest way. Just being made in this village has become a seal of approval, but that doesn't make all the same. A wide variety of different sorts and styles of watches are manufactured here each year, carefully blending past, present, and future in a distinct German way.

As Glashütte still lacks a hotel, it is best to stay in Dresden when you want to explore the village.

While Allied bombing raids leveled the entire historic centre of this once-royal city during World War II, it has been rebuilt with dedication and precision. The city centre is charming, and staying there also allows you to visit the Neues Grünes Gewölbe (New Green Vault). In this very interesting museum, you can admire the famous Dresden Green Diamond, among other treasures. Another must-visit is the Semperoper, a spectacular opera house that also houses the famous Five-Minute Clock, which was an inspiration for A. Lange & Söhne to create its signature outsize date.

Staying in Dresden does mean that you have to drive into Glashütte, but that gives you the opportunity to travel through some of the most beautiful landscapes Germany has to offer. This tranquility is also an important ingredient for the watches made in Glashütte, as it greatly benefits the state of mind and sets the perfect scene for making something so precise as a mechanical watch. The German Watch Museum is the ideal starting point for a visit to Glashütte. As it talks about the rich history of the village, it sets the stage for the rest of the visit.