History and philosophy

Milestones and a simple idea

The history of Union Glashütte. Businessman Johannes Dürrstein had a very simple aspiration when he founded the Glashütter Union watch manufacture in 1893: “Watches which have everything to make them accurate and beautiful, but nothing to make them more expensive.” This aspiration has lost none of its relevance, even after more than 100 years. It continues to be the basis for a new chapter of success in UNION GLASHÜTTE's history.

Founded: a long time ago. Founding principle: timeless

Johannes Dürrstein started his career in watchmaking after an apprenticeship in sales, working as a travelling salesman for a Swiss watchmaker. In 1874, he decided to go it alone, founding the watch wholesaler Dürrstein & Compagnie. With his experience as a watch wholesaler and his flair for sales, Dürrstein was in a perfect position to start producing his own watches. In 1893, he founded his own watch manufacture in the watchmaking town of Glashütte, steeped in tradition, where only the best, finest and most accurate watchmaking was practised. Dürrstein's maxim was this: the watches should offer Glashütte quality, yet remain affordable.

Simply brilliant: the most complex watch in the world

Johannes Dürrstein was highly ambitious. To demonstrate his watchmaking skill, he hired the master watchmaker Julius Bergter to create a highly complex watch, which would surpass even the most successful Grande Complication calibre. Dürrstein's "dream watch" marked a high point in the art of watchmaking; with 18 complications, the "Universal watch" long remained the world's most complex timepiece.

The future of the watch began in 1900

Presented at the watchmaking trade exhibition in Leipzig in 1900, the “Universal watch” was considered at the time to be the most complex pocket watch in the world. In addition to a perpetual calendar with moon phase and leap year display, the timepiece featured a double chronograph, an alarm and a minute repeater with grande sonnerie. In figures: 24 bridges, and bars, 75 train wheels, 25 pinions, 4 bells, 205 steel levers with springs, 60 jewels, 40 metal bearings and 308 screws for a movement diameter of 51 mm.