Watchmaking atelier in Glashütte: production and finishing of quartz, hand-wound and automatic watches
Bruno Söhnle GmbH Uhrenatelier Glashütte/Sa.
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The Bruno Söhnle watchmaking atelier
Bruno Söhnle GmbH Uhrenatelier Glashütte/Sa. is a family-run watchmaking atelier founded in 2000 in Glashütte (Saxony) that manufactures and sells wristwatches with quartz, hand-wound and automatic movements. In its own atelier in the former Assmann House, three-quarter plates and rotors made of solid brass are milled, drilled, ground and engraved; the movements are finished with Glashütte ribbing, perlage and thermally blued screws. Cases and bracelets are made of 316L stainless steel or titanium, watch glasses of scratch-resistant sapphire glass; since 2025, laboratory-grown diamonds have been set instead of natural diamonds. The watches are fitted with dial and hands in the company's own assembly, the movements are regulated in four positions and subjected to multi-day technical and aesthetic final inspections. The company meets the value creation requirements of the 2022 Glashütte Regulation and also offers overhauls, repairs and water-resistance tests with a guaranteed spare parts supply of at least 15 years.
- Site
- Glashütte
- Processes
- In-house production of the three-quarter plate (milling from brass block, drilling, grinding,, Finishing of quartz and automatic movements (disassembly, Glashütte ribbing, perlage,, Milling of the rotor from solid brass, nickel plating, assembly with tungsten heavy-metal ring, Electroplating (gold plating in yellow, white, rose; nickel plating) - partly outsourced, Watch assembly (fitting dial/hands, screwing, case fitting), Regulation of movements in four positions / rate accuracy testing on the timing machine, Quality control / technical and aesthetic final inspection with multi-day tests, Testing and restoration of water resistance (up to 10 bar on models)
- Materials
- 316L stainless steel (surgical steel), Titanium, Brass, Sapphire glass, Genuine leather (cowhide, calfskin), Laboratory-grown diamonds (Lab Grown Diamonds), Natural diamonds, Tungsten heavy metal (rotor weight)
- Certificates
- Rate regulation in four positions (timing machine), Water-resistance test (up to 10 bar), Multi-day technical and aesthetic final inspection, ISO 9001
- Founded
- 2000
- Industries
- Watch industry / consumer goods, Watch industry / consumer goods (wristwatches)
- 01
CNC/tool milling of the three-quarter plate from a brass block
- 02
Drilling, grinding and engraving of the movement plates
- 03
Electroplating (partly outsourced)
- 04
Movement finishing (ribbing, perlage, thermally blued screws)
- 05
Rotor assembly with tungsten heavy-metal ring
- 06
Assembly (dial, hands, case fitting)
- 07
Regulation in four positions / rate testing on the timing machine
- 08
Technical and aesthetic final inspection
- 09
On-site service and overhaul
Materials and processes
316L stainless steel
Corrosion-resistant, hypoallergenic stainless steel for cases and bracelets.
Titanium
Lightweight, skin-friendly metal for the Frankfurt collection.
Brass
Material for in-house milled three-quarter plates, rotors and bridges.
Sapphire glass
Scratch-resistant glass (Mohs hardness 9) with inner anti-reflective coating on all watches.
18 carat gold
Gold chatons for the jewel bearings of the mechanical movements.
Tungsten heavy metal
Ring on the hand-milled brass rotor providing the winding weight of the automatic movements.
Laboratory-grown diamonds
Since 2025, laboratory-quality diamonds set instead of natural diamonds (WSi/0.005 ct).
IP gold plating
PVD/coating process for cases and bracelets in a gold look.
Site
Glashütte
DEWatchmaking atelier: production, administration, service
- Part weight / size
- Watches Ø approx. 34–43 mm
- Materials
- Stainless steel 316L, titanium, brass, sapphire glass
- Milling machine (three-quarter plate from brass block)
- Timing machine (rate testing/regulation)
- Ultrasonic cleaning unit (case/metal bracelet)
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-house production of the three-quarter plate (milling from brass block, drilling, grinding,Machining | – | – | – | – | Brass |
| Finishing of quartz and automatic movements (disassembly, Glashütte ribbing, perlage,Surface | – | – | – | – | Brass, Stainless steel |
| Milling of the rotor from solid brass, nickel plating, assembly with tungsten heavy-metal ringMachining | – | – | – | – | Brass, Tungsten |
| Electroplating (gold plating in yellow, white, rose; nickel plating) - partly outsourcedSurface | – | – | – | – | Brass, Stainless steel |
| Watch assembly (fitting dial/hands, screwing, case fitting)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Stainless steel, Titanium |
| Regulation of movements in four positions / rate accuracy testing on the timing machineTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Quality control / technical and aesthetic final inspection with multi-day testsTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Testing and restoration of water resistance (up to 10 bar on models)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Watch service: overhaul, repair, demagnetisation, ultrasonic cleaning of case andTesting | – | – | – | – | Stainless steel |
| IP gold plating (PVD) of cases and braceletsSurface | – | – | – | – | Stainless steel |
| Diamond setting / setting of laboratory-grown diamonds (WSi / 0.005 ct per stone)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Laboratory-grown diamonds, Diamond |
3 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timing machine (rate testing/regulation) | – | – | – | – | Glashütte |
| Ultrasonic cleaning unit (case/metal bracelet) | – | – | – | – | Glashütte |
| Milling machine (production of 3/4 plate from brass block) | – | – | – | – | Glashütte |
Additional services
Quality and testing
Every movement is regulated in four positions and tested on the timing machine. After assembly, an independent quality inspection as well as multi-day technical and aesthetic final tests follow before release for sale.
| Evidence | Glashütte |
|---|---|
| Rate regulation in four positions (timing machine) | |
| Water-resistance test (up to 10 bar) | |
| Multi-day technical and aesthetic final inspection | |
| ISO 9001 |
History
- 1957
Bruno Söhnle joins the large-clock factory Heges of his brothers in Wurmberg
- 1982
Söhnle's company becomes the West German sales partner of VEB Glashütter Uhrenbetriebe (GUB)
- 2000
Foundation of the Bruno Söhnle watchmaking atelier in Glashütte with four employees
- 2006
Purchase of the former Assmann House, Dresdner Straße 14, Glashütte
- 2008
First mechanical hand-wound watch (Mechanik-Edition I, atelier calibre BS 283)
- 2010
First automatic collection; 5th place Watch of the Year 2010 (up to €2,000)
- 2012
Stephanie Söhnle becomes Managing Director; production expanded to all parts of the Assmann House
- 2014
Facetta 1957 product line; 8th place Goldene Unruh for the Lagomat Day-Date
- 2016
Stuttgart collection; 1st place GQ Watch Award (entry-level watch, Stuttgart Automatic)
- 2017
Frankfurt collection (titanium); presentation of the new atelier calibre
- 2022
The Glashütte Regulation comes into force; approx. 20 watchmakers in the workshop
- 2025
25th company anniversary; switch from natural diamonds to laboratory-grown diamonds
- 2027
Factory tour appointments (April, June, September, November, December) scheduled