Manufacture of mechanical wristwatches with automatic and hand-wound movements – Made in Glashütte
Union Uhrenfabrik GmbH Glashütte / Sa.
Glashütte (Saxony)New on Amplifa
About Union Glashütte
Union Uhrenfabrik GmbH Glashütte/Sa. exclusively produces and distributes mechanical wristwatches with automatic or hand-wound movements. The brand was founded in 1893 by Johannes Dürrstein as Uhrenfabrik Union in Glashütte (Saxony) and has been a subsidiary of Glashütte Original since 1996; since 2000 it has belonged to the Swatch Group AG. Since 2008, Union Glashütte has been positioned as an independent brand with its own ateliers and manufactures watches bearing the quality seal "Made in Glashütte". Production takes place with vertical integration in Glashütte; customer services include complete revisions, partial services, case and bracelet work, ultrasonic cleaning, polishing, as well as rate and water-resistance tests. Materials used include 316L stainless steel, 18-karat gold, synthetic sapphire, leather, rubber and diamonds. Limited editions are created, among others, with the Classic Rally partners ADAC Deutschland Klassik, Silvretta Classic and Sachsen Classic.
- Site
- Glashütte
- Processes
- Watch repair / complete service (disassembly, cleaning, polishing, assembly, rate check), Ultrasonic cleaning of case and metal bracelet, Polishing of case and metal bracelet (satin finish to high gloss), Water-resistance testing, Rate accuracy testing and regulation (rate calibration), Repair of mechanical watch movements (fault diagnosis, replacement of defective parts), Manufacture of mechanical wristwatches (automatic/hand-wound movements), production with vertical, Customer service/repair
- Materials
- 316L stainless steel (cases, bracelets, clasps), 1.4435 stainless steel (metal bracelets and clasps), 18-karat gold (750), rose gold (alloyed with, among others, copper), White synthetic sapphire (watch glass, anti-reflective on both sides), Leather (calfskin smooth/crocodile-embossed, cowhide, horsehide, goatskin), Rubber (bracelets), Synthetic satin (bracelets), Brilliant- and single-cut diamonds (Top Wesselton, VSI)
- Certificates
- 24-month warranty
- Founded
- 1893
- Industries
- Luxury watches, Watch industry
- 01
Manufacture of wristwatches with vertical integration in Glashütte
- 02
Registration and diagnosis (customer service)
- 03
Disassembly, ultrasonic cleaning, polishing
- 04
Workshop refurbishment and part replacement
- 05
Assembly, rate regulation, water-resistance and function testing
- 06
Distribution via a worldwide store and service network
Materials and Processes
316L stainless steel
Cases, bracelets and clasps; corrosion-resistant, stable and skin-friendly, with satin-finish to high-gloss polishing.
1.4435 stainless steel
Metal bracelets and clasps according to EU standards, nickel release significantly below the statutory limit.
18-karat gold (750)
For selected cases, crowns and pin buckles; alloyed with, among others, copper for rose gold tones.
White synthetic sapphire
Watch glasses with hardness grade 9, anti-reflective on both sides.
Leather
Bracelets made of smooth or crocodile-embossed calfskin as well as cowhide, horsehide and goatskin leather.
Rubber
Flexible, durable bracelets with high wearing comfort, especially for sporty models.
Synthetic satin
Bracelets with a finely lustrous surface, dimensionally stable and durable.
Brilliant- and single-cut diamonds
Top Wesselton, VSI; brilliant cut for cases, single cut for dials.
Locations
Glashütte
DEHeadquarters, manufacturing and customer service
- Materials
- 316L stainless steel, 18-karat gold, sapphire, leather, rubber
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watch repair / complete service (disassembly, cleaning, polishing, assembly, rate check)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Stainless steel 316L, 18-karat gold (750), Sapphire, Leather, Rubber |
| Ultrasonic cleaning of case and metal braceletSurface | – | – | – | – | Stainless steel 316L |
| Polishing of case and metal bracelet (satin finish to high gloss)Surface | – | – | – | – | Stainless steel 316L, 18-karat gold (750) |
| Water-resistance testingTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Rate accuracy testing and regulation (rate calibration)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Repair of mechanical watch movements (fault diagnosis, replacement of defective parts)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacture of mechanical wristwatches (automatic/hand-wound movements), production with verticalAssembly | – | – | – | – | Stainless steel 316L, 18-karat gold (750), Synthetic sapphire, Leather, Rubber, Satin, Diamonds |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality
Customer service quality assurance includes rate accuracy testing and regulation, water-resistance tests, as well as function and final inspections of every watch. The watches come with a 24-month warranty from the date of purchase.
| Evidence | Glashütte |
|---|---|
| 24-month warranty |
History
- 1874
Foundation of the watch wholesale business Dürrstein & Comp. in Dresden; exclusive distribution partner of A. Lange & Söhne
- 1893
Foundation of Uhrenfabrik Union in Glashütte by Johannes Dürrstein; sale of a Grand Complication at the Chicago World Fair
- 1895
First Grand Complication built in Glashütte as an anniversary watch
- 1899
Move to a new production building, Hauptstraße 41
- 1907
Introduction of marine chronometers
- 1926
Production discontinued as a result of the world economic crisis
- 1936
Deletion from the commercial register
- 1951
Merger of the Glashütte watch companies into VEB Glashütter Uhrenbetriebe (GUB)
- 1996
Re-establishment of Union Uhrenfabrik GmbH as a subsidiary of Glashütte Original on 13.08.1996
- 1997
Market entry with a wristwatch collection
- 2000
Acquisition by the Swatch Group AG
- 2008
Reorientation as an independent brand with its own ateliers