Germans Do It Better? 5 High-End Watches Made In Germany

German watches are distinctively unique. Their design is influenced by the Bauhaus philosophy with a minimalist approach and the idea that form follows function. Great emphasis is placed on simplicity, symmetry, clarity and practicality. The craftsmanship involved is superb, sharp and distinctive, and it can easily stand toe-to-toe with the best of Swiss workmanship. The work on movements is often instantly recognizable, with characteristic features such as three-quarter plates, distinctive regulators, refined jeweling or the use of German silver.

So, without further delay, here are 5 remarkable high-end German watches that have been introduced over the past few months.

A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Annual Calendar

Unveiled at SIHH 2017, the A. Lange & Söhne interpretation of this practical complication is stark, perfectly balanced and elegant. This handsome annual calendar is rendered in white or pink gold. It houses a new manual movement, the Lange L051.3 caliber.

This compact movement features a three-quarter plate and displays the brand’s traditional impeccable finishing with Glashütte stripes, gold chatons, blued screws, hand-engraved cock. The push-piece at 2 o’clock is a fast adjusting device allowing the wearer to collectively advance all indications if the watch has not been wound for a few days (recessed push piece allow separate corrections). Review here.

Quick facts: 40.00 mm gold case – hand-wound in-house L051.3 movement with hours, minutes, small seconds, annual calendar and moon phase indication. Alligator strap with pin buckle – EUR 37,500. For more information, visit www.alange-soehne.com.

Lang & Heyne Georg

Lang and Heyne is a niche watch brand based in Dresden, manufacturing only a few dozen timepieces every year. Introduced at Baselworld 2017, the Georg watch is an elegant, understated rectangular watch. It features a sloped bezel, triple lug case framing an elegant enamel dial with a pleasing, large, recessed small seconds indication at 6.

The rectangular movement is simply breathtaking with perfectly polished rounded steel bridges to hold each wheel (as well as the barrel and balance wheel). A Lang & Heyne signature, the end-stone for the oscillator is a diamond.

Quick facts: 32.00 x 40.00 mm gold or platinum case – hand-wound, in-house VIII movement with hours, minutes and small seconds. Alligator strap with pin buckle – EUR 26,400 in pink gold. For more information, visit www.lang-und-heyne.de.

Moritz Grossmann Atum rose gold

Presented at Baselworld 2016, the Atum by Glashütte manufacturer’s Moritz Grossmann is a quintessential dress watch. It comes in a 41mm case with a lateral pusher for disabling the hand setting mode and starting the movement. The lacquered dial is enhanced with baton-style applied hour markers and a recessed small seconds subdial at 6 o’clock.

The Atum is powered by the beautiful 100.1 calibre with hand winding. The large Grossmann balance wheel runs at a slow 18,000 and is held under a beautifully decorated cock. The 2/3 plate in untreated German silver is decorated with large Glashütte stripes and features 3 jewels held in raised gold chatons.

Quick facts: 41.00 mm pink gold case – hand-wound, in-house 100.1 movement with hours, minutes and small seconds. Alligator strap with pin buckle – EUR 26,000 in pink gold. For more information, visit www.grossmann-uhren.com.

Tutima Tempostopp

Unveiled at Baselworld to celebrate the 90^th anniversary of the brand, the Tempostopp is a superb hand-wound fly-back chronograph. Although it comes from a brand known for offering ‘accessible luxury’ watches, it’s a great reminder that Tutima is also capable of manufacturing exceedingly refined high-end timepieces. It also constitutes further proof of how Tutima has invested in its development and manufacturing capacities.

33.7mm in diameter, the in-house chronograph movement is a superb traditional design with column-wheel and horizontal clutch. It is decorated with a matte sandblasted finish, gold plated bridges and main-plate. Review here.

Quick facts: 43.00 mm pink gold case – hand-wound, in-house T659 movement with hours, minutes, small seconds and fly-back chronograph. Alligator strap with pin buckle – limited edition of 90 pieces – EUR 28,600 in pink gold. For more information, visit www.tutima.com.

Glashütte Original Senator Excellence

Introduced in 2016, the Senator Excellence from Glashütte Original is a new take on the brand’s Senator collection. This elegant three-hander features a sleek dial with Roman numerals and blued hands (it is also offered in a more casual version). The 40 mm case is rendered in steel or pink gold.

The Senator Excellence is powered by the new caliber 36, a modern movement boasting a 100 hour power reserve and a silicon balance spring (light, antimagnetic, unaffected by temperature changes and corrosion resistant). 32.3 mm in diameter, the caliber 36 features traditional German design elements such as its three quarter plate, Glashütte striping and blue screws visible through a skeletonized 21K gold rotor. Review here.

Quick facts: 40.00 mm steel or pink gold case – automatic in-house caliber 36 movement with hours, minutes and seconds. Alligator strap with pin buckle – EUR 8,600 in steel and EUR 15,700 in pink gold. For more information, visit www.glashuette-original.com.