Every weekday, a guide welcomes visitors to the Glashütte Original manufactory, leading the way from a spacious reception area to a light and airy atrium, where original artefacts from the watchmaking trade, photographs and historical documents present evidence of the rich and fascinating history of the craft. From there the tour takes visitors through the process of making a high-end mechanical watch.
A walk along the manufactory's “learning path” reveals the extraordinary complexity of what goes on behind the scenes. Visitors stop for a closer look at different stages of a process that begins with ideas, sketches and brainstorming sessions and ends with the delivery of a mechanical masterpiece into the hands of its proud new owner.
They observe from close range the ‘finishing' of individual components - heat treatments, galvanization, polishing and engraving by hand - and emerge equipped to easily recognize such distinctive features of Glashütte Original watches as the three-quarter plate with the characteristic Glashütte striped finish, a variety of galvanized surfaces, polished steel components, screw-mounted gold chatons, blued screws, bevelled component edges, hand-engraved decorations, and such distinctive components as the single or double swan-neck fine adjustment.
Upon leaving the manufactory, visitors have a better understanding of the complex and extremely labour-intensive process that is watchmaking today. Appreciative of the “labour of love” embodied in each and every watch from Glashütte Original, they may wish to take a closer look at individual masterpieces on display in the manufactory's own boutique.
Guided manufactory tours from Monday to Friday
Reservation under: +49 (0)35053 – 46 0
