DUG German Watch Manufactory Glashütte Age Determination
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The name “Deutsche Uhrenmanufaktur Glashütte” (sometimes also “Deutsche Uhren-Manufaktur Glashütte Sa.” , “DUM Glashütte” , or “DUFA” ) does not refer to a single person, but to one or more successor and distribution companies of the Glashütte watchmaking tradition after the heyday of Strasser & Rohde and Ludwig Strasser.
Chronological context:
| Period | Event |
|---|---|
| ca. 1890–1910 | The name appears for the first time. The goal: high-quality precision and observation watches with Glashütte movement architecture. |
| 1910–1925 | Typical production of pocket watches and marine chronometers. Engravings "Deutsche Uhrenmanufaktur Glashütte Sa." |
| 1925–1935 | Successors continued to use the name, sometimes as a sales brand for watches with German or Swiss movements. |
| later time | The name was not continued in the GDR; only around 2000 did "DUFA" reappear as a design brand (not identical with the historical manufactory). |
Typical watches
| Period | type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1895–1910 | Precision pocket watches | Glashütte movement construction, ¾-plate, screwed gold chatons, blued screws |
| 1910–1925 | Observation and marine watches | Large cases, finely regulated compensation balances |
| 1925–1935 | Series pocket watches / wristwatches | Partly Swiss raw works with Glashütte finishing and engraving “DUM Glashütte i/Sa.” |
Serial numbers and dating
The original serial numbers were engraved consecutively on the circuit boards or bridges.
An exact table has not been officially handed down, but the following can be deduced from museum and auction records:
| Serial number (approx.) | Year of construction (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nos. 1 – 50 | 1895 – 1900 | Early phase, hand-engraved signature, small series |
| Nos. 50 – 150 | 1900 – 1910 | Typical Glashütte precision pocket watches |
| Nos. 150 – 300 | 1910 – 1920 | Marine and observation watches |
| Nos. 300 – 500 | 1920 – 1930 | Late phase, partly works by other artists with Glashütte finissage |
| No. 500 + | after 1930 | later or distribution pieces, less frequently |
Example:
A watch engraved with "Deutsche Uhrenmanufaktur Glashütte Sa. No. 214"
→ manufactured around 1915, most likely a precision or marine watch.
Typical identification features
| feature | Temporal significance |
|---|---|
| Engraving in cursive script “Deutsche Uhren-Manufaktur Glashütte i/Sa.” | before 1915 |
| Block lettering, machine-engraved | ca. 1915–1930 |
| ¾-plate with screwed chatons, fine regulation | Typical Glashütte style before 1920 |
| Nickel-plated or gold-plated work with striped finish | ca. 1920–1930 |
| Enamel dial | before 1925 |
| Printed metal dial | after 1925 |
Origin of the serial numbers
The “Deutsche Uhrenmanufaktur Glashütte” used:
- partly their own serial numbers ,
- partly number sequences from the supplier workshops in the town (e.g. A. Lange & Söhne students, Adolf Lange jun., Raabe or Vetterlein).
Therefore, the factory structure is usually more important than the number itself:
- Glashütte three-quarter plate,
- Gold chatons, polished screws, fine adjustment via swan neck,
-
Engraving “Glashütte i/Sa.” (hand-signed or engraved)
→ all clear indications of genuine Glashütte production before 1930.
DUG Deutsche Uhrenmanufaktur Glashütte (German Watch Manufactory Glashütte) has its headquarters and production facilities at Feldstraße 2 in Glashütte , a location steeped in history. Originally, the building housed the company CH Wolf & Söhne/Glashütte Glashütter Fabrik für Präzisionsmechanik (Glashütte Factory for Precision Mechanics). Later, it was occupied by LIWOS , and after many other users, by the now-defunct watchmaking workshops of Hemess and Uhrenmanufaktur CH Wolf . After standing empty for years, DUG Deutsche Uhrenmanufaktur Glashütte was founded around 2023, and the first models, Purist Type 1 and Type 2, were presented in 2025.
The vision was clear, says Managing Director Toni Brodführer, a high-quality Glashütte To offer a watch at an amazingly affordable price while still meeting the highest standards of craftsmanship and quality – bearing the Glashütte seal and Made in Germany. This is our interpretation of contemporary watchmaking.
A project we are pursuing with conviction and dedication. Someone with an average salary can no longer afford a mechanical watch from Glashütte. The DUG is changing that. We want to complement existing options and reopen the door to Glashütte for more people. [At the...] We are very traditional about watches .
Our approach, however, deliberately breaks with traditional distribution models: Instead of going through intermediaries and jewelers, we focus on direct sales to the end customer. This has the advantage that we can control the pricing structure ourselves and offer our customers the watch at a unique price. While with many brands, due to their business structure, only a fraction of the purchase price reflects the actual production cost of the watch, with us, a large portion of the price goes directly into the manufacturing of each individual watch.
We save on the additional high costs for distribution and marketing, which would triple the price of the watch. We offer you a 3-year warranty on your watch and free service for this period. The German watch manufacturer Glashütte is the eleventh brand to arrive in Glashütte, one of which is a watch case manufacturer. This is evident from its inclusion in the permanent exhibition of the German Watch Museum Glashütte.
Source: Watchwiki, AI
