Switzerland is the country most commonly associated with the watchmaking industry.  But while Swiss watches are the holy grail of luxury watches, there are a few other countries with an equally rich tradition of high-quality precision horology. 

Germany is one of such countries. The country’s roots in the horological industry date all the way back to the 16th century when the first ever wearable timepiece was produced by German locksmith and clockmaker Peter Henlein. Since then, a number of notable German watchmaking brands have emerged, particularly during the 18th century age of industrialization. 

Many of these German watchmaking brands are still very active today. They’re renowned for their precision, elegant aesthetics, and a relatively affordable price point compared to traditional Swiss watches. In this article, we will list six of the most popular German watch brands you can find on the Bezel platform. 

1. A. Lange & Söhne

A. Lange & Söhne is one of the most prestigious German luxury watch manufacturers, with close to two centuries of watchmaking history behind it. The company was founded by Ferdinand Adolph Lange back in 1845. Although the original company was nationalized and ceased to exist about a hundred years later, it was re-established in 1990 by the grandson of its founder. 

A. Lange & Söhne’s impressive lineup of watches demonstrates the watchmaker’s commitment to developing highly functional timepieces with extreme attention to detail. The timepieces produced by this company are characterized by their elaborately decorated movements, oversized date display, blued screws, and a Glashütte sunburst finish among other signature features. A. Lange & Söhne’s most popular collections include the Saxonia, Lange 1, Zeitwerk, Datograph, and the 1815 collection. 

2. Glashütte Original

Glashütte Original is a German luxury watch brand currently owned and operated by the Swatch Group. The company was founded in 1994 through the privatization of the VEB Glashütter Uhrenbetriebe (GUB) - a conglomerate originally formed in 1951. 

The brand’s name pays homage to the German city of  Glashütte, which was the cradle of watchmaking in the mid-19th century. Germany’s equivalent to Geneva, Switzerland, luxury watchmakers began to settle in Glashütte as far back as 1945, and this city soon became synonymous with high-end watchmaking. The name "Glashütte Original" references the early days of watchmaking in this region. 

Since its re-establishment about 25 years ago, the company has become one of the most renowned German watch manufacturers, with collections such as the Senator, Panom, Specialist, and Vintage. All of these watches are known for their unique reinterpretation of traditional shapes and geometry. 

3. Nomos Glashütte

Nomos Glashütte is another German watchmaking company that pays homage to the city where it all began. Nomos is a relatively young watchmaker. The company was founded in 1990 and has remained an independent, owner-run watchmaking company since it began operation in Glashütte. 

Despite being a new kid on the block, Nomos has grown to become one of the largest watch manufacturers in Germany. The company makes high-quality timepieces with minimalist designs and Bauhaus-inspired purist aesthetics.

Despite their simplicity, these watches feature technically advanced features such as the Nomos Swing system. Notable models by this manufacturer include the Nomos Tangente, Orion, and Metro. Most watches from this manufacturer are elegant dress watches, but the company also makes sports and diving watches. 

4. Moritz Grossmann

Moritz Grossman is a relatively small but notable luxury watchmaking company in Germany. Although the luxury watchmaking brand was launched in 2008, it pays homage to Germany’s rich history in the world of horology, dating back to the 19th century. The brand’s name is a reference to the founder and first director of the German School of watchmaking. This watchmaking company is owned by Christine Hutter, who acquired the rights to use the name in 2008. 

Today, Moritz Grossman is an up-and-comer in the German luxury watch industry, producing some of the most exquisite luxury watches in the world. The most notable collections released by this manufacturer so far are the Benu, Atum, and Tefnut collections. These watches come with rare and impressive features, including the manufacturer’s unique three-minute tourbillon. With an annual production volume limited to just 200 pieces, Moritz Grossmann timepieces are rare and expensive. 

5. Montblanc

Mont Blanc is the name of the highest mountain in the Alps, but it is also the brand name of a German luxury goods manufacturer currently owned by the Richemont Group. The company was originally founded in 1906 and was initially famous for manufacturing luxury pens. 

Montblanc started producing luxury watches in 1997. The company’s catalog now includes smartwatches and mechanical timepieces, including complicated models with tourbillon and chronograph complications. 

Notable timepieces from this manufacturer include the Montblanc 4810 family of elegant dress watches, the TimeWalker, which is the watchmaker’s sports watch collection, and the Summit collection of smart watches. 

6. Kudoke

Kudoke is an independent luxury watch company based in Weifa, a small town in eastern Germany. This small company specializes in crafting elegant hand-assembled luxury watches with the same quality as timepieces from high-end Swiss and German manufacturers. 

Although the company lacks the fancy equipment used by the big-name manufacturers in Glashütte, every piece produced by this watchmaker is meticulously assembled by professionals, making them exclusive, one-of-a-kind masterpieces. 

So far, Kudoke has only created a handful of models, including the K1, K2, KUDOKE 3 Salmon, and the amazing KudOktopus with its unique octopus dial. It might not be the biggest in the market, but the brand creates some of the best German watches you’ll find in the market. 

Shop Authenticated German Watches on Bezel

For collectors and watch enthusiasts looking for a break from Swiss timepieces, Bezel’s online marketplace has impressive German-made timepieces you can consider buying. From big-name brands like A. Lange & Söhne to relatively obscure watchmakers like Kudoke, you will find quite an amazing array of German watches on our platform. 

You can search for any of these models directly or use the filter button to narrow your search as your browser catalogs the catalog. This simplifies the process of finding the perfect watch for you. Bezel also offers personal concierge services to help you find specific models that are not listed on our site right away. 

Shopping on Bezel also means you don’t have to worry about authenticating timepieces yourself. We follow a comprehensive in-house authentication process that verifies every piece to be genuine and in perfect condition before they’re listed on our site. Browse our online marketplace or download the Bezel App to start shopping for luxury watches.