Union Glashütte Honors Its Founder With a Limited Anniversary Edition

There is always something happening in Glashütte – the small Saxon town which has been synonymous with fine German watchmaking for 180 years and where exciting horological news seems as regular as the church bells. This time, Union Glashütte takes center stage with two anniversary pieces honoring its founder, Johannes Dürrstein. His credo, that "a watch should embody everything that makes a timepiece beautiful and precise and forgo with anything that makes it unnecessarily expensive" shaped the company’s early success with high-quality pocket watches and is still valid for the modern-day Union Glashütte which is part of the Swatch Group. To mark what would have been his 180th birthday, the brand introduces a special anniversary edition consisting of two three-hand watches with date: the 1893 Johannes Dürrstein Anniversary Edition Large Second (41 mm) and the 1893 Johannes Dürrstein Anniversary Edition Small Second (34 mm). Both are limited to 99 pieces.

The standout feature of both models is the taupe-colored dial with a finely grained texture and high attention to details. On the Large Second model, the recessed areas of the two off-center sub dials—hours and minutes on the left, large small seconds on the right—receive an additional sandblasted finish, adding depth and contrast. Applied, polished rings frame the main dial and sub dials, while the chapter rings are grooved. Blued hands, a date display, and the inscription “Limited Edition” complete the design.

The 34-mm Small Second (9.57 mm thick) is powered by the automatic U 2895-2 movement (based on the ETA 2895). Inside the 41-mm Large Second (11.83 mm thick) ticks the U 2899-993 (based on the ETA 2899). Both watches come in stainless-steel cases, offering 100 meters of water resistance for the Large Second and 50 meters for the Small Second. Each watch is paired with a black calfskin strap and a stainless-steel double-folding clasp with push-buttons.

Collectors can purchase the watches individually or as a set housed in a special anniversary presentation box. The Small Second is priced at €1,780 or approximately $2,070, the Large Second at €1,960 or approximately $2,280, and the set containing both models costs €3,740 or approximately $4,354.

To learn more, visit Union Glashütte, here.