In the context of fine mechanical watches, the phrase "German watches" has come to mean outstanding value, first quality components and, in most cases, a design philosophy of form follows function. While the majority of German watch brands have a somewhat understated approach to design, there are exceptions to the rule.

The German watch industy is based primarily in Pforzheim and Glashutte. Unfortunately, the small city of Glashutte was bombed to the point of ruin by the Allied forces on the last day of World War II. It was not until German reunification, that the city of Glashutte was awakened to its storied history of fine watchmaking. Nomos and A. Lange & Sohne were the first two watch firms to begin commercial production of fine mechanical watches in the 1990s.

The German watchmaking tradition is stronger today than ever before. From the elite brands to the more humble, owner operated craft brands, Germany offers many of the best watches in production to an ever expanding export market.

Our long time dealer, WatchBuys, is dedicated to selling and promoting German watch brands as the authorized USA agent for close to 20 brands. The hardworking WatchBuys crew travels extensively doing German watch "trunk shows", where they display their watches and meet with collectors and spread the word that German watches are special... a point that no one can make as powerfully as the watches themselves.

Here then, are the banners and watches from many of these German watch brands:

Sinn watches are one of the most successful German watch brands. Sinn started out making professional grade pilot's watches for German aviators. Sold mostly by the factory and a small network of dealers, Sinn sales were confined to Germany for close to two decades before the Internet turned Sinn into an horological household name. Today, Sinn makes watches in many styles, and still offer over-engineered technical watches for pilots, divers, drivers, etc.

Nomos makes a traditionally styled German watch that just offers so much for the money. Starting out with the Tangente model, Nomos has grown their collection over the past 15 years to include many models, which all remain easily identifiable as Nomos watches. Nomos introduced their own manufacture caliber in 2005. I am a big fan of Nomos watches.

Jochen Benzinger is an artisan specializing in guilloche and caliber skeletonization. Jochem worked for years for Swiss watch brands, producing some of the most special dials ever made. Today, he still works on private commission projects for major brands, both Swiss and German. While the names of those brands and models can not be disclosed, if you think of the most exquisite dials featuring guilloche over the past decade or so, then you are probably envisioning a Benzinger creation. Today, Jochen has his own brand which offers a spectacular level of craft.

I love the story behind Dornbluth & Sohn. It begins in 1959, when Dieter Dornbluth restored a vintage pocket watch. Already a watchmaker, but for whatever reason smitten with the watch that he had just finished restoring, Dieter set about to design a similar caliber of his own design and production. But, life happens, and a compelling business opportunity distracted Dieter from further work on his caliber. Then, 40 years later, on the occassion of his 60th birthday in 1999, Dieter told his dream about designing his own caliber to his son, Dirk (also a watchmaker). The two sat for hours sketching out the caliber's details, literally with tears in their eyes, and vowing that the caliber would be built and made into a watch that they could sign their names to. Thus was born D. Dornbluth & Sohn. The story is overshadowed only by their watches, which they design without the assistance of computers, and the calibers themselves are completely produced in their small workshop. This is elite watchmaking which captures everything traditional and noble about the almost lost German horological craft.

Christiaan van der Klaauw makes beautiful watches with astronomical complications. This is cheating, really, because Christiaan is Dutch, but his watches are affordable masterpieces, which most watch lovers will never have an opportunity to own given their rarity. Thanks to WatchBuys for making these watches available in the USA.

I happen to know Karina and Wolfgang, the principals behind Sothis, and I can tell you that they have a great watch brand with the nicest watch cases I have seen in watches costing under $10,000. I also love that their collection is comprised of almost exclusively chronographs, many of which are paired with other interesting complications. I own three Sothis watches, and recommend them to anyone who will listen...

Schaumburg offers a collection that encompasses some dressy styles and enormous diver's watches which feature unbelievably nice cases for just over $1000. The dive watches are water resistant to 1000 meters, and everything about them screams quality.

WatchBuys is also the authorized USA agent for Limes, Muhle Glashutte, Brior, Jorg Schauer, Stowa, Jacques Etoile, Temption, Nivrel, Rainer Brand and Otium watches... all of which offer tremendous value and top quality.