The story of Glashütte Original begins in 1845, when Ferdinand Adolph Lange, Julius Assmann, Moritz Grossmann, and other pioneering watchmakers established the Saxon watchmaking industry in the town of Glashütte. Their innovations—including the three-quarter plate, gold chatons, and precision finishing techniques—became hallmarks of German horology that continue to define Glashütte Original today.

Following World War II, many independent manufactures were consolidated into VEB Glashütter Uhrenbetriebe (GUB). After German reunification, GUB was privatized, and in 1994 the company was renamed Glashütte Original, reviving the traditional "Original" designation historically used by authentic Glashütte manufactures.

Since joining the Swatch Group in 2000, the manufacture has invested heavily in vertical integration, producing approximately 95% of its watch components in-house while preserving traditional craftsmanship through the Alfred Helwig School of Watchmaking.

Key Milestones:
• 1845: Modern Saxon watchmaking begins in Glashütte.
• 1951: Formation of VEB Glashütter Uhrenbetriebe (GUB).
• 1994: Establishment of Glashütte Original in its current form.
• 2000: Joins the Swatch Group.
• 2002: Assumes operation of the Alfred Helwig School of Watchmaking.
• 2025–2026: Celebrates 180 years of Saxon watchmaking with commemorative releases including the PanoMaticCalendar "Blue of Dawn" and the Sixties Chronograph Annual Edition 2026.

Glashütte Original continues demonstrating that German watchmaking offers a distinctive approach to haute horlogerie through precision engineering, artisanal finishing, and complete vertical integration.