Union
Union Glashütte is a German watch manufacturer in Glashütte, currently part of the Swatch Group's High Range division.
Founded by durch Johannes Dürrstein
On 1 January 1893 the company Dürrenstein & Comp. was founded in Glashütte as a factory to produce Glashütte precision watches. The goal of Johannes Dürrstein was to offer watches in good Glashütte quality, but at significantly lower prices. In addition to sound consumer watches also highly complicated precision watches were manufactured, which demonstrated an outstanding horological expertise.
The quality mark "Union"
As early as 1880 Dürrenstein, in preparation of an own watch production, introduced pocket watches of the brand name "Union" (Glocken-Union). The product range consisted of simple ladies and gentlemen pocket watches, complicated watches, tourbillons, and pocket and marine chronometers of the highest Glashütte quality. J. Bergter was technical director, Emil Leutert worked as regulator.
Also the at this time most complicated pocket watch in the world, the La Fabuleuse, was offered as a jubilee watch. This complicated watch made to date in Glashütte and introduced in 1901, had seven additional dials with thirteen hands. Besides the hours, minutes and seconds indication, there were, among other things, hours, quarters, and minutes repeaters, a perpetual calendar with moon phases - a leap year indication and a double chronograph with jumping second. With its movement of 816 parts it is one of the very "Grande Complications" in the history of watchmaking.
In 1933 the Glashütte factory was closed and removed from the commercial register in 1936.
Revival of the brand under H. W. Pfeifer
After in 1994 the Glashütter Uhrenbetrieb GmbH, under new management and with the brand Glashütte Original, occurred as a luxury watch manufacturer, the new co-owner Heinz W. Pfeifer also activated the brand "Union" again in the year 1996. And with it also the old philosophy of Johannes Dürrstein was revived again: to offer the best quality at competitive prices.
Part of the Swatch Group
In the year 2000 the Swiss Swatch Group AG bought the Glashütter Uhrenbetrieb GmbH and therefore also the brand Union. Union will now continue as a brand under the roof of the world's largest watch company, and continue to offer inexpensive watches.
Address
Union Uhrenfabrik GmbH
Frühlingsweg 5
D–01768 Glashütte
Tel +49 35053 4616-300
Fax +49 35053 4616-310