Affordable German Watch Brands | Part 1

Hello Fellows

In these article I would like to present German watch brands that are affordable and still offer quality and history without burning your wallet. Some of the prices start from around 100 euros.

Germany, as the second major watch nation in Europe, offers a surprising number of alternatives. Of course, I am aware that there are first-class cheap Japanese models with mechanical movements, which I personally think are very good. However, many Japanese designs don't appeal to me personally, as I'm sometimes looking for authentic classic European watches. Also, I'm not a fan of Ali Express watches.

If you feel the same way, then I would like to introduce you to some serious brands. First of all, however, expectations should be adjusted and you have to be aware that quartz movements are usually installed, especially at low prices. I personally have no problem with quartz as long as everything else is authentic and of good quality. However, mechanical watches are also offered. I will show some cheap examples for each brand. Most of these brands have an unusually high repertoire of watch models. Check out the website if you are interested. I find it very exciting. Depending on the brand and model, you also have to pay attention to what kind of glasses are installed if sapphire is important to you.

I will only list serious and established watch brands here and no Kickstarter microbrands.

Here we go:

DUGENA

DUGENA stands for "German watchmaker cooperative Alpina" and was founded in 1917 by Swiss watchmakers as a subsidiary in Germany. The location changed from Berlin via Darmstadt to today in the small town of Meisenheim in Rhineland-Palatinate. The ownership of the brand changed several times. For a while it was owned by "Egana Goldpfeil Holding", which also owned Junghans for a few years (today Junghans is independent again), and is now owned by " Nova Tempora Uhren und Schmuck GmbH ". This holding company was founded by Hanz Pfeifer, who had revived the Glashütte Original watch brand at the time. The Dugena brand can be divided into Dugena and Dugena Premium. Much of their models today are homage designs. Dugena doesn't provide much information about their production, but from my research they seem to source a large part of the individual parts from overseas. For this reason, these models do not say "Made in Germany" on the dial. However, one should not be fooled by this. Their movements are usually from Miyota. However, the assembly and the very strict quality control takes place in Meisenheim in Germany and you can tell that. In relation to the price, the watches have a relatively good build quality. Especially with the steel bracelets, I wish Tissot would take this as a model. The leather straps are not highlights but acceptable. However, one must always keep in mind that their prices start from as little as 100 euros or less. And you get very well made models reminiscent of “Cartier Tank” or “Rolex Datejust and Explorer” but also classical looks.

However, their “Dugena Premium” product line is different. If you look closely, you will see the words "Made in Germany". The premium line is mostly made in Germany. The models I know have higher-quality Miyota movements in them. All other parts come from Germany, according to my information. This product line also has a different logo to distinguish itself. They mostly have automatic movements and start at 429 euros. The leather is still not world class, but for the price it is significantly better than other brands.

I find Dugena to be a very honest brand that offers durable watches for good quality at reasonable prices. It's worth a look. Personally, I like the Cartier Tank homage best. However, Dugena does not deliver abroad. So you have to look for middlemen or private dealers who ship these watches. This could of course cost more in individual cases and should be taken into account.

PointTec

PointTec is not a watch brand but a company based near Munich. It was founded in 1988 and owns several watch brands, most of which reflect the classic style of the 30s and 40s and represent the theme of aviation. They also used to own the "Junkers" brand, which was known primarily for its Bauhaus style. However, rumors have it that there were disputes over the naming rights. PointTec has lost this. So there is now a separate Junkers brand, which I will present individually later. The Junkers brand was replaced by "Iron Annie" and the "Bauhaus" brand, which basically has the same design style as Junkers. However, they have continued to keep their logos in the style of Junkers. In addition, PointTec also owns the Zeppelin brand, which produces very beautiful watches in the classic style of the 30s. Here, too, quartz movements are used in the inexpensive variants and in models with many complications. Quartz models start at 199 euros and automatic models from 229 euros. Miyota movements are mainly installed here.

Here are their brands:

Iron Annie

Bauhaus

Zeppelin

In addition to the classic design models, Zeppelin also offers a self-designed, sporty and modern model on the subject of jet aircraft, which I personally like very much.

Junkers

As previously mentioned, Junkers is now an independent brand and is also managed by a descendant of Hugo Junkers. The models embody above all the Bauhaus style in pilot watch design, but also modern pilot chronographs. The prices start from 187 euros and also mostly have Miyota movements.

Laco

Laco was founded in 1925 in Pforzheim in the Black Forest. Even though Glashütte is known to many for its luxury watches, Pforzheim is the historic center of industrial watch and jewelery production in Germany. There are still some very interesting brands and suppliers of high-quality watch parts there today. Laco was best known for its pilot's watches, especially during the Second World War. Today they continue to produce pilot's watches or naval watches. Despite their high production quality, the prices for their automatic watches start at 340 euros. As far as I know they don't produce quartz watches. Their movements in the lower price segment are from Miyota. However, Laco also offers modern and high-quality sporty watches, but they are a bit more expensive. Although some already know Laco and are sometimes mentioned by Youtubers, many are not aware of how cheap some very beautiful models are. The Laco website also states that they deliver worldwide.

Circula

Also in Pforzheim is the company Circula, which was founded in 1927 by the Huber family and is still family-owned today. The founder's grandson took over the management of the company a few years ago and launched very interesting and modern diving watches that became very popular. Although these sports watches are a bit more expensive, they still have a small classic series of very elegant quartz watches that start from as little as 189 euros.

Bruno Soehnle Glashütte

Bruno Söhnle is a relatively young brand that was founded in 2000 by watchmaker Bruno Söhnle, who has been working as a watchmaker since 1957. Although Bruno Söhnle offers quartz and mechanical models, this brand is best known for its quartz watches. Bruno Söhnle uses Swiss movements from the Ronda brand. However, these are optically refined in Glashütte before they are installed and this refined movement can be viewed through a glazed bottom. Since I personally also like quartz watches, I think it's nice that a brand is not ashamed of its quartz movements and proudly displays them in an upgraded and refined way. In my opinion, this speaks for the pride in one's own product and the appreciation of the customer. These visible quartz movements are otherwise only known from Grand Seiko and Bulova. It should also be noted that Bruno Söhnle is allowed to bear the “Glashütte” lettering. Which means that much of their deepening takes place in Glashütte. Of course there are also some negative comments, but these are a matter of taste. Personally, I find most Bruno Söhnle watch cases oversized. Even with quartz movements, the clocks are sometimes as large as old alarm clocks from the 1950s, especially on narrow wrists. However, there are also smaller models.

Their prices start from as little as 340 euros.

My personal favorite is the "Turin" model (approx. 500 euros). It looks really nice and sporty and is offered in different dial colors. Personally, I found the sides of the Jubilee bracelet to be a little too sharp. But otherwise quite nice.

Junghans

Many may now be wondering why I am listing Junghans here. Junghans is presented again and again with their Max Bill model series and mostly offers watches from 1000 euros and more. But what many do not know is that Junghans already offers very beautiful and good solar quartz watches for relatively little money. The "Milano-Solar" is already available from 340 euros.

I hope this could help you.

Some brands do not ship internationally. As described by Dugena, if you want to buy a model, you would have to search on watch trading platforms or private providers on Ebay, Chronex or Amazon.

Even if you don't buy one, at least you know some other cheap brands that exist in the world.

cheers