Lehmann, an unknown hidden champion
Which watch brand would you think of if I told you about a watch brand that not only manufactures and refines ALL its parts along the entire value chain, but also build its own machines to manufacture them, a so called vertical integrated production system? Probably to Seiko. But certainly not to LEHMANN.
I would like to introduce this watch brand that I believe people should know about. Because I think we'll be hearing more from it in the future.
Markus Lehmann owned previously (and still owns) his family business that he had been taken over from his father and produced high-precision machines for the production and processing of parts in aviation, medical technology, optical devices, but also in the watchmaking industry.
He himself is a passionate watch enthusiast and founded his own watch brand in 2011 in Schramberg in the Black Forest, in an old Junghans building. The LS in the logo therefore stands for Lehmann Schramberg. Thanks to his own mechanical engineering company for watches, he was able to equip himself with high-quality and high-precision machines.
Right from the start, Lehmann manufactured its own inhouse movements, which they also decorated themselves.
But that's not all. They make almost everything else themselves. The cases, the hands, the dials. They electroplate, paint, polish, coat, assemble.
And they are constantly researching new technologies and designs. For example, a retractable crown (Markus Lehmann disturbed the crown and wanted a symmetrical design), a rotor partly made of transparent sapphire glass or a power reserve indicator integrated into the case.
The result are high-quality watches with independent designs and innovative technology that are qualitatively and technically on a par with Glashütte Original, A. Lange und Söhne or Grand Seiko.
In terms of price, the cheapest model starts at 6,250 euros. These are certainly not watches that everyone can afford. But I don't think the watch passion is about having to buy every watch. Recognition and respect for a craft and an entrepeneur that keeps our passion alive is free.
It has to be said, however, that these watches are still quite cheap compared to similar brands in view of their quality, the effort involved and the full vertical intergrated vallue chain of manufacture.
In any case, it is worth keeping an eye on this brand and at least enjoying the pictures.
btw. Markus Lehmann won several awards with it's brand and I think he totaly deserved it.
Chairman of Quarz Rights Watch Association, fighting for equal rights of Quarz Watches and reporting crimes against quarz watches by Mecascists (mecanical fascists) and abuses and missuses of Quarz-Or...
Thank you for the post! It is very interesting read. I live in Frankfurt am Main and should travel to German watchmaking centers :)
Me too 😊
Just for my own curiosity, do you know if the architecture of the movement is a unique design or are they manufacturing movements based on an existing design?
Just for my own curiosity, do you know if the architecture of the movement is a unique design or are they manufacturing movements based on an existing design?
You mean a clone? I was also curious if they are based on other movements, but couldn't find any information yet.
I also never saw a movement and their parts in such a design.
Which seams like a good sign.
In every source I could found the say "manufactured movement".
As long there is no other information it seems like it is truely self designed.
https://www.uhren-wiki.com/doku.php?id=lehmann_ls_0003
You mean a clone? I was also curious if they are based on other movements, but couldn't find any information yet.
I also never saw a movement and their parts in such a design.
Which seams like a good sign.
In every source I could found the say "manufactured movement".
As long there is no other information it seems like it is truely self designed.
https://www.uhren-wiki.com/doku.php?id=lehmann_ls_0003
It’s cool if it’s a unique design. I was thinking, not necessarily a clone but adopting the basic architecture and layout, sort of like Habring2.
It’s not that big of a deal if I were buying. It certainly won’t stop me from buying a Habring2. I do like to keep track of companies that are making unique products, though.
Yeah, Lehmann seems pretty cool. I just feel like they forgot from all the engineering that watches aren't primarily machines to look at and admire, they are wearables. If you have to invent a strap insert that causes a crease in the strap, ie it isn't continuously differentiable anymore, so a normal person can wear it, well then...I imagine product development went a little like this.
Product developer: Look at it. The quality. The looks. We did this. Ahhh soo good.
Head of sales: Yeah it's amaz... [tries on the watch] Bro, ain't nobody big enough to wear that watch.
Product developer: Oh 🙄.... how about this then?
I'd love one, the tech seems incredible, but their cases seem to be a prime example of form over function. Quite a big issue in the watch industry in general but here it's just so obvious with the company itself admitting defeat by releasing a "fix".