The new school year begins at Glashütte Original

August 24, 2015 saw 26 new apprentices begin their training at Glashütte Original. At the company’s own „Alfred Helwig “ School of Watchmaking, twenty-two young people will learn the craft of watchmaking, and four will be trained as toolmakers.


With the new arrivals the Saxon manufactory currently has 80 apprentices in training, which makes it the largest of the training institutes based in Glashütte. This is one of the ways in which Glashütte Original is preparing to meet growing demand for its exclusive timepieces.

Hardy Köppe, who is responsible for training at Glashütte Original, and Gunnar Müller, head of the watchmaking school, welcomed the new students at a festive event held at the German Watch Museum Glashütte and wished them much success in their training. The new arrivals were then given the first of their tools and a tour of their future classrooms. The future watchmakers are about to begin an intensive three-year period of training; the apprentice toolmakers can expect to study for three and a half years.

In order to accommodate the students, who come from all over Germany and now number more than 80, the capacity of the school was expanded last year by two new classrooms. The modern, well-equipped rooms are located on two floors in the school: with excellent teaching and learning conditions they offer the best possible conditions for a successful education of the highest quality.

Along with their training at the watchmaking school, during their studies the students gain practical experience in selected production and assembly areas of the manufactory. The goal is to have the students become familiar with watchmaking traditions and gain hands-on experience with modern craft techniques and procedures as well.

Great value is also placed on education at an international level, which is further underscored by a cooperative agreement between the “Alfred Helwig” School of Watchmaking and the Swiss training program “WOSTEP” (Watchmakers of Switzerland Training and Educational Program). This partnership allows apprentices who pass the WOSTEP final exam to receive, in addition to their German skilled worker certificate, the WOSTEP Diploma.