For almost 150 years, Glashütte has been manufacturing watches specifically for women. Over the course of time, their wearers have repeatedly proved themselves to be trendsetters. While men struggled with the transition from pocket watches to wristwatches until the middle of the 20th century, the catalogue of historical ladies’ models is captivating with its sheer variety of shapes and colours.
A new special exhibition is currently on show at the German Watch Museum in Glashütte. Entitled “The time is female.”, this time the focus is on ladies’ watches and the role of women in connection with watches. Based on the German Watch Museum Glashütte’s own collection, the exhibition looks at two things: What is a ladies’ watch? What makes a watch a ladies’ watch? And: What role do women play in the watch? What influence have women exerted on the handling of time, on the watch and on the craft?
At first glance, it is not easy to judge when a ladies’ watch is a ladies’ watch. Does the size alone make a watch a ladies’ watch? Is it the visual appearance? Or is it the way in which the watch is worn? The exhibition presents numerous examples from Glashütte and international production and provides a surprisingly simple answer to the question.
In addition to watches for women, women themselves also take centre stage. The special exhibition uses examples to show the different roles of women in the spectrum of watchmaking and timekeeping. Visitors are introduced to Eva Fitkau, who was one of only a few female students at the German School of Watchmaking Glashütte, who produced a horological masterpiece during her time at school: a movement model with a flying tourbillon. A section is also dedicated to the Ruth Belville, who went down in history as the “Greenwich Time Lady”. And the famous writer Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach, who built up an impressive watch collection during her lifetime and dedicated her novella “Lotti, die Uhrmacherin” specifically to the subject, will also be presented. This piece of literature is shown as a video in Michael Sommer’s “World Literature to Go”, in which the characters are embodied by PLAYMOBIL figures. The exhibition also features excerpts from the film art project “UNRUH”, which won an award at the Berlinale in 2022.
Glashütte Original presents: Serenade Luna
A new mechanical wristwatch for modern women
Modern femininity finds expression in various forms and colours: loud and quiet, gentle and strong, rebellious and creative… It has countless facets, each of them as unfathomable as it is irresistible. Now Glashütte Original has taken inspiration from feminine diversity to create a new timepiece. The Serenade Luna is a mechanical masterpiece for cosmopolitan, confident women who make their own way in life, redefining the meaning of femininity with every step they take. With the finest materials and an automatic movement designed and built in-house, it is the perfect lifetime companion, whose timeless beauty is forever in fashion.
The inspiration: feminine facets
The Serenade Luna finds inspiration in the women of today and their many different facets. They are women who capture everyone’s attention when they enter the room, and who have mastered the dance between light and shadow. They enjoy the limelight, but can just as easily let others shine. They are driven by their passion. Their intuition leads them on. Yet they always remain a mystery. No one knows what they will do next, or which side of themselves they will reveal. It is this enigmatic aura that makes them so irresistible.
The concept: the contemporary art of watchmaking with a feminine touch
With the Serenade Luna the Saxon manufactory also reveals a new facet, demonstrating how delicately and gracefully it is able to master the art of watchmaking. This latest creation is a precious wristwatch with the character of a fine piece of jewellery. Newly conceived from start to finish, its precision, suitability for day-to-day use and reliability are second to none among Glashütte Originals. The manufactory’s watchmakers and designers have created a glamourous yet subtle timepiece with slim dimensions, noble materials, and fascinating details.
The design: shimmering diversity
The Serenade Luna is presented in four versions, each with a completely different personality. All models have in common a diameter of 32.5 mm, sparkling diamond indexes, and a modern take on a moon phase display. Two stainless steel models feature a mother-of-pearl dial: one opts for a pure, clean look, while the other is adorned with the finest of diamonds on the bezel and crown. A third version in stainless steel presents a blue dial with a sunray decoration that lends it a radiant finish. The fourth model is a glamorous eye-catcher: a dreamlike creation in shimmering red gold with a golden green dial. Here too, diamonds on the bezel and crown provide luxurious accents. All models come with a Louisiana alligator leather strap, carefully colour-matched to the dial. A quick-change mechanism allows the straps to be easily swapped. For the stainless steel versions, an elegant metal bracelet is also available.
The complication: heaven on earth
The moon phase is considered one of the most beautiful displays in the art of watchmaking. And as a specialty of the Glashütte Original manufactory, it was predestined to find a place of honour in latest creation of the German watch manufactory. In a round, finely framed opening at the lower edge of the dial, the iridescent mother-of-pearl moon rises into a night sky strewn with stars. The display is driven by an automatic movement that has been designed especially for this timepiece and meets all the requirements of the contemporary art of mechanical watchmaking. Its refined finishes are a visual delight and can be easily admired through the sapphire crystal case back.
The product family: watches for modern women
The new Serenade Luna joins such well-known and popular members of the Glashütte Original portfolio as the PanoMatic Luna and the Lady Serenade – two product lines that celebrate feminine diversity, each in their own way. Thus the manufactory continues to expand its range of refined mechanical timepieces for women around the world. Offering new, irresistible nuances, the new models are made by hand in the manufactory’s own workshops in Glashütte.
About Glashütte Original
Glashütte Original upholds the values of authentic manufactory production and can look back on an uninterrupted history that began in 1845. Located in the Saxon town of Glashütte, the manufactory brings traditional craftsmanship and innovative technologies together under one roof. The tradition-rich brand produces up to 95% of all movement components as well as the filigree dials in-house and represents the art of German watchmaking at its best.