Tutima Glashütte Watches

German watch brand Tutima is a family-owned and operated brand that was founded in 1927 in Glashütte and has enjoyed a rich history in aviation and building pilot watches for several military organizations. Even today, it is a partner of the German Aero Club. It also partners in America with Sean Tucker at the Tutima Academy of Aviation Safety. Following the reunification of Germany, Tutima re-established its manufacture in the Saxony region. Its collections run the gamut from the beloved Saxon Chronograph to the M2, the Grand Flieger, and the coveted Patria.

The Watch Pages

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History of Tutima Glashütte

The history of Tutima began in Glashütte. This legendary watchmaking region is a name synonymous with high-quality timepieces. As early as 1845, Ferdinand Adolph Lange trained the first group of apprentices to become watchmakers in the former mining community of Glashütte. Over the years, a horological industry came to life, and the timepieces from Glashütte gained international recognition. By the turn of the twentieth-century precision, pocket watches from Glashütte were considered exclusive and coveted by many.

After WWI, the market for expensive precision watches collapsed, and a decade of turbulence and change followed. In 1926 Dr. Ernst Kunz entered the picture and convinced the bank to finance the founding of UROFA (Uhren-Rohwerke-Fabrik Glashütte AG) and UFAG (Uhrenfabrik Glashütte AG). He had several groundbreaking restructuring plans, which resulted in a shift from pocket watches to serially produced wristwatches.

The first Tutima Pilot’s watch

The most extravagant development of UROFA/UFAG was the two-button Tutima-grade pilot’s chronograph outfitted with the highly complex UROFA Caliber 59. It remains still today a milestone in the history of pilot’s watches.

During the last hours of World War II, the Soviet airplanes’ bombs destroyed Glashütte and, by extension, its watch industry. In 1949, the German Democratic Republic combined individual companies in Glashütte to make what was known as a state combine.

In 1945 Dr. Kurtz and some former employees from Glashütte relocated to West Germany, ensuring their watchmaking future. By 1949 he presented the 111⁄2 line traditional Caliber Kurtz 25 under the name Uhrenfabrik Kurtz. Dr. Kurtz moved his production to its current location in Ganderkesee, Germany, and in 1959 renamed the ébauche factory to its original name: UROFA.

Under Nurofa, the company was manufacturing over 70,000 base versions of Caliber 570 in 1958. To distribute the watches powered by this caliber, branded Glashütter Tradition, he founded Tutima Uhren.

Dieter Delecate, a young entrepreneur and previous employee, continued the success story of Tutima. After taking over the distribution, he began manufacturing watches proudly carrying the brand name Tutima on the dial.

The return to Glashütte

Shortly after the German reunification, Delecate traveled to Glashütte to explore the possibilities of a homecoming. In 2005 he signed a purchase agreement for a building only a stone’s throw away from the former site of UROFA. It took six years to complete the renovations and set up an exclusive manufacturing facility. In 2011 Tutima celebrated the reopening by releasing the “Hommage,” the first authentic made-in-Glashütte minute repeater. This was soon followed by a whole new watch family’s debut, with the current Glashütte Collection: Saxon One, M2, Grand Flieger, and Patria proudly portraying a 90-year success story.

Who owns Tutima?

Tutima is an independent brand owned by the Delecate family. Dieter Delecate, together with his children Jörg and Ute, developed the company into a globally operating group.

Fun Fact

In the 1930s, a series of products were created that could stand up to the Swiss competition, and their highest quality level was signed “Tutima.” The Tutima brand gained an excellent reputation. The name comes from the Latin adjective tutus, meaning “safe” or “protected.”

Tutima Collections

Patria

Gold watches made with superior manufacturing skills are a centuries-old tradition in Germany. After Glashütte’s new rise, the watchmakers were able to achieve a world-renowned reputation once again. With the Patria, Tutima pays tribute to Glashütte’s deep-rooted watchmaking tradition, with classical and beautiful mechanical timepieces.

M2

Functionality and complete reliability are the basic principles of any tool watch. The NATO chronograph developed by Tutima in 1948 is still today the official service watch of the German army’s pilots. The M2 continues this timeless timepiece’s success story. A pilo’s watch for any sporty and active man.

Saxon One

The Saxon One collection was launched in 2017 and is today Tutima’s most extensive line. This luxury sporty watch with an integrated case/bracelet is available both for men and women. The case is in stainless steel with a leather strap or stainless steel bracelet and diamonds for the ladies’ version.

Grand Flieger

The Grand Flieger is a re-edition of Tutima’s historical pilot’s chronograph dating from the 40s. It is a timepiece known and respected for its dependability and functionality. The Grand Flieger collection is dedicated to men with its stainless steel case size of 43mm.

Sky

With the recently introduced Sky line, Tutima takes inspiration from the Seventies. A contemporary look with a dash of color as the dials are available in gray, blue, green, or red. The design of these automatic watches represents the spirit of the vibrant 1970s in a modern way.

Tempostopp

Following the 2011 premiere of the HOMMAGE, the first German wristwatch minute repeater caliber, Tutima continued to work to transform their watchmaking dreams into reality. The Tempostopp is their latest masterpiece, which took three years to make. Fitted with Tutima’s Caliber T659, reminiscent of the Glashütte UROFA Calibre 59, which powered the historic Tutima Fliegerchronograph.