For Moritz Grossmann’s 200th birthday
The year 2026 is a special one for the Moritz Grossmann manufactory in Glashütte, as its founder and namesake was born on 27 March 1826 – exactly 200 years ago. Not only does he continue to shape the present-day watch brand, he also influenced the craft of watchmaking and the fate of his hometown, Glashütte. This is because Moritz Grossmann was a genius watchmaker and ambitious scientist, profound author, initiator of the German Watchmaking School in Glashütte and personality who set much in motion.
For the manufactory, Moritz Grossmann’s 200th birthday is a fitting occasion for a series of special models. These anniversary watches unite the founder’s cutting-edge ideas with the modern watchmaking craft. They reinterpret his legacy, and not by imitating historical concepts. Rather, they represent the creative, ongoing development of Moritz Grossmann’s innovations. In keeping with his spirit, the watches feature modern manufacturing methods to achieve technological perfection and exceptional aesthetics, both of which were ambitions of the founder. The manufactory today realises his visions with soul and passion, making it one of a small number of watchmakers globally which master every detail of the time-honoured craft and breathe new life into it.
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More InformationSpecial anniversary edition: BACKPAGE Tremblage
For the fourth special edition marking Moritz Grossmann’s 200th birthday, the manufactory will in May unveil two variants of the BACKPAGE Tremblage, in platinum with a dial finished in colourful violet or ‘blue meteor’ and with a tremblage engraving. The watch highlights the aesthetic qualities of the manufactory’s movements, allowing almost all of the movement to be admired through an unusually large cut-out on the dial. On the reverse, there is a subtle reference to the anniversary on the balance cock in the form of an engraving reading ‘1826’, the year of Moritz Grossmann’s birth.
A movement at its most beautiful
The BACKPAGE Tremblage anniversary edition puts the focus on the fascinating sight of its movement. Telling the time comes with a view of the sophisticated finish of the calibre 107.0 and the elements forming the characteristic style of a Moritz Grossmann movement: the Grossmann balance, hand-engraved balance cock with floral motifs and three-band snailing on the ratchet wheel.
Normally these components would be found on the back of a watch. However, the mirrored construction of the movement gives it a whole new look.
Calibre 107.0 is essentially a mirror image of the calibre 100.1, but with crucial new design elements. An additional wheel between the crown wheel and the ratchet wheel reverses the entire drive train with respect to the rotation of the mainspring barrel. The wheel train runs in the right direction thanks to the mirrored escapement and the mirrored oscillation system – also including the balance spring coiling direction.
Old craftsmanship in a new light
Both models of the limited edition BACKPAGE Tremblage make a statement with colour. The remaining dial elements define the character of the watch in a vibrant violet or ‘blue meteor’. Both shades ensure a beguiling contrast to the gold-plated gear wheels, gold chatons and meticulously bevelled and polished screw heads. These are just some of the examples of the high-quality finishing of a Grossmann movement.
The dial’s face is worked by hand using the historical tremblage engraving technique, which is done by guiding a cutter by hand in tiny movements back and forth. These movements are what gave the technique its name as the French word ‘tremblant’ simply means ‘trembling’. Applying it correctly requires great care and experience to achieve the desired appearance – a vibrant, textured and matt surface. The dial accommodates a fully circulating minute scale and an hour display from 11 to 5 o’clock.
Carrying on the founder’s tradition
The anniversary edition is a direct reference to Moritz Grossmann’s ingenuity, with a movement featuring numerous details attributable to the manufactory’s founder. His historical movements had quintessential characteristics such as a regulator index with a poising screw, a large balance wheel and applied screws.
Back of calibre 107.0
Premiere on 19 May 2026
The special edition BACKPAGE Tremblage for Moritz Grossmann’s 200th birthday will be presented on 19 May 2026 and comprises two versions with an exclusive platinum case. One of the models has a dial in ‘blue meteor’ while the other has a dial in violet. The fine, handmade steel hands complement these colours with an annealed blue or brown-violet hue. The strap, in blue alligator leather or
violet kudu leather, follows the same colour concept, too.
The two versions of the BACKPAGE Tremblage are each limited to twelve pieces.
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More InformationMoritz Grossmann:
Moritz Grossmann, born in Dresden in 1826, was deemed a visionary among Germany’s great horologists. In 1854, his friend Ferdinand Adolph Lange persuaded the young, highly talented watchmaker to establish his own mechanical workshop in Glashütte. Apart from building a respected watchmaking business, Grossmann was committed to political and social causes. He established the German School of Watchmaking in 1878. Moritz Grossmann passed away unexpectedly in 1885, after which his manufacture was liquidated.
The spirit of Moritz Grossmann’s horological traditions sprang back to life in 2008 when trained watchmaker Christine Hutter discovered the venerable Glashütte brand and had it re-registered. She developed concepts and was inspired by the vision of reviving Grossmann’s legacy more than 120 years later with a particularly exquisite wristwatch. And she convinced private watch enthusiasts to support her in making this dream come true. On 11 November 2008, she founded Grossmann Uhren GmbH in Glashütte.
At Grossmann, gifted watchmakers are preserving traditions without copying historic timepieces. With innovation, superb craftsmanship, a combination of traditional and contemporary manufacturing methods as well as precious materials, they are celebrating ‘Schönstes deutsches Handwerk’ with their timepieces.
