jlwdm
06-26-2017, 09:36 PM
Small custom bike companies have a lot of similarities to some small watch makers.
Last month my wife and I were in Germany, and one morning I took the train from Berlin to Stendal where I was picked up by an employee from Dornbluth & Sohn. It was a beautiful 20 mile drive from Stendal through small farming country to Kalbe. Jana at Dornbluth & Sohn was extremely helpful in arranging for me to see the watch facility.
Dirk Dornbluth was very generous with his time and showed me around all of the production areas. Unfortunately, no one was working the day I was there so I did not get to see actual watches being made. I recall there are only about 8 employees. I am the owner of a Dornbluth 99.1 and it was really was great to see the facility where my watch was made. I really appreciate a small operation like Dornbluth & Sohn where watches are mostly made by hand as opposed to the large manufacturers who use computers to make a lot of CNC parts. I love the simplicity and the detail of the 99.1.
I have always liked my 99.1, but now I appreciate it even more and cannot imagine ever selling it. I have already been wearing it more this last month since my visit.
In a world where products are so much the same in developed countries, I like to be able to support a small manufacturer, like Dornbluth & Sohn, that makes quality products and treats their customers right. I dropped my watch once onto a concrete floor and Dornbluth & Sohn was marvelous to work with.
I did not make a watch purchase while I was there, but I did purchase a couple of straps.
I drove back to the train station with Peter who had started as an apprentice at Dornbluth & Sohn about six weeks before. Peter is from Florida and had gone to watch making school in Miami. I learned a lot from him, and it was wonderful to hear and feel his passion for watchmaking.
As you can tell I highly recommend Dornbluth & Sohn. Great watches and great people.
Jeff
99.1
http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m617/6ridge9/Dornbluth/88aa02e4-d1f4-43fe-bdc0-bc0af4711643.jpg (http://s1134.photobucket.com/user/6ridge9/media/Dornbluth/88aa02e4-d1f4-43fe-bdc0-bc0af4711643.jpg.html)
http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m617/6ridge9/Dornbluth/Back.jpg (http://s1134.photobucket.com/user/6ridge9/media/Dornbluth/Back.jpg.html)
Clock outside Dornbluth & Son and Movement
[URL=http://s1134.photobucket.com/user/6ridge9/media/Dornbluth/Dornbluth%20Under%20Clock.jpg.html]http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m617/6ridge9/Dornbluth/Dornbluth%20Under%20Clock.jpg (http://s1134.photobucket.com/user/6ridge9/media/Dornbluth/Dornbluth%20Under%20Clock.jpg.html)
http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m617/6ridge9/Dornbluth/Dornbluth%20Clock%20Movement.jpg (http://s1134.photobucket.com/user/6ridge9/media/Dornbluth/Dornbluth%20Clock%20Movement.jpg.html)
http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m617/6ridge9/Dornbluth/Dornbluth%208.jpg (http://s1134.photobucket.com/user/6ridge9/media/Dornbluth/Dornbluth%208.jpg.html)
http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m617/6ridge9/Dornbluth/Dornbluth%207.jpg (http://s1134.photobucket.com/user/6ridge9/media/Dornbluth/Dornbluth%207.jpg.html)
http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m617/6ridge9/Dornbluth/Dornbluth%206.jpg (http://s1134.photobucket.com/user/6ridge9/media/Dornbluth/Dornbluth%206.jpg.html)
http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m617/6ridge9/Dornbluth/Dornbluth%2011.jpg (http://s1134.photobucket.com/user/6ridge9/media/Dornbluth/Dornbluth%2011.jpg.html)
Last month my wife and I were in Germany, and one morning I took the train from Berlin to Stendal where I was picked up by an employee from Dornbluth & Sohn. It was a beautiful 20 mile drive from Stendal through small farming country to Kalbe. Jana at Dornbluth & Sohn was extremely helpful in arranging for me to see the watch facility.
Dirk Dornbluth was very generous with his time and showed me around all of the production areas. Unfortunately, no one was working the day I was there so I did not get to see actual watches being made. I recall there are only about 8 employees. I am the owner of a Dornbluth 99.1 and it was really was great to see the facility where my watch was made. I really appreciate a small operation like Dornbluth & Sohn where watches are mostly made by hand as opposed to the large manufacturers who use computers to make a lot of CNC parts. I love the simplicity and the detail of the 99.1.
I have always liked my 99.1, but now I appreciate it even more and cannot imagine ever selling it. I have already been wearing it more this last month since my visit.
In a world where products are so much the same in developed countries, I like to be able to support a small manufacturer, like Dornbluth & Sohn, that makes quality products and treats their customers right. I dropped my watch once onto a concrete floor and Dornbluth & Sohn was marvelous to work with.
I did not make a watch purchase while I was there, but I did purchase a couple of straps.
I drove back to the train station with Peter who had started as an apprentice at Dornbluth & Sohn about six weeks before. Peter is from Florida and had gone to watch making school in Miami. I learned a lot from him, and it was wonderful to hear and feel his passion for watchmaking.
As you can tell I highly recommend Dornbluth & Sohn. Great watches and great people.
Jeff
99.1
http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m617/6ridge9/Dornbluth/88aa02e4-d1f4-43fe-bdc0-bc0af4711643.jpg (http://s1134.photobucket.com/user/6ridge9/media/Dornbluth/88aa02e4-d1f4-43fe-bdc0-bc0af4711643.jpg.html)
http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m617/6ridge9/Dornbluth/Back.jpg (http://s1134.photobucket.com/user/6ridge9/media/Dornbluth/Back.jpg.html)
Clock outside Dornbluth & Son and Movement
[URL=http://s1134.photobucket.com/user/6ridge9/media/Dornbluth/Dornbluth%20Under%20Clock.jpg.html]http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m617/6ridge9/Dornbluth/Dornbluth%20Under%20Clock.jpg (http://s1134.photobucket.com/user/6ridge9/media/Dornbluth/Dornbluth%20Under%20Clock.jpg.html)
http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m617/6ridge9/Dornbluth/Dornbluth%20Clock%20Movement.jpg (http://s1134.photobucket.com/user/6ridge9/media/Dornbluth/Dornbluth%20Clock%20Movement.jpg.html)
http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m617/6ridge9/Dornbluth/Dornbluth%208.jpg (http://s1134.photobucket.com/user/6ridge9/media/Dornbluth/Dornbluth%208.jpg.html)
http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m617/6ridge9/Dornbluth/Dornbluth%207.jpg (http://s1134.photobucket.com/user/6ridge9/media/Dornbluth/Dornbluth%207.jpg.html)
http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m617/6ridge9/Dornbluth/Dornbluth%206.jpg (http://s1134.photobucket.com/user/6ridge9/media/Dornbluth/Dornbluth%206.jpg.html)
http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m617/6ridge9/Dornbluth/Dornbluth%2011.jpg (http://s1134.photobucket.com/user/6ridge9/media/Dornbluth/Dornbluth%2011.jpg.html)