A. Lange & Söhne, GUB Caliber 28 Q1, Lange VEB Glashütte from 1950's

This vintage Glashütte wristwatch, produced between 1948 and 1957, is a remarkable artifact from a pivotal era in German watchmaking. After World War II, the renowned A. Lange & Söhne was nationalized and incorporated into the Glashütte Uhrenbetriebe (GUB), which centralized much of East Germany's watch production. The watch reflects the early post-war efforts of German watchmakers to rebuild and innovate in an industry that had been disrupted by the war. The GUB Caliber 28 Q1, housed in this watch, was one of the first large-scale wristwatch movements developed in East Germany, demonstrating the resilience and technical expertise of the Glashütte craftsmen.

The movement of this watch, the GUB Caliber 28.1, is rooted in A. Lange & Söhne’s World War II era observation watches, particularly the Caliber 48.1. It represents the transition from military to civilian watchmaking in the GDR. The movement’s development after 1945 showcased the ability of East German watchmakers to adapt their advanced mechanical knowledge to a new era of production. The movement includes 15 jewels and a monometallic balance with 16 weight screws, and it features the Glashütte sunburst finish.

During this time, Glashütte watches were often labeled with "Q1" quality marks, a designation signifying the high standards of GDR manufacturing. This particular watch is labeled with
Lange VEB Glashütte Q1 mark.

The watch has been professionally serviced by a skilled watchmaker, however, as is common with many vintage watches, it may experience a daily variation of approximately ±5 minutes. 

• Case size: 33 mm
• Case material: Chromed brass
• Strap material: Leather
• Made in Germany