An Unbroken Line

POINTtec stands for continuity in an industry where breaks are the norm. We have never been sold, never restructured, never merged into cooperations – and certainly never disappeared from the market. Since its founding, POINTtec has drawn a clear, independent line. Without interruption. Without compromise. Successful, with a forward-looking perspective.

A Sustainable Business Model

We design watches that last – with a design that works independently of trends and endures over the years. For us, sustainability means not only durable materials but also a clear attitude: no fast fashion, no fleeting hype.

Independent and Well-Connected

For decades, we have operated as a volume manufacturer in the watch industry. Our large production volumes make us an attractive customer for every partner, giving us access to the best suppliers in the world. As an independent company with short decision-making paths, we select our partners ourselves – with care, prudence, and a clear demand for quality. Our products – and our customers – benefit from this.

Our Purchasing Power – Your Advantage

With well over 100,000 watches produced per year, we are one of the largest manufacturers in Germany. We leverage this scale: we purchase parts where quality and price align – and on terms usually reserved for large corporations. The difference? We pass these benefits directly on to you. That’s why our watches are so high-quality – and still surprisingly affordable.

Medium-sized Family Business

From starting at zero to becoming a hidden champion: Our family company stands for healthy growth without tricks – completely without external investors. More and more people are falling in love with our watches, which keeps driving our steady growth. Founded by Senior Managing Director Willi Birk, the company is now led by Junior Managing Director Nathalie Birk – a true generational change with vision and values. We remain independent – out of conviction.

Made in Germany

By manufacturing in-house, we ensure quality and preserve valuable jobs. At the same time, we uphold tradition and industrial culture. Our brands tell the stories of German pioneers – authentic, powerful, and full of character. This is how we connect past and future and stand for values that endure.

Specialist Retail Partners

Specialist stores are more than just sales partners for us – they are ambassadors of our brand. With stable prices and fair conditions, we build trust and reliability. This way, we not only strengthen brick-and-mortar retail but also contribute to preserving vibrant town centers as places where advice, craftsmanship, and personality have their place.

In-House Assembly and World-Class Suppliers

Thanks to our in-house assembly at the Ruhla Watchworks in Thuringia, we have full control over the quality of every single watch delivered. For example, every mechanical watch is finely regulated by us. We collaborate with first-class and reliable suppliers who also supply components to well-known luxury watch manufacturers.

Rethink!

With the watches from the “Sustainable Planet” program, ZEPPELIN helps innovative technologies, products, and materials gain more visibility. Nowadays, materials can increasingly be replaced by green alternatives without compromise. The “Sustainable Planet” program aims to inspire openness to such alternatives and to envision a green future shaped by progress, not sacrifice.

Our watches are assembled and tested by experienced watchmakers in our own production facility in Ruhla, Thuringia – a region steeped in the tradition of German watchmaking. This gives us full control over the quality of every watch we deliver. Each timepiece represents precision, care, and true craftsmanship. The key advantage for our

customers: every single watch is not only assembled but also finely regulated in multiple positions before it leaves our workshop. This ensures that our timepieces deliver excellent accuracy from the very first moment. This uncompromising quality control guarantees longevity, reliability – and a genuine piece of German watchmaking tradition on your wrist.

In 1862, the Thiel brothers founded a manufacturing facility for precision mechanical components in Ruhla, Thuringia. The company soon celebrated major success with a toy watch and, in 1892, began producing real watches. While watches were still being handcrafted individually elsewhere, Ruhla became a pioneer in serial production. This was made possible in part by the factory’s unique approach: it invented, developed, and built its own production machinery in-house. Remarkably, many of the key ideas came not from engineers or executives, but from the workers on the production floor themselves.

During the Second World War, production was shifted to military goods, which led to the expropriation of the Thiel family after the war. The company was nationalized in favor of the Soviet Union. But innovation continued. In Ruhla, for example, electronic wristwatches were developed – the precursors to quartz watches – which were produced in the millions and became global export hits. The company, now renamed VEB Uhrenwerke Ruhla, achieved legendary status with its mechanical movement Caliber 24, which was produced an astonishing 150 million times and sold all over the world.

After reunification, the company was broken up into many smaller businesses and the vast industrial complex was demolished. Only the listed Bauhaus building, designed by architects Schreiter and Schlag in 1929, was preserved. A small team led by former development director Kamp continued watch production here, including manufacturing for POINTtec since the early 1990s. In 2019, POINTtec took over the Ruhla operation, including the watch assembly, the Bauhaus building, and all production employees.