Wempe, with 32 branches in cities all over the world sells fine timepieces and jewelry. In Glashütte, Wempe manufactures its own wristwatch chronometers of the Glashütte I/SA brand. Discover three new watches and the actual companies economic figures.
On the next three pages you can discover these four topics and see many, many live take pictures of the novelties …
1. Wempe Economic Figures 2015
2. Wempe Glashütte I/SA Chronometerwerke Automatic
3. Wempe Glashütte I/SA Zeitmeister Annual Calendar
4. Wempe Glashütte I/SA Zeitmeister Sport Diver’s Chronograph DLC
Ten years ago Wempe decided to manufacture its own wristwatches again. In the companies history this was already successfully done before. The family-owned company, which is based in Hamburg and was founded in 1878, is headed by Kim-Eva Wempe (who was born in 1962) and has, as already mentioned above, 32 branches in cities all over the world, including New York, Paris and London. Wempe has been closely connected for generations with the renowned watch manufactures of Switzerland and Germany and today sells more or less all top watch brands.
1. Wempe Economic Figures 2015
In 2015 Wempe generated a turnover of 530 million Euro. The entire Wempe group of course! The year before 452,7 million Euro.
27,3 % of the turnover is generated by Wempe´s branches abroad.
Wempe worldwide counts 721 employees. The turnover per employe was 798.100 Euro and per square meter 93.300 Euro. The average price of each watch sold was 8119 Euro.
Wempe sold 57.468 watches in 2015.
Looking back to the year 2009 Wempe sold 30.085 watches at an average price of “only” 5024 Euro. If you now compare the average price of 2015 that´s a gain of 63,2 %.
But attention, this is not only due the fact that Wempe sold more expensive watches, it is more linked to the fact that Made-in-Germany- and Swiss-made-wristwatches got more and more expensive each year since. I suppose you have noticed this 🙁
The first half year 2016 Wempe generated a turnover of 203,6 Million Euro. That´s 21,1 % less than in 2015. Watches decreased by -25 % and jewelry increased by + 2,5%.
The predictions for the second half 2016 are guardedly optimistic. Wempe expects to at least reach the results of 2014 (= 452,7 million Euro).
Now let us have a look at new watches of the Wempe Glashütte I/SA brand that celebrate the first ten years of this still young watch brand…
2. Wempe Glashütte I/SA Chronometerwerke Automatic
The watch is presenting the fifth Wempe manufacture calibre, CW 4, which is also Wempe’s first own self-winding caliber.
The case has a diameter of 41 millimeters and a height of 11.7 millimeters. Rounded flanks and downturned strap lugs contribute to the comfort and wearability of the Chronometerwerke Automatic watch.
The watch has a classic overall appearance based on the balanced proportions of the Golden Ratio, with the hour, minute and second hands located at the center.
A framed date display is positioned at three o’clock and is easily readable, because the date disc lies very close underneath the dial and so no shadows are cast on it. The excellent dial readability is reinforced by the distinct contrasts and long feuille hands, which extend across the haptic baton markers to the painted minute-track.
The sapphire crystal has an anti-reflective coating on both sides to prevent glints of light.
The stainless-steel variant has a matte silver dial with polished hour markers and is worn on a black full-cut crocodile leather wristband sewn in Germany.
The new Wempe manufacture calibre CW 4 is a very nice one! Well done guys!
In the 18 carat yellow gold version, a 4N gold hue gives the watch an aura of quiet elegance. The silver dial is suffused with a matte champagne hue, and the polished hour markers are gold-plated.
This model is worn on a cognac-colored wristband of the same high-quality leather.
I simply like this new Wempe calibre! Therefore I show so many pictures of it … 🙂
The self-winding Wempe calibre CW 4 is the fifth manufacture caliber of Wempe Glashütte I/SA. It drives an hour, minute and second hand as well as the date display. The exact time of day can be conveniently set with the stop-seconds function.
The Wempe CW 4 calibre will point the way forward for the Wempe wristwatch chronometers and is expected to serve as the basis for additional module variants. To ensure that the watch will have a comfortable power reserve even when extra features are added in the future, the development team considered it important for even the base CW 4 calibre to have an exceptionally large reserve. Thanks to twin spring barrels connected in series, the power reserve is 92 hours. The self-winding calibre CW 4 was designed by Wempe in collaboration with Soprod (= part of the Festina Group, http://soprod.com) and was in development for four years.
In a process that outdoes the already stringent Glashütte rule, over 50 percent of the components, including the typical three-quarters plate, are being made in this small town in Saxony. The movement is also installed and set in Wempe’s own Glashütte workshops.
The microrotor winds on both sides, and the use of solid tungsten ensures that it develops sufficient momentum. A characteristic feature of Wempe’s manufacture caliber is the location of the balance at seven o’clock. The finishing incorporates all the features of traditional Glashütte watchmaking: a manually engraved balance-wheel bridge, the three-quarters plate decorated with ribbing, six gold settings and blued screws.
To achieve optimal stability of the rate, a Swiss lever escapement is used. The balance with variable inertia moment oscillates with a frequency of 28,800 A/h (= 4 Hz), and the fine rate adjustment is executed so precisely that the accuracy of the watch earns it the German chronometer certificate (German DIN standard 8319). Thus the lettering on the dial includes not only the attribution “Made in Germany” but also the quality hallmark “Chronometer.”
Wempe Glashütte I/SA Chronometerwerke Automatic
… in 18 carat yellow gold or stainless steel …
Movement: Wempe self-winding manufacture caliber CW 4, microrotor of tungsten, winding in both directions. Central hour, minute and second hands. Stop-seconds function. Three-quarters plate with Glashütte ribbing, manually engraved balance-wheel bridge, six gold settings, blued screws, 35 jewel bearings, two barrels in series, KIF shock protection system
Oscillation system: Screw balance with variable inertia moment, balance frequency 28,800 semi-oscillations/hour (4 Hz)
Movement dimensions: Round, diameter 32.8 mm (14’’), height 6.0 mm
Escapement: Swiss lever escapement
Power reserve: 92 hours
Chronometry: German chronometer officially tested according to the DIN 8319 standard
Functions: Hour, minute, second hands, date display and stop-seconds function
Operating elements: Crown for adjusting the hands, winding and stop-seconds function
Case: 18 carat yellow gold 4N or 316L stainless steel, diameter 41 mm, height 11.7 mm, water-resistant up to 3 bar
Sapphire crystal: Front side sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating on both sides, screw-down sapphire crystal case back, anti-reflective on the inside
Dial: Dial silver with matte champagne hue and eleven gold hour markers, date at three o’clock. Dial matte silver with eleven steel hour markers, date at three o’clock
Hands: Polished feuille hands of yellow gold or steel
Wristband: Full-cut crocodile leather, cognac-colored or black, pin clasp of 18 k yellow gold or stainless steel
Reference numbers and prices
Wempe Chronometerwerke Automatic in yellow gold: 14.950 Euro; 17.270 USD; 13.150 GBP
Wempe Chronometerwerke Automatic in stainless steel: 6.950 Euro; 8.030 USD; 6.100 GBP
Available at all Wempe branches worldwide starting in October 2016.
The two new ones …
>>> On page 2 please discover the new Wempe Glashütte I/SA Zeitmeister Annual Calendar >>>
Wempe watches look pretty attractive, yet these watches are reasonably priced and do not cost an arm and a leg.
Unfortunately, Wempe watches do not seem to be available in my country, India, and I shall be able to buy Wempe timepieces, only when I visit Germany or USA.
Wempe is an exceptional consumer experience. My wife and I have bought two watches from their NYC store and the purchase and post purchase has been excellently done.
Amazing!, You reviewed another watch that was not a Rolex…
It is a vey nice watch and well worth the money
Regards