A Personal Insight to Why I Bought the Union Glashütte 1893 Johannes Dürrstein Edition Power Reserve

I’m very fortunate (and spoilt, in a way) to handle hundreds of watches every year working for MONOCHROME Watches. To the point that I almost have to admit it’s not that easy to be impressed anymore, but it does happen from time to time. Of course, it’s not that difficult to be amazed by very complex and exquisitely finished watches, but I have to take a certain budget into account when it concerns my own collecting adventures. But when I first stepped into the Union Glashütte manufacture about a year ago, I did not expect to be swept off my feet. The reason for this unexpected love-at-first-sight moment? The handsome 1893 Johannes Dürrstein Edition Power Reserve, which I wrote about first in 2022. Seeing it in person made me pull the trigger on this one, which was far from planned, given I had a wedding to pay for shortly after that. Despite all this, and since I now own one, I wanted to revisit the 1893 Johannes Dürrstein Edition Power Reserve for my own – and hopefully your – amusement. Enjoy!

When I first saw the 1893 Johannes Dürrstein Edition Power Reserve by Union Glashütte I thought it was quite the handsome fella, and actually dedicated some words to it. This was back in 2022, and it sort of lingered in the back of my mind ever since. It wasn’t until late 2023 that I got the chance to see it in person, and it ended up costing me some money. Nothing to complain about, as that’s part of the hobby, but I didn’t plan on ordering a watch there and then. Anyway, it took a bit of time for the watch to get to me as production was pretty much spoken for, for quite some months. I know this is fairly common for a lot of brands, and I am not one to insist on jumping the queue because I work in the industry. I can be a patient man when it comes to watches…

So why did I want this watch so much? Well, that’s quite simple: I think it’s just gorgeous! It radiates a certain F.P. Journe vibe, given the textures and details on the dial, but at a much more attainable price. And in all honesty, what’s not to like about that? When handling the watch for the very first time I also got hooked on the proportions, which are just about spot-on for me. I have a slightly above-average wrist size (approx. 19-19.5cm in circumference), so I tend to look at watches at 40mm and up for the most part. I very rarely dip below that, despite the trend for smaller watches producing some smashingly good timepieces! This 1893 Johannes Dürrstein Edition Power Reserve comes in at 41mm in diameter and 12mm in height, which might be on the larger side for some but not for me. Sizes and proportions are, of course, very personal preferences, as are most things regarding watches!

What I also appreciate very much is the typical Glashütte style of movement construction, despite the fact the brand is part of Swatch Group and relies on Swiss-made ETA movements. However, UG holds a rather special position within the Group, as the calibre UNG 56.Si (based on the Valjoux 7750, believe it or not) is exclusive to them and is modified with quite a few in-house German-made components to comply with the requirements to be considered a Glashütte watchmaker. This means that at least 50% of the components, by value, have to be produced in the small Saxon town. This includes a three-quarter bridge, ratchet system, stop-seconds mechanism and indexless regulation system. The Si medallion on the balance cock also hints at the silicon balance spring, a neat little touch that enhances the movement’s anti-magnetic properties.

All in all, it’s a watch I like very much and one that gets quite a bit of wrist time in the process! So far, the love affair hasn’t worn off, which, for me, is an indication I made the right decision with this one. And best of all, despite the fact that I realise it’s still quite a bit of cash for a whole lot of people, I do think that it’s an excellent value for money at EUR 2,680! If you want to learn more about this specific watch, I suggest checking Denis’ story.

For more information, please visit Union-Glashuette.com.