Kienzle

Discover the time-honored German watchmaking tradition of Kienzle, a name that has stood for precision and history on the wrist since 1822.

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Kienzle is a traditional German watch manufacturer. The company filed for insolvency in 2014, and since then, watches have only been produced under license.

Specific information regarding current sustainability practices or involvement in initiatives such as the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) for the Kienzle brand is not apparent from the available sources. The brand is primarily known for its historical significance.

Kienzle Uhren GmbH, Germany's oldest watch manufacturer, was founded in Schwenningen in 1822. The company, now headquartered in Hamburg, established itself by producing a variety of timekeeping devices, from pocket watches to the world's first radio-controlled atomic alarm clock.

Over the years, Kienzle demonstrated a spirit of innovation and was at times the market leader in Germany, even though the company experienced periods of turbulence and restructuring.

Despite insolvency in 2014, watches continue to be sold under the long-established Kienzle brand name, with watches remaining the core focus of the brand.

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FAQs about Kienzle

What role does Kienzle's long tradition as the oldest watch brand in the German-speaking world play in the current product range and brand philosophy?

Kienzle, the oldest watch brand in the German-speaking world (since 1822), uses this long tradition as the foundation for its brand philosophy, which is based on values ​​such as mastery, exceptional quality, technology, design, the finest materials, and compelling reliability. These values ​​are intended to ensure that Kienzle products "live forever." Thus, tradition continues to provide the brand's core values. However, it should be noted that the watches currently sold under the Kienzle brand are manufactured by other companies.
What is the historical significance of Kienzle in the watchmaking industry, or which well-known model series has the brand released over time?

Kienzle Uhren, founded in 1822 in Schwenningen, was a German watch manufacturer that became the market leader in Germany during the 1960s and 1970s. Around 1899, the company produced one million watches and alarm clocks annually and introduced important innovations, including the time clock (1900), the first solar-powered table clock, the "Heliomat" (1963), and the highly robust "Strapazier-Armbanduhr" (from 1931 onwards), of which over 25 million units were sold. Well-known models and developments include the "Volksautomatic" caliber (in the 1950s), the "Strapazier-Armbanduhr," the "Kienzle Life 2002" (digital watch, 1972), and the "Kienzle Rallye." Today, watches are sold under license under the name Kienzle 1822, some with models such as **Divemaster** and **Poseidon** or the series of the "Jakob Kienzle Edition".
What is special about the history of Kienzle as a German watch manufacturer?

Kienzle, founded in 1822, was at one time one of the world's largest watch manufacturers, producing up to 25,000 watches daily in six factories. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, roughly one in four watches sold in Germany was a Kienzle. The company's history is also marked by a spin-off in Italy, the production of "budget" watches versus "Kienzle Swiss" models in the 1960s and 70s, and subsequent bankruptcies and attempts at a fresh start.
What role did Kienzle play in the German watchmaking industry in the 20th century?

Kienzle was a major German watch manufacturer in the 20th century, founded in Schwenningen. The company produced millions of watches and alarm clocks annually and marketed important products such as time clocks, inexpensive pocket and wristwatches, travel alarm clocks, and dashboard clocks for automobiles, including the successful "Strapazier" wristwatch. It was also known as a manufacturer of automotive control instruments and computers (as Kienzle Apparate).