My Great-Grandfather, the Fisherman
Over 100 years ago, my great-grandfather ran a fishery in New America, a suburb of Custrin, where keeping track of time was crucial. At that time, pocket watches on chains were common, while wristwatches remained a rarity. Gradually, however, people began to prefer wearing their watches on their wrists, as it was more practical and safer than constantly pulling them out of their pockets.
When fishing on the river, it was particularly difficult to quickly check the time, and many pocket watches were lost in the water. A watch on the wrist would have made life and work significantly easier.
His Vision of a Wristwatch
Many people back then tried to convert their pocket watches into wristwatches using makeshift methods. But my great-grandfather had a different vision: He wanted a proper wristwatch with a sturdy, functional, yet beautiful case, something that could withstand the rigors of a fisherman’s daily life while exuding a certain elegance.
For him, this wasn’t just an idea. In his free time, he passionately worked on his lathe machine. He was convinced he could find a solution that was not only practical but also durable and aesthetically pleasing. But the Second World War took away this opportunity, though not his vision.
My Grandfather and the Division of Germany
His son, my grandfather, moved to the Ruhr region in North Rhine-Westphalia after the war to work there. One day, he wanted to visit his mother in East Germany. But upon entering, he was told that he would have to stay in East Germany from then on and would never be allowed to leave again. Without realizing it, this was the last time he saw West Germany.
This made it impossible for him to carry on his father’s vision. My grandfather lost all contact with the outside world beyond East Germany from that point onward. And this happened exactly at a time when West Germany was experiencing the economic miracle. It would have been the ideal moment to develop and manufacture wristwatches. All the necessary parts were available in Switzerland at the time, ready to turn my great-grandfather’s vision into reality.
A Vision That Survived
And yet, the original vision survived. My grandfather’s stories about his father’s ideas and passion left a lasting impression on me. They inspired me to one day continue what had begun back then.
Today
Today, I carry on this legacy. In my small workshop, I create Gossert watches entirely by hand, using the same traditional tools and techniques that were used more than 100 years ago. Each timepiece reflects the craftsmanship, patience, and dedication of a bygone era.
Whenever I find the time, I continue working on fulfilling my great-grandfather’s vision, step by step, with dedication and respect for his idea.
In the process, I document the entire creation of a watch on video. These insights are shared on all my social media platforms.
I myself was a complete novice when it came to watches; I had never owned a “proper” wristwatch. The topic of automatic watches is vast and can take months to fully explore, so I had to learn from the ground up how they function and how to build one by hand. Without CNC machines, I’m unable to produce mass-market items or achieve the precision that large watch companies can deliver. But I put in the greatest effort to continuously improve myself and my watches. My goal is to ultimately create a great automatic watch that is wearable in everyday life and that everyone would love to wear every single day.
GOSSERT 