I do not own one but I was also curious about them.. as a milestone watch, you will have to consider the timing, I understand it takes some time from order to deliver.

 

We visited D.Dornblüth & Sohn on Friday Afernoon. Waiting time currently +/- 15 month.

 

What's the milestone?

 

35th bday

 

A very good brand that offers most excellent quality for the price, IMHO.

 

I've seen them at Watchbuys Roadshows, and they are gorgeous. They're not something you see every day, which is a big plus for me. Of the brands you mentioned I'd get a Dornblüeth and feel like I scored.

 

The watches come highly recommended by anyone who has one. They are almost completely hand made and offer absolutely excellent value for their price. However, they are basically unknown outside WIS circles. So if brand recognition matters to you, best look elsewhere.

I ordered a central seconds from them a few weeks ago and cannot wait to get my hands on the watch! Unfortunately, there is a lead/waiting time of 11-12 months to get the watch. So that’s another thing to keep in mind.

<EDIT> As every thread needs pictures, here is the one I ordered. Stock pic, I will get mine only end of this year.

</EDIT>

 

I would echo WizardofWatch's statement. If you want to commemorate the milestone and want something with well-known brand recognition (be honest), DD&S is not the watch for you. However, if you're looking for a bespoke watch made by watchmakers and you like the "Marine" watch design, Dornblueth is a fantastic option. I ordered a 99.2-M to commemorate my 50th birthday and I'm very pleased with the end-result. I will say the Watchfinder video brought more attention to the brand along with longer lead times.

 

what specific dial is that. they have several. thanks

 

I have a Dornblueth 99.0 and my wife has a ladies Dornblueth. Both were purchased as anniversary watches. The watches are beautifully made and the service from Dornblueth has been nothing short of exceptional. I highly recommend them. Here's mine...

 

How often do you require servicing ?
What is ruggedness and longevity of the watch ?

 

Sold my 99.0 and have kicked myself every day since.

 

Great watches. They definitely feel quite special, with the ability to customize almost any aspect you care to. Top notch customer service too.

The only slight knock I have is that I have found the timekeeping of both the watches I own to be slightly inconsistent. The overall quality more than makes up for this though, and they are by far my favorite watches.

The 42mm cases do wear quite large. If you can stretch to a 99.1-M or Quintus Klassik you may find the case sizing more versatile.

 

Here’s a link to my post on the Dornbluth forum from 2009. I purchased a gently used 99.0 and totally loved it.

My new (to me) 99.0

So...I was cruising the Time Zone sales corner ads last week when I saw a posting for a Dornbluth 99.0 and decided to click on it after first scrolling past it

dornbluth.forumotion.com

 

If you value classic watch making and/or bespoke watches, a Dornblüth is definitely worth it.

I am still absolutely delighted each time I look down at my wrist while wearing mine.

Or whenever I examine the beautiful movement, which is quite often..!

 

I have a 99.0 and I love mine. It’s a joy to wear and it’s just beautiful, especially the movement. Mine is about 5 years old, I should probably send it for routine service but it’s still running great. I also bought it as a milestone watch and was specifically looking for a mostly handmade watch from a small independent brand. If it suits your tastes you can’t go wrong with one.

 

Apologies for jumping on this post- I am currently debating a 99.1 or 99.1M. I have just under a 19cm wrist. I was wondering what your wrist size is and how you find the watch on the wrist

 

A couple of years I was invited by Glashütte Original to join a two-days-workshop. Astonishing enough, about 40% of the participants had a D.Dornblüth & Sohn on the wrist. Imho this speaks volumes.

 

Thats a cue

 

I'm looking to add a watch with a power reserve complication to my modest wrist watch collection. The DD&S Calibre 99.2 Black Dial covers all the bases. Beautiful and legible dial in a 42mm case for my aging eyes and large wrists. A wonderfully decorated manual movement visible through a transparent case back. DD&S is a small, independent German watch maker producing high quality watches at high value price points. What's not to love?

I'll be ordering one around the end of the summer.

The waiting time doesn't bother me and in fact makes it easier to pay for the watch with half down for the deposit and the balance due upon completion.

The 99.2 will be a "casual" watch along with my Stowa Marine as it slides in nicely between my dress watches, an Omega DeVille Tresor and a JLC Moon Phase, and my beater, a Timex Expedition. As such, it should get a fair amount of wrist time.

 

Hello members,

I am eyeing Dornblueth & Sohn Calibre 99.0 Silver Dial Applied Numerals.

I am looking apart regular Rolex/Omega/GS for my next watch. I have seen Sinn, Hanhart and others. Recently I saw Dornblueth and Sohn Calibre 99.
What are your views regarding keeping one in collection and buying it as a milestone watch.
What is the durability, quality, accuracy and wrist presence of this particular model ?

Definitely WORTH IT. Great looks, great quality, smoothest winding action ever. Mine consistently runs at +3s/d. Why wait for a milestone?

 

On it...thanks

 

Hmm, have you seen that really poorly done silver dial that the company sold to a customer. The thread is active right now. I'd wait to see how things are resolved.

 

Link me pls

 

Having seen the QC issues of the brand from other posts, albeit the looks of the watches, the quality consistency is quite unstable and is a risky move to purchase from this brand.

 

I wish their watches were thinner. With this level of craftsmanship and using handwound movements, they could do much better. A shame that thriving for thinness is a thing of yesterday for most brands.

 

As far as I am concerned 8,9mm and 10mm or 12,5 for a central seconds modifikation is suficient.
Greets from Kalbe.

 

Hello members,

I am eyeing Dornblueth & Sohn Calibre 99.0 Silver Dial Applied Numerals.

I am looking apart regular Rolex/Omega/GS for my next watch. I have seen Sinn, Hanhart and others. Recently I saw Dornblueth and Sohn Calibre 99.
What are your views regarding keeping one in collection and buying it as a milestone watch.
What is the durability, quality, accuracy and wrist presence of this particular model ?

D.Dornblüth & Sohn watches are made in a remote workshop in the village of Kalbe/Milde. A small team of about 10 use vintage and manual machines to craft dials, hands and movement parts by hand. The dials for example are made by one person, Ute, the “mother of dials“. Approximately 80 percent of the parts used to complete a Dornblüth timepiece are made in their workshop. The movements in the Quintus line-up have 95 percent of the parts manufactured in-house. That‘s something what makes Dornblüth watches something special.

Their work with ceramic and semi-translucent dials has earned a stellar reputation for their meticulous hand milling processes, no computerized machines but Ute. Dials are usually printed using a tampon or stamping process known as pad printing, whereby the dial’s markings are stamped by a hand-driven machine, resulting in a flat finish. Dornblüth makes engraved dials that are hand-milled with a special cutting machine to create deeper, more defined impressions before they are finished and painted by hand.

A waiting time of currently 15 month speakes volumes, at least in my eyes. I have learned a lot about Dornblüth when visiting the workshop. Friday last week I dropped by for the fourth time. It became clear that Dirk attaches great importance to tradition, that craftsmanship should remain craftsmanship. Also it became clear that Dornblüth will remain a family business, this warrants that working in a small team is fun. This also ensures that Dornblüth watches feature an old world charm that will live for generations.

 

I respect the company, but I just could never bring myself to justify putting in good money towards what is a typical deck watch aesthetic. I understand that the devil is in the details better than anybody, but honestly feel that the deck watch itch can be scratched far cheaper. If they based their skills around different design ethos, I'd have way more interest.

Having said that, I think a GS would be the way to go.

 

Interesting point CM Hunter. I've often wondered if a Stowa or Dekla would suffice enough as a deckwatch to avoid spending so much more on a Dornbluth. What I have found is that if I spend, say 5K or more on a watch I seem to always be asking myself "is this watch worth it?" and could I have been happy enough with something much less expensive....

 

Mine took 13 months to arrive so maybe think about a 36th birthday. And yes, worth the wait and price. I have the moderately priced 40mm 99.1-M.

Sent from my SM-T830 using Tapatalk

 

As with GO I would just keep saving for a Lange if I wanted this type of “Teutonic” design language in my collection.

 

What would you choose instead with a 40-42mm case?