KIENZLE's history dates back further than that of any other German watch maker operating today. Since 1822 KIENZLE has been making a significant contribution to establishing and expanding the German watch-making industry and its worldwide reputation. Thanks to its highly appealing contemporary design and innovative technology, KIENZLE is the traditional German brand for twenty-first century timepieces that enjoys an excellent worldwide reputation. Following the purchase of the brand by the KIENZLE AG, Hamburg, the management set about re-establishing KIENZLE as one of the leading German watch brands on the international stage.
Precision, reliability, innovation and excellent value for money are the principles underpinning almost 200 years of company history. These competencies will remain the most important values in the company's present and future.
MILESTONES IN THE KIENZLE HISTORY
1822: 2,000 pendulum and wall clocks were produced by 20 employees in the company's foundation year (then trading as Schlenker)
1855: “Night watchman's recording clocks” are sold all over the world
1883: Jakob Kienzle marries into the Schlenker family; the company is renamed SCHLENKER & KIENZLE
1899: Machine production with around 400 employees
1910: The first automotive clocks are produced; for Rolls- Royce in England, for example. During the fifties and sixties, nearly every clock fitted in a German car was a KIENZLE. Clients include Jaguar, Daimler, BMW, Volvo, Audi, Renault, Ford and Opel
1932: The legendary KIENZLE 8-day aviation clock was created in the 1930s by developing the automotive clock further. It was fitted into the instrument panel in aeroplane cockpits
1939: KIENZLE has 3,500 employees and produces approx. 5 million timepieces per year
1954:The first parking meters are invented and are manufactured almost exclusively by KIENZLE in the 1950s and 1960s
1956: Series production of automatic wristwatches begins. The “people's automatic watch” is born, thus marking the breakthrough for wrist watches with an automatic winding mechanism.
1966: One in four wristwatches sold in the Federal Republic of Germany is a KIENZLE
1972: Annual production increases to over 7 million units. KIENZLE invents the first solar-powered timepiece (“Heliomat”), the first battery-powered timepiece and the first quartz watch
1974: KIENZLE is the biggest wristwatch manufacturer in the Federal Republic of Germany
1987: KIENZLE sells 300 million timepieces worldwide
1996: More product and manufacturing innovations, restructuring to become an independent profit centre
1999: The KIENZLE watch-making division is taken over by an Asian manufacturer
2002: KIENZLE AG is founded in Hamburg
2006: Global brand rights purchased. KIENZLE GmbH, Hamburg, takes over management of the brand.
2007: Launch of the 1822- Made in Germany collection. Launch of the EDITION JAKOB KIENZLE, complication watches with manufacture in Germany. Reorganization of the KIENZLE management.Stephan W. Kruse-Thamer is now CEO
2008: Move to KIENZLE-House in Hamburg.
Official website:www.kienzleuhren.de
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