At the age of 66, Walter Lange was setting out to prove great luxury watches do not have to be Swiss.

In a remote corner of what was East Germany, Lange aimed to rebuild a venerable watchmaking business whose history reads like a chronicle of 20th century Europe.

Now watchmakers in the small town of Glashuette again sit bent over tables, magnifying glasses strapped to their eyes, polishing German silver and engraving balance cocks by hand.

(READ the story from Reuters)