Wempe Glashutte Zeitmeister Sport Watches

Most of our readers have probably not heard of the German brand Wempe. A jeweler since 1878 and primarily known as a watch retailer, they added their own watch brand in 2006, under the Zeitmeister line. Nice watches, but little known, especially in the US. They do have a major store in New York City though. This year, after four years of work, they are adding a full line of sport watches, and I like how they look.

Models include a three-hand and chronograph in the Wempe Zeitmeister Sport Herren Automatic and the Zeitmeister Sport Chronograph, as well as a three-hand and chronograph diver with the Zeitmeister Taucher Automatic and Zeitmeister Taucher Chronograph.

Wempe offers both men's and women's models in the Sport collection, with first-class ETA movements, properly proportioned hands, and nice clean dials. Not design standouts, but well-chosen design elements that should age quite well. Let's go over the models. This is a "store brand" done very well.

Diver's watch, in black

The dive model uses one of my favorite movements, the Sellita Sw300, which is a clone of the ETA 2892. Thinner at 3.6mm, the 300/2892 is a chronometer and an excellent choice. Wempe modifies it with their custom fine regulator, too. Wempe lists the size as 42mm, with 20mm lugs, but does not mention thickness. If it's 12mm or less, I'd be delighted. Ceramic bezel, anti-reflective-coated sapphire, 300m depth rating.

I really like the hands. Nice and wide, long enough to reach the inner portion of the minute markers, beveled and contrasty. I hate dive watches with hard-to-see hands. I also like the color-matched date wheels.

Solid competition to the Explorer or Aqua Terra in my opinion. The silver dials are less to my taste, mostly due to reduced contrast, but there's a decent chance they'd be nicer in person.


These have the ETA 2892, also with the Wempe fine regulator and chronometer rating. Not sure if they're mixing and matching Sellita and ETA, or if I just have bad information here.


There are also chronographs. Of course there are chronographs. The have both fixed and dive bezel versions.


In addition to the dive chronograph, there's also a 1mm smaller "Sport" chronograph, with a different movement and fixed bezel.


Wempe Glashutte sport chronograph

All-in-all, an impressive set of impeccable designs. I'm pretty picky, but there's nothing in these that bothers me. Not hugely original, but solid designs in every category, and good values as well.