Mallorca has a central role in the more than
135 years of Relojería Alemana’s history.
Nature, culture and the character of the island’s inhabitants
have inspired each one of our steps from the moment William Krug opened the first shop in the 19th century until the arrival of the fourth Fuster generation into the family business.
To some extent, Relojería Alemana has become what it is today due to Mallorca. Particularly, thanks to a few
iconic places that have inspired the company’s owners generation after generation. Walk with us down
this path
towards the spots in Mallorca where the muses presented us with inspiration.
1. The city of Palma
The first stop of this tour is in Palma. Not, however, the elegant, modern and tourist-attracting city we know today, no; we refer to the city it was at the end of the 19th century. That is when it began
to develop its industry and opened to the world while dealing with the problems caused by accelerated urban growth.
It was here, in this capital city inhabited by 60,000 people at the time, where the German citizen William Krug Griiffke decided to open his watchmaking shop in 1879. He chose his own iconic
location for it in Mallorca, at number 40 in Calle Colón. The same place where, currently at number 14, Relojería Alemana continues to offer their impeccable service to Majorcan society after almost a century and a half.
From this setting, Krug made his contribution to Mallorca’s modernisation at a time when ordinary people bought a watch to last them a lifetime, if they could afford it. In 19th century Palma, a watch was
regarded as a sign of distinction and a valuable object that would be passed down from father to son.
2. The Mediterranean Sea
The second iconic location in Mallorca that marked the destiny of Relojería Alemana is a truly omnipresent element around the island: the Mediterranean Sea. The Fuster family, owners of
Relojería Alemana since Krug, who died childless, bequeathed the business to his best apprentice, great-grandfather Pablo, have always fostered a very special relationship with the Mare Nostrum.
This sea, that enhances the island’s beaches and coves with its contrasting turquoise hues, has left its mark in many of Relojería Alemana’s designs. In fact, Pablo Fuster senior,
responsible for the business’ jump to the world of jewellery, especially devoted one of his collections to the Mediterranean, which he named Mare.
3. Valldemossa, an iconic spot at only 17 kilometres from Palma
If you ask the fourth Relojería Alemana generation –in charge of the company since 2012- the iconic location where they would certainly find inspiration has a name: Valldemossa. Blanca, Paula and Pablo Fuster
all treasure wonderful childhood memories of summers spent in this small town of medieval origin, located in the Tramuntana mountain range, only 17 kilometres from Palma.
Blanca, Paula and Pablo Fuster all treasure wonderful childhood memories of summers spent in this small town of medieval origin, located in the Tramuntana mountain range, only 17 kilometres from Palma.
The beautiful image of Valldemossa, declared a
World Heritage Site by the Unesco, has attracted many illustrious travellers such as the
musician Frédéric Chopin or the writer George Sand,
lodged in a cell at the Real Cartuja during
A Winter in Majorca. This place charmed many other famous personalities with its spell, some people who found the muses here were the statesman
Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos, filmmaker Michael Douglas or literary writers Rubén Darío, Miguel de Unamuno and Azorín.
Valldemossa, described by Chopin as ‘the most beautiful place in the world,’ helped the Fuster siblings to envision
Setenta y Nueve, Relojería Alemana’s own jewellery brand
that began in 2015. It is a selection
of ‘made in Mallorca’ pieces infused with tradition and innovation, which you can find both in our old family shop, opened by William Krug at Calle Colón in 1879;
and in our
sale points at Paseo Borne and Puerto Portals. Pay us a visit! Perhaps Relojería Alemana could soon become one of
your favourite iconic places in Mallorca.
