On the outbreak of World War I, the market for expensive precision watches collapsed virtually overnight. A decade of turbulence and upheaval was to follow. In 1926, the situation in Glashütte was desolate. December 1926 saw the foundation of a group of companies which, it was hoped, would put an end to the structural crisis. Uhren-Rohwerke-Fabrik Glashütte AG – UROFA – and Uhrenfabrik Glashütte AG – UFAG were set up, headed by jurist Dr. Ernst Kurtz. Apart from the initial production of superior quality pocket-watches, under the management of Dr. Ernst Kurtz and a few competent associates, the companies developed and produced their own ebauches for wristwatches. This led to a series of movements that could easily stand comparison with the competition from Switzerland. The top quality models were entitled “Tutima”, a brand name chosen not without good reason. The founders had derived the name from the Latin adjective “tutus”, which translates as “safe” or “protected”.
