The Real Time Show

Episode: Glashütte Watch Club Founders Christopher Waluga and Billy Tse Join TRTS

Hosts: Rob Nudds, Alon Ben Joseph
Guests: Christopher Waluga (“Chris”), Billy Tse
Date: November 23, 2025

Episode Overview

In this lively episode, Rob Nudds welcomes Christopher Waluga and Billy Tse, the driving forces behind the Glashütte Watch Club (GWC), for a deep dive into the world of German watchmaking, community building, and their love for timepieces from Glashütte and Dresden. Through a blend of personal stories and interactive games, the trio explores the nuances of German watches versus their Swiss counterparts, discusses top Saxon brands, and shares exciting plans for global club meetups—including their first in-person event.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Origins of the Glashütte Watch Club

• Background: Chris founded the GWC building on his earlier success with the Nomos Watch Club (NWC), which dates back to 2017 and now boasts around 8,000 members.
  • “We want to get the name out right into the world. And now with the new project of Glashütte Watch Group, we count in every brand.” — Chris (03:32)
• How Chris and Billy Met: Despite being close collaborators, Chris and Billy have never met in person. Their partnership began as mutual followers of the NWC on Instagram, evolving through collaborative posts and shared passion for German watches.
  • “We have not met before...we start interacting because I have been tagging him and he has been tagging me...and then we start chatting on Instagram.” — Billy (01:04)

2. Accessibility & Community

• Membership: The GWC is inclusive—anyone with an interest in Glashütte brands can join via Facebook or Instagram. No fees or membership cards required.
  • “You don't need a physical membership card or a monthly payment...you either own already a watch from Glashütte or you're just a fan of the brands.” — Chris (02:57)
• Role of Content: Chris’s hands-on review articles and blog posts have attracted and engaged new members.
  • “I've already read this article and now I'm interested in this particular watch and can you tell me more about it?” — Chris on member feedback (05:11)

3. Upcoming Events & Global Ambitions

• First Club Meetup: The inaugural GWC event is set for January 16, 2026, in Hong Kong, aiming for a global reach with collectors traveling from across Asia and the US.

  • “Our first event will be in Hong Kong...for collectors in Hong Kong, but we are also welcoming some guests from different parts of the world.” — Billy (06:57)

• Future Expansion: The founders express plans for more events in other cities, emphasizing the importance of a global, mobile community. Chris hints at possibly relocating closer to Glashütte.

  • “Now we focus on bringing the GWC globally...that was the first idea with Billy.” — Chris (06:20)

4. Fascination with German Watches

• Personal Journeys: Both Chris and Billy discovered German watches after initial experiences with non-German brands. Their passion grew from appreciation of design language and unique movements, especially those rooted in Glashütte.

  • “The biggest difference between Swiss watches and German watches...it's the movements and how they are built and decorated.” — Billy (09:21)
  • “Watches were always a passion...the design of Nomos, it brought together so well the both worlds of architecture and watches, right? The famous Bauhaus watch design...” — Chris (11:28)

• Club Philosophy: The GWC deliberately remains brand-agnostic, welcoming enthusiasts of all levels, and respecting the individuality of each Glashütte house.

5. German vs. Swiss Watchmaking

• German watches are lauded for distinct movement architecture, robust construction, and unique decoration, differentiating them from Swiss styles.

  • “The design...so distinctive...so robust and it's not like any of those Swiss watches that I've ever seen.” — Billy (09:07)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Community:
  “The community is...simply a community for all German watch lovers. This is the perfect place if you are a German watch lover.” — Billy (05:44)
• On Club Projects:
  “We designed our own special edition [Nomos] that we designed together with every member...So it was actually, I think it's one. It's the first special edition that received its own name, which is Watch club...” — Chris (18:05)
• On Value of Content:
  “...your work is appreciated because you know, we, we post, we write independently and I write my opinion about the watch that I have...this is a good, you know, insight for people who are interested.” — Chris (05:11)

[Game Segment] Top Three Glashütte Brands

Timestamps:

• Billy: (15:21)

• Chris: (17:38)

• Billy’s Picks:

  1. A. Lange & Söhne — “I am a massive fan, a collector and a massive fan of that brand.”
  2. Moritz Grossmann — “They have...the most interesting movement that I've ever seen and that's the hamatic movement.”
  3. Nomos — “One of the biggest German watch brands...anyone can find a watch within the catalog.”

• Chris’s Picks:

  1. Nomos — “The brand that I started with...we did our own special edition.”
  2. D.U.G. — “Very interesting what they offer for the price point...great selection of individualization.”
  3. Union Glashütte — “I was very surprised how much they work on the base ETA caliber...the price points, they're very interesting.”

[Game Segment] Build Your Perfect Saxon Watch

Timestamps:

• Billy: (24:35)
• Chris: (27:29)
• Rob: (30:11)

Objective:
Pick a brand for each watch part (case, dial, hands, movement, strap/bracelet) without repeating brands.

• Billy’s Watch:

  • Case: Nomos
  • Dial: Lange (for signature “lumen” dial)
  • Hands: Moritz Grossmann (for purple hands)
  • Movement: Lang & Heyne
  • Strap: Glashütte Original

• Chris’s Watch:

  • Case: Nomos (for design and history, esp. Tangente case)
  • Dial: Moritz Grossmann (tremblage)
  • Hands: D.U.G. (rounded alpha with lume)
  • Movement: Kalinich Kleis
  • Strap: Glashütte Original (matte croc leather from Senator Tourbillon)

• Rob’s Watch:

  • Case: SUG (“case making specialists...all the best cases come out of it”)
  • Dial: Nomos
  • Hands: Moritz Grossmann (purple)
  • Movement: Lange & Söhne
  • Strap: Lang & Heyne (for the bracelet), special mention of Glashütte Original’s bracelet

Notable Moment:
Rob playfully “cheats” by picking SUG, acknowledging the case maker supplies many Glashütte brands (32:04).

The Road Ahead for the GWC

• Next Steps: Chris and Billy are meeting at Dubai Watch Week in November 2025, with the formal GWC event in Hong Kong on January 16, 2026. Both encourage German watch enthusiasts to reach out for spontaneous meetups while in Dubai.
  • “If there's any German watch lovers that want to meet us in Dubai, just feel free to send us a DM on Instagram or...drop us an email.” — Billy (35:00)
  • “We just see like spontaneously who's there and what we'll do these evenings...it can be a spontaneous meeting with other Glashütte enthusiasts.” — Chris (36:00)

Conclusion & Takeaways

This episode highlights the passion, inclusivity, and global vision of the Glashütte Watch Club, rooted deeply in personal connection and an appreciation of the craft behind German watchmaking. The collaborative games and candid stories illustrate not only vast horological knowledge, but also the vibrant, experimental spirit of the German watch community.

Final thought from Rob:
“If you love German watches and want to be part of a growing community, go along and see Billy and Chris at Dubai or stay in touch with them over the Internet as they have done with one another.” (36:13)

Highlighted Timestamps

• 01:04 – How Chris and Billy met, building a virtual partnership
• 02:57 – GWC membership philosophy
• 06:57 – Announcement of first Hong Kong event
• 09:21 – Billy's journey into German watches
• 18:05 – Special edition Nomos project
• 24:35 – Game: Build your perfect Saxon watch

Follow the Glashütte Watch Club on Facebook and Instagram for news, and reach out to Chris and Billy for collaboration or events.