At a glance
Guinand after Sinn: a brand history with a real interruption
Guinand Frères was established in 1865 by brothers Julien-Alcide and Charles Léon Guinand in Les Brenets. The official history dates its first chronograph to 1881 and describes later chronograph supply to other brands, including Sinn.
The official history dates Helmut Sinn’s share acquisition to 1995, followed by the Jubilar/Chronosport business period and German relocation. Sebastian Naeschke’s family-business biography describes him managing Sinn’s Swiss workshop and designing and making Guinand, Chronosport and Jubilar watches.
The same biography says Naeschke returned to Germany in 1999 to join the family clockmaking business. Worn & Wound reports that Guinand closed in 2014 after Horst Hassler’s retirement and that Matthias Klueh acquired its assets.
Guinand’s own history dates Matthias Klueh’s ownership to early 2015. The 2014 closure qualifies the official site’s claim of continuous manufacture since 1865. 134
The work and why it matters
Guinand is a confirmed watch brand with Swiss origins and a present Frankfurt business, Guinand GmbH. The imprint identifies Guinand GmbH, HRB 101278, at Hausener Weg 61, Frankfurt, represented by CEO Ernst-August Matthias Klüh.
The 2016 relaunch report describes German component sourcing and final assembly/quality control at Guinand, not universal in-house movement manufacture. The relaunch report identifies the 31.HS-12 with the HS81, a Helmut Sinn-modified Unitas calibre with central seconds. 124
Key dates
- 1865
Guinand Frères founded
Guinand Frères was established in 1865 by brothers Julien-Alcide and Charles Léon Guinand in Les Brenets. 1
- 1881
First chronograph in company history
The official history dates its first chronograph to 1881 and describes later chronograph supply to other brands, including Sinn. 1
- 1995
Helmut Sinn acquisition
The official history dates Helmut Sinn’s share acquisition to 1995, followed by the Jubilar/Chronosport business period and German relocation. 1
- 1999
Naeschke returns to Germany
The same biography says Naeschke returned to Germany in 1999 to join the family clockmaking business. 3
- 2014
Business closure reported
Worn & Wound reports that Guinand closed in 2014 after Horst Hassler’s retirement and that Matthias Klueh acquired its assets. 4
Ownership and continuity
The official history dates Helmut Sinn’s share acquisition to 1995, followed by the Jubilar/Chronosport business period and German relocation. 1
Watchmakers and designers linked to Guinand
These people have a sourced relationship to this brand in the Enjoy Watches register. The label beside each name states the relationship recorded; it should not be read as a broader employment or ownership claim.
- Sebastian Naeschke — Worked for / held role
Identification and service
For an individual watch, record the complete reference, serial, dial, case, and movement markings and compare them with dated primary documentation.
A brand history cannot authenticate, appraise, or establish the provenance of a particular watch.
Evidence and limits
How the claims are supported
- reasonable inference
Guinand is a confirmed watch brand with Swiss origins and a present Frankfurt business, Guinand GmbH.
- verified fact
Guinand Frères was established in 1865 by brothers Julien-Alcide and Charles Léon Guinand in Les Brenets.
- verified fact
The official history dates its first chronograph to 1881 and describes later chronograph supply to other brands, including Sinn.
- verified fact
The official history dates Helmut Sinn’s share acquisition to 1995, followed by the Jubilar/Chronosport business period and German relocation.
- verified fact
Sebastian Naeschke’s family-business biography describes him managing Sinn’s Swiss workshop and designing and making Guinand, Chronosport and Jubilar watches.
- verified fact
The same biography says Naeschke returned to Germany in 1999 to join the family clockmaking business.
- reasonable inference
Worn & Wound reports that Guinand closed in 2014 after Horst Hassler’s retirement and that Matthias Klueh acquired its assets.
- verified fact
Guinand’s own history dates Matthias Klueh’s ownership to early 2015.
- reasonable inference
The imprint identifies Guinand GmbH, HRB 101278, at Hausener Weg 61, Frankfurt, represented by CEO Ernst-August Matthias Klüh.
- verified fact
The 2016 relaunch report describes German component sourcing and final assembly/quality control at Guinand, not universal in-house movement manufacture.
- reasonable inference
The 2014 closure qualifies the official site’s claim of continuous manufacture since 1865.
- verified fact
The relaunch report identifies the 31.HS-12 with the HS81, a Helmut Sinn-modified Unitas calibre with central seconds.
Known limits
- This identity dossier is not a complete catalogue of every watch or reference.
Direct sources
- HistoryGuinand · official brand history · accessed September 15, 2026
Locator: Chronology, lines 234–287: founders, manufacturing, Sinn acquisition and Klueh; opening continuity statement at line 224.. First-party source; its statements remain attributed.
- ImprintGuinand · official legal notice · accessed September 15, 2026
Locator: Legal notice: company name, address and authorized representative.. First-party source; its statements remain attributed.
- ManufactoryMatthias Naeschke fine clocks · official maker biography · accessed September 15, 2026
Locator: Sebastian Naeschke biography, lines 125–128: Sinn’s Swiss workshop, Guinand/Chronosport/Jubilar and return in 1999.. First-party source; its statements remain attributed.
- The Return of GuinandWorn & Wound · independent specialist reporting · accessed September 15, 2026
Locator: Report, lines 219–228: Hassler retirement, 2014 closure, Klueh asset purchase and assembly/component sourcing.. External source.
Corrections
The public correction mailbox has not yet been recorded as tested end to end. Read the reporting format and retain your evidence until receipt is acknowledged.
Read the corrections policy