Cornelius Huber
CEO, Circula Uhren GmbH

Cornelius Huber, the present CEO of

Circula Watches & his father Frank Huber

CiRCULA has a rich history dating back to 1955, and your family has been involved in watchmaking since 1926. How does it feel to carry forward this multi-generational legacy?

It’s a great honor and a deep personal motivation. CiRCULA was founded by my grandfather, Heinz Huber, in 1955 as part of our family’s long-standing watch and jewelry wholesale business established in 1926. Continuing what he built feels like closing a circle — hence our name, which comes from the CiRCULAting gears inside a mechanical watch. Every time I see our watches being worn around the world, it reminds me that we are keeping a piece of family and Pforzheim history alive in a contemporary way.

Pforzheim is known as Germany’s “Goldstadt” with a long watchmaking tradition. How does this heritage influence CiRCULA’s designs and philosophy?

Pforzheim has been the heart of Western German watchmaking for over a century. Many of the suppliers, craftsmen, and schools that shaped the industry are still active here. This proximity to know-how and tradition shapes our philosophy: to create authentic mechanical watches, built locally and transparently. We assemble every CiRCULA in our own workshop in Pforzheim, and we work closely with regional specialists like Jochen Benzinger, one of the last masters of guilloché. Our design language always reflects that origin — functional, precise, and timelessly German.

What were some of the most defining moments for CiRCULA, from its founding to today, that inspire you personally?

There are several milestones that define CiRCULA’s journey. The first is of course its founding in 1955, when my grandfather launched the brand as one of Pforzheim’s post-war success stories. The second was the quartz crisis in the 1970s and ’80s — CiRCULA adapted and survived, while many others disappeared. And for me personally 2019, when I took over, was obviously a very emotional and pivotal moment. I was able to merge our mechanical roots with modern ideas, from our in-house assembled movements with NOS parts made in Pforzheim to today’s contemporary tool watches that speak to a new generation of enthusiasts.

How would you describe CiRCULA’s identity in the modern watch industry?

CiRCULA stands for contemporary mechanical tool watches from Germany — functional, high-quality, and honest. We’re an independent, family-run manufacturer that focuses on purpose-driven design rather than trends. Our watches are made to be worn and used, not stored in a safe. In an industry full of marketing noise, authenticity and transparency are what truly resonate with our customers.

CiRCULA focuses on mechanical tool watches. What does this focus mean for your design and production choices?

It means everything we do must serve both function and durability. Whether it’s our scratch-resistant field watch ProTrail, 500-meter water-resistant diver DiveSport Titanium, or the antimagnetic ProFlight pilot’s watch, we design every model for real use. We choose solid stainless-steel or titanium cases, sapphire crystals, precise Swiss movements, and luminous hands and indexes for readability. A tool watch should inspire confidence — that’s our benchmark for every detail.

How do you balance honoring CiRCULA’s historical roots with creating watches for today’s customers?

For some models, we take inspiration from our archives, not copies. The AquaSport II, for example, is directly based on a CiRCULA skin diver from the 1970s, but its proportions, materials, colors and lume are entirely modern. For other models we create entirely new designs and incorporate the typical CiRCULA DNA from our 70 year long history. That balance keeps the soul of CiRCULA intact while ensuring the watches perform to contemporary expectations.

You took over CiRCULA in 2019. What was your vision for revitalizing the brand?

My goal was to bring back the authenticity and craftsmanship that defined CiRCULA, but in a way that excites today’s watch community. That meant developing a clear design identity, focusing on mechanical movements, and building strong direct relationships with our customers. I also wanted CiRCULA to represent the best of modern German watchmaking: independent, transparent, and driven by passion, not mass production.

Can you share the story behind sourcing New Old Stock (NOS) movements and how it connects CiRCULA’s past with the present?

When I took over CiRCULA, it happened that my dad had a contact in the city with preserved original movements from the 1970s — genuine Pforzheim-made calibers from PUW (Pforzheimer Uhren-Rohwerke). We acquired them and decided to build watches with new components around them. We cleaned, regulated, and assembled each one by hand in our workshop. It was the perfect bridge between past and present — the historic mechanical heart, revived decades later in a new case. Those limited editions really resonated with collectors and gave CiRCULA’s visibility a boost.

CiRCULA offers a variety of watches — dive, field, pilot, and sport watches. Which collections are you most proud of and why?

That’s a tough question! I’m proud of all of them for different reasons. The ProTrail is our bestseller and perfectly expresses the idea of a German field watch: robust, functional, and understated. The AquaSport II Original LE embodies our heritage — a tribute to the 1970s with authentic color tones and proportions. And our latest Facet combines everything we’ve learned: a distinctive, facetted 38mm case, unique dial pattern, high-grade finishing and a precise La Joux Perret movement with 68h power reserve. Each line reflects a different aspect of CiRCULA’s DNA.

How do you approach design for durability and versatility in tool watches?

We always start with purpose. What conditions should the watch withstand? Then we design around that. For example, the ProFlight’s movement is protected by a soft-iron cage for antimagnetic resistance. Something that pilots need. The DiveSport Titanium’s 42mm case is both, light and professional-grade water-resistant. Versatility is equally important — our watches must fit seamlessly into everyday life, from outdoor adventure to office meetings. Therefore you can find a wide selection of colors in our collection. That’s what makes them true GADA watches.

As a modern independent brand, how do you connect with watch enthusiasts and collectors today?

Directly and personally. Social media, newsletters, and in-person events are key, but above all, transparency and dialogue matter. Many of our models were co-created with our community — we’ve involved collectors in design votes, color choices, and prototype feedback. This interaction keeps CiRCULA authentic and close to the people who wear our watches.

What do you think sets CiRCULA apart from other independent watch brands?

It’s the combination of genuine heritage, in-house assembly, and functional German design and quality, all for a very accessible price. We don’t just use “heritage” as a marketing term — we’ve been continuously active since 1955. And we produce locally in Pforzheim, working with real watchmakers, not outsourcing everything to anonymous factories. Our independence allows us to make decisions based on passion and quality, not volume.

What personal lessons have you learned from running CiRCULA and leading a family legacy brand?

That authenticity and consistency always win in the long run. The watch industry can be fast-moving, but staying true to our values — craftsmanship, transparency, and design integrity — builds real trust. I’ve also learned how important community is. CiRCULA wouldn’t be where it is today without the enthusiasm and feedback of people who share our love for mechanical watches.

Looking forward, what are your main priorities or vision for CiRCULA in the next decade?

Our goal is to keep evolving while staying independent. We’ll continue creating distinctive mechanical tool watches with German character and Swiss precision. At the same time, we want to deepen our sustainability efforts — sourcing responsibly, extending product lifecycles, and maintaining long-term serviceability. And of course, we’ll keep celebrating our Pforzheim roots — not as nostalgia, but as a foundation for the next 70 years of CiRCULA.