Alfred Helwig One of the most eminent German precision watchmakers, he was apprenticed to Master Watchmaker Gustav Dunkel until 1904, then entered the Deutsche Uhrmacherschule. Helwig worked in the Glashütter Präzisions-Uhrenfabrik AG until 1908. He worked in Hamburg for a year at the Chronometerwerke Hamburg. In 1909 he returned to the Glashütter Präzisions- Uhrenfabrik for 2 years, also becoming an independent chronometer maker. On April 1, 1913, he became professor and director of practical watchmaking at the Deutsche Uhrmacherschule, staying until his retirement. Very organized and disciplined, as demanding of himself as he was of his students, he encouraged them to work to the best of their abilities. In his workshop he displayed the motto:
?We don?t train only watchmakers, we train watchmakers to become extraordinary people with character?. During Helwig?s years at the school many improvements were made in the field of horology by his students and himself and many excellent watches were built. In the early 1920s Helwig invented what is now commonly known as a flying tourbillon; it represents the ultimate achievement in the making of revolving escapements. In 1922 Helwig became a master. Helwig died on May 18, 1974. On the 25th anniversary of his death Glashütte Original introduced a new model, called ?Helwig?, employing his flying tourbillon, of which only 25 pieces were made.