1989 – 1994
Konrad Damasko researches martensitic steels
Five years of R&D culminate in 20 patents on cryogenically
hardened ("ice-hardened") stainless steels. Hardness peak: 62 HRC.
Nickel-free (hypoallergenic). Intrinsic magnetic resistance.
1994
Founding of Damasko in Barbing (Bavaria)
Konrad founds Damasko Metallbearbeitung; Petra founds
Damasko Feiner Uhrenbau. Clear split: metal vs assembly.
1996 – 2005
OEM stage · Damasko makes cases for Sinn
The famous U1 and Sinn's entire pilot line ship with Damasko-made cases.
Konrad gains industrial scale and quietly funds his own line. The Damasko brand
itself remains invisible to the end consumer.
2006
First watches branded Damasko · DA36, DA37
In-house hardened-steel cases + ETA 2824-2 movement. Austere pilot design,
no flashy logos. Initial price: ~€1,000.
2008
EPS hairspring · first in-house component
Damasko introduces its very own EPS polycrystalline silicon hairspring
(Eigenes Präzisions-System). Manufactured in Barbing using photolithographic
technology. Initially mounted on modified ETA calibres. It serves as the definitive
technical proof that they can build a complete calibre.
2010 – 2015
EPS expansion · silicon escape wheel
After the hairspring, Damasko adds a full silicon escape wheel,
hardened-steel pallet fork and a double roller. Additional patents are
filed on the silicon + ice-hardened steel combination. The DC56/DC57 chronometers are
the very first to mount the complete EPS package on a modified ETA calibre.
2018 – 2019
Swatch Group cuts ETA supply
Regulatory confirmation: from 2020 onward, ETA only supplies Swatch Group and
third parties with priority contracts. Damasko never had one. The decision to
manufacture its own movement turns into survival.
December 2020
A26-1 debut · DK30 + DK32
First variant: hours/minutes/central seconds only. Same basic architecture
as the ETA 2824-2 (full parts interchangeability for easier service), but now with
bidirectional pawl winding featuring 2 ceramic bearings, all manual-winding
gears manufactured in hardened steel (no more brass at all), and the new EPS silicon
escape wheel.
2021 – 2022
A26-2 · variant with date at 3
Same base, date module added. Appears in DK22, DK32, DK32 Black/Ocean.
Price: +€170 vs A26-1.
2022 – 2023
A26-3 · day + date in a special position
Full variant with a day-of-week indication alongside the date.
Launches with the DK36 line (40 mm, ice-hardened case, the very first 40 mm
Damasko case designed explicitly for the A26-3). Today it stands as the most
widespread variant.
2024 – 2026
Current expansion · 33+ active references
The 2026 catalogue now includes 13 models with the A26-1, 4 with the A26-2
and 16 with the A26-3. The DK30/2, DK32/2, DK36/2 variants make their appearance
(second iterations of case / dial). Damasko is also actively developing an in-house
chronograph (still in testing, with no official name yet).