3 / A. Lange & Söhne

A. Lange & Söhne, Saxon Precision Watchmaking Lange & Söhne is a world-famous German watch manufacturer, founded in 1845 by Ferdinand Adolph Lange (1815-1875). As a talented and visionary watchmaker, he aims to create watches of the highest quality. He established his factory in Glashütte, a small town located in the Saxony region of Germany, which would become an important watchmaking centre over the years. From the beginning, Lange sought to develop the watch industry in his region, which was then economically disadvantaged. With the support of the Royal Government of Saxony, he established a watchmaking school and trained young local craftsmen and master watchmakers to create exceptional timepieces. Over the decades, A. Lange & Söhne became a successful company and gained a reputation for the quality and precision of its watches which are appreciated for their exceptional craftsmanship, meticulous finishing, and horological complications, in particular Grande and Petite Sonnerie, tourbillons and Grandes Complications. The manufacture developed numerous technical advances in watchmaking, in particular the pendant winding mechanism, the split-seconds chronograph and self-winding with a peripheral oscillating weight. A unique pocket watch, serial number 42 500, is the most complicated watch ever made by the brand. Delivered in 1902, it combines perpetual calendar, chronograph, minute repeater and Grande and Petite Sonnerie. However, during World War II and the subsequent Soviet occupation of East Germany, the company was nationalized and forced to cease operations. After the reunification of Germany in 1990, Walter Lange (1924-2017), the great-grandson of Ferdinand Adolph Lange, dared to resume activities and relaunched “A. Lange & Söhne” with the financial support of Richemont Group. Since then, A. Lange & Söhne has regained its place among the most prestigious watch brands in the world. It stands out for its constant quest for excellence, its attention to details and its spirit of innovation. A. Lange & Söhne watches are manufactured in-house and are renowned for their technical complexity, high-quality movements combined with horological complications. Handcrafted by highly skilled watchmakers and craftsmen who master complex techniques such as hand engraving, enamelling and engine-turning, the timepieces produced by the manufacture are distinguished by their elegant classic aesthetics. Among its greatest successes are brand icons such as the “Lange 1”, with the first Grande Date in a mass-produced wristwatch, and the “Zeitwerk” with a jumping-hour dial. Complications such as the “Zeitwerk Minute-repeater”, the “Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon” or the “Triple Split” embody the aspiration of the manufacture to always take its art, rich in a long tradition, to new heights. In 2014, Walter Lange received the “Special Jury Prize” from the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) for his efforts to restore the city of Glashütte to a world-class watchmaking centre. Today, A. Lange & Söhne watches are highly prized by collectors and watch enthusiasts who appreciate the combination of tradition, technical sophistication and timeless design. The brand continues to create exceptional watches, perpetuating the legacy of Ferdinand Adolph Lange and his relentless quest for watchmaking perfection. -- Key dates • 1845: Ferdinand Adolph Lange founds the A. Lange & Cie watch manufacturer in Glashütte, Saxony Germany. This marks the beginning of the high-quality watchmaking tradition in the region. • 1868: the company is renamed A. Lange & Söhne (A. Lange & Son) when Ferdinand Adolph Lange associates his sons, Richard and Emil, with the company. • 1875: A. Lange & Söhne develops and patents a pendant winding system for pocket watches, allowing better precision in watch winding. • 1948: at the end of the Second World War, the company is expropriated by the East German communist regime. A. Lange & Söhne then ceased its activities. • 1990: after the reunification of Germany, Walter Lange, great-grandson of Ferdinand Adolph Lange, relaunches A. Lange & Söhne brand. It is the beginning of a new era for the brand. • 1994: A. Lange & Söhne presents its first watch collection since the rebirth of the brand. The watches are hailed for their technical excellence and elegant design. • 1999: the “Lange 1”, today an iconic watch with an offset hour and minute display, is introduced. It becomes one of the brand’s most emblematic watches. • 2000: A. Lange & Söhne inaugurates its own manufacture in Glashütte, housing all watch manufacturing processes under one roof. -- Iconic models and current collections • “Lange 1”: one of the brand’s most emblematic models. It is characterized by its offset dial with an eccentric display of hours and minutes, combined with a large date display and a small seconds. This watch embodies the distinctive style of A. Lange & Söhne. • “Saxonia”: this collection is characterized by its timeless elegance and refined simplicity. It is distinguished by a sleek dial and a classic case, highlighting the purity of the lines and the craftsmanship. • “Datograph”: renowned chronograph watch which combines a precise display of timed times with a particular aesthetic. • “Richard Lange”: this collection pays tribute to the brand’s scientific heritage. The watches in this collection are dedicated to precision and timekeeping with great accuracy. They are often equipped with complications such as dead seconds, stop seconds function and precision indicators. • “Zeitwerk”: represents a modern interpretation of the digital display in a mechanical watch. It displays the hours and minutes in the form of jumping numerals, bringing a touch of originality and modernity. • “1815”: this collection pays tribute to the year of birth of Ferdinand Adolph Lange, founder of the brand. These watches are inspired by the design of traditional pocket watches and offer a classic and timeless aesthetic. --