The confirmation that the German manufacture also has something to say in the history of watchmaking is written with a name:A. Lange & Söhne. Exceptional uniqueness and precision are the axes ofthis German firm thatIt began its journey in Glashütte, Saxony (Germany) in 1845 at the hands of a master watchmaker, Ferdinand A. Lange.A. Lange & SöhneIt designs and manufactures its own mechanisms in a very small number of pieces per year, which makes it one of the most appreciated brands worldwide.
En la history of A. Lange & SöhneThey highlight a series of improvements in the art of watchmaking that represented a break with many of the traditional techniques. Among its innovations, the brand builds handmade measuring instruments and introduces flying lathes that greatly improved the quality of the pieces. In 1864 he incorporated the three-quarter plate (Dreiviertel-platine) which later became a distinctive element in Glashütte watches. The brand also worked on the exact design of movements, calculations and conversion tables between the French line of watchmaking and the metric system.
The second half of the 19th century marks a glorious era for thehistory of A. Lange & Söhne watchesby stimulating the German empire's demand for luxury goods. Personalities and politicians of the time wearA. Lange & Söhneand the production of flying ratchet pocket chronographs spreads. With World War I, the marketluxury watcheswas severely affected butA. Lange & Söhnemanaged to survive thanks to the production of high-precision marine chronometers. It was later one of the five German firms that made B-Uhr or observer watches for Luftwaffe pilots in World War II. The international conflict would end with the brand's workshops bombed and completely destroyed. three years later, It was nationalized to become part of the state company VEB Glashütter Uhrenbetriebe or GUB. The cold war will mark a pause in theA. Lange & Söhnethat starting in 1951 it stopped engraving the brand name on the dials of the watches.
After German reunification, in 1990, Walter Lange relaunched the brand and began a new stage within the company. The first collection that takes up the traditional brandA. Lange & SöhnenIt was presented in 1994 with an emblematic piece, the Lange 1, the first watch to incorporate an extra large date on the dial. The model was an immediate success due to the combination of its high-class caliber and its new off-center dial design. In the year 2000A. Lange & SöhneIt becomes part of the Richemont luxury goods group based in Geneva (Switzerland).
In these years,A. Lange & Söhnehas created exclusive pieces with extraordinary artisanal precision, opening branches in numerous cities around the world. Within the models ofwatches A. Lange & SöhneThe most prominent or emblematic are those of the Lange family (Lange 1, Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar, Time Zone, ), Saxonia (Thin, Dual Time, Annual Calendar, Langematik Perpetual), Richar Lange (Pour le Mérite, Tourbillon, Perpetual Calendar), 1815 (Up/Down, Tourbillon, Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar), Zeitwerk (Striking time, Handwerkskunst, Zeitwerk) and a group that includes incomparable masterpieces (Double Split, Grand Complication). All of these new designs present an improvement in stability and precision and innovations such as the self-made balance springs or the tension readjustment mechanism. Also functions such as Zero-Reset and second hand stop.A. Lange & SöhneIt is also known for its chronographs such as the Datograph – from the Masterpieces group – which includes a power reserve indicator and its own oscillation system.
All watchesA. Lange & SöhnenThey have mechanical movements and, with few exceptions, most cases are made of gold or platinum. As a watch manufacturer, it develops, produces and assembles all its movements, built with a copper and nickel alloy, unlike the nickel-plated brass used in Swiss movements. This gives it a characteristic coloration and shine. The uniqueness of its exclusive pieces handcrafted with exceptional precision have allowed the brand to be at the top of international fine watchmaking and compete closely with other brands.luxury watches.
Curiosities
- A. Lange & Söhne only produces 5,000 watches a year.
- Ninety years after its presentation, Emil Lange's centenary tourbillon was auctioned for 1.5 million marks.
- The Grand Complication model by A. Lange & Söhne takes one year to make and involves 876 handcrafted parts, 7 complications and 14 functions. Only 6 copies are made and they have a price of $2.6 million. The highest price achieved so far for a watch.
- The 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar won two Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève in 2013 and became the first non-Swiss watch to be awarded in this category in the history of the competition.
- Unlike other major watch brands, it does not have high-profile ambassadors.
www.alange-soehne.com
