From the 19th Century to the 21st Century
1999 Lange 1 in stainless steel, never offered in catalogue, approximately 30 were ever made / Credit: Phillips
Haute horlogerie or the high art of watchmaking often is synonymous with brands such as Patek Philippe or Vacheron Constantin, or indeed a few, more particular independents like Roger W. Smith and Philippe Dufour. Yet, one brand which was regularly overlooked and has seen a huge resurgence in popularity in recent years, is A. Lange & Söhne. Many watch brands have rich histories of struggle, hardship, and new beginnings, one may think of Blancpain and Jean-Claude Biver, for example. However, it is safe to say that few watchmakers’ histories are as rich as that of A. Lange & Söhne.
Ferdinand Adolf Lange
The brands’ founder, Ferdinand Adolf Lange, was born in Dresden, Saxony in 1815, only 30km away from the future watchmaking hub of Glashütte (two very interesting details if you know the brand of today). As a young man he was enrolled at the Technical Education Institute in Dresden which had been founded in 1829. There, he met royal watchmaker Johann Christian Friedrich Gutkaes and became his apprentice at 15. Under his tutelage, Lange became accustomed to the art of watchmaking as well as the fundamentals of the industry he found himself in. Watchmaking was a far cry from gunsmithing, the trade of his father, Samuel Lange. Adolf learnt from his teacher, Gutkaes, before traveling to France to learn under Josef Thaddäus Winnerl, the former apprentice of Abraham-Louis Breguet. During that time, he also attended lectures by Arago, learning physics and improving his theoretical knowledge. In developing his skill set in France, Adolf also quickly understood that a problem with French design was that it relied heavily upon trial and error, which had a subsequent effect on the quality of the timepiece and in some cases the profitability of the enterprise.
Ferdinand Adolf Lange / Credit: A. Lange & Söhne
Adolf Lange, upon his return to his native Dresden in 1842, became a partner in his former mentor’s workshop and married Gutkaes’ daughter. Soon after, the moment that began the history of the brand A. Lange & Söhne took place with the establishment of the “Glashütte Project”. Lange sought to make an agreement with the local government and build a watch factory in the Glashütte, which he promptly moved to. In 1845, he finally received a loan from the government of Saxony, after talks of about two years, and established the company we revere today: ‘A. Lange’. Glashütte, thanks to Adolf’s ambition, became the epicentre of German watchmaking. In addition to that, he reinvigorated life in the area, created an industry and jobs, and developed what was once a poverty-stricken mining town into the thriving hub of horology we know today. Lange was also the Mayor of Glashütte, a position he held for eighteen years; a position in which he showcased that he was more than just a watchmaking visionary but also a proponent of social goodwill. His family was even involved in the development of the watchmaking school in Glashütte, founded in 1878, that has been instrumental to maintaining the city as a watchmaking hub – much like the observatory opened in 1910. He innovated and used his years in various countries and learnings from different master watchmakers around Europe to stay ahead of the competition. In particular he was noted for combining strong points of both English and Swiss watchmaking and making a Swiss cylinder watch with the English lever escapement (the escapement invented by Thomas Mudge in 1755). Furthermore, in 1864, Ferdinand Adolph Lange started using a three-quarter plate in his timepiece – improving the stability of the movement. Then, in 1867 he produced a pocket watch with a jumping-seconds mechanism that was later patented by his sons.
A. Lange & Söhne in the 20th Century
There was a lot of opportunity for the company in the period of economic growth that followed the unification of Germany in 1871, but Adolf Lange’s death in 1875 sparked a big change in the company, with his sons Richard and Emil taking over and renaming the brand ‘A. Lange & Söhne’. In their own right, his sons were masters at the craft, mavericks much like their father. They also worked closely with aristocrats and royalty like German Emperor Wilhelm II and Russian Emperor Alexander II. As a testament of his sons’ skills, in the early 1930s, Richard Lange made a significant headway in the development of the balance spring that would serve as an example for the development of Nivarox. Richard had become interested in how metallurgy could affect balance springs and started experimenting with different alloys, eventually applying for a German patent in 1931. Despite the rich history and success of the brand and its survival making marine chronometers for the German navy through World War I, the brand couldn’t sustain themselves through a second war. The next generation of Langes returned from military service to find that their manufacture had been destroyed by bombing late in the war, in 1945. After World War II, on April 23rd, 1948, the East German government expropriated the town of Glashütte’s watchmaking companies (including other brands like Glashütte Original) and made Lange into a new entity: VEB Lange Glashütte. The company which once kept royalty on time was no more.
A. Lange & Söhne Tourbograph Perpétuel Pour le Mérite / Credit: FHH Journal
The German government then created VEB Glashütter Uhrenbetriebe (GUB). GUB was a VEB (government owned corporation) in East Germany and was created in 1951 through the merger of several smaller nationalized watchmakers that included our subject, VEB Lange Glashütte, but also others like VEB Meßtechnik (formerly Mühle & Sohn). It was a gradual process where the individual watch companies were nationalized and then merged into one larger corporation. The watches produced by these companies were even displayed at the Leipzig Autumn Fair in 1951, which was a well-known trade show at the time. Their products, those made in Glashütte, developed a reputation for high quality, and were even expensive for East Germans at the time; in many cases costing more than a month’s salary.
After decades of inactivity, or at least significantly constrained activity, the history of the brand takes its biggest and most momentous turn in 1989, with the fall of the Berlin Wall. The fourth generation of Lange, by the name of Walter, revives the brand, re-establishing it on the 145th anniversary of Adolf Lange’s birth, in 1990 – immediately after the reunification of Germany. In buying the rights to the old company, VEB Glashütter Uhrenbetriebe became Glashütter Uhrenbetrieb GmbH, and was once again in the hands of the Lange family. No longer a pocket-watchmaker, or a military watchmaker, but now making high-end timepieces for those with a fine eye for precision and craftsmanship. The revived A. Lange & Söhne brand saw the release of the Lange 1, their flagship model, undoubtedly modern, yet holding historical charm in a nod to their heritage. The date window draws its inspiration from a clock made for the Semper Opera House in 1830, made by the founder himself.
Lange & Söhne 1815 Tourbillon
Since its rebirth in the late 20th century, A. Lange & Söhne has established itself at the forefront of German horology. Once competing with Patek Philippe in the pocket watch field, it once again brushes shoulders with the very best in watchmaking. Continuing Adolf Lange’s pioneer spirit, the company has developed 40 movements, constantly improving and innovating.
A. Lange & Söhne is a brand of the future with a nod to the past. Every aspect of the brand incorporates its rich history, from the name to the renovation of the factory that was destroyed in World War II. The hint offered earlier in the article in reference to Adolf’s birth year place shows that most pieces are a tribute to their founder; notably the 1815 and Saxonia range. Today, it goes without saying that the brand has risen to prominence, and gets its fair amount of credit. Yet, a unique selling point is that the affinity people have for the brand is derived from its subtlety and its quality. Wearing an A. Lange & Söhne would not garner much praise except from other watch nerds, who recognize their timepieces for their craftsmanship; it is not yet a status symbol like so many other watch brands. Indubitably, the future for the brand is bright. They’re accessible for those who can afford it and continue to be a marker of excellence within the industry. What makes A. Lange & Söhne so different is not their turbulent past or their vision for the future, but their relationship with the history that makes the brand what it is today.
By: Jack Lineker