In the world of watchmaking, Switzerland has traditionally been the beating heart. But over the last thirty years, A. Lange & Söhne has earned a place alongside high-end Swiss brands like Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin. Many watch enthusiasts even believe that A. Lange & Söhne has surpassed traditional Swiss brands. Let’s explore A. Lange & Söhne and the brand’s rich history in German watchmaking.
The Early Beginnings in Glashütte, Germany
While most watch enthusiasts recognize A. Lange & Söhne’s extraordinary achievements over the past three decades, the brand’s history dates back much further. It all began in 1845 when Ferdinand Adolph Lange opened his workshop in the Saxon town of Glashütte. The town would soon become the capital of German watchmaking, a title it still holds today.
After a challenging start, the brand released stunning pocket watches that established the Lange name. In 1868, Ferdinand Adolph Lange’s two sons took over the business. The brothers elevated watchmaking by filing 27 patents—some still in use today—and gaining widespread recognition for their “Century Tourbillon.” The Lange name became renowned for pocket watches with various complications, such as a chronograph, perpetual calendar, and minute repeater, making them popular gifts among heads of state.
Becoming One of the Leading Watch Brands in the World
In the decades that followed, A. Lange & Söhne achieved great success as one of the most prestigious watch brands. However, the tumultuous first half of the 20th century drastically altered its trajectory. World War II had a particularly severe impact, and, after the war, East Germany nationalized the brand under a different name, causing the Lange name to disappear from watchmaking.
Following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, Walter Lange, the great-grandson of Ferdinand Adolph Lange, sought to reestablish the Lange name as a leader in German watchmaking. In partnership with Günter Blümlein, an industry veteran with experience at IWC and Jaeger-LeCoultre, Lange began working to revive the brand in 1990. Together, they aimed to make A. Lange & Söhne the premier representative of German watchmaking. This goal was not only about distinguishing the brand geographically from its Swiss counterparts; it also signaled a commitment to German watchmaking traditions and innovative, distinctively designed watches.
The Official Relaunch of the Brand in 1994
After four years of preparation, A. Lange & Söhne was successfully relaunched to the public in 1994 with a collection of four new models, two of which were traditional. However, the two other pieces developed by Blümlein clearly showed the brand’s future direction. The first was the Lange 1, which introduced a completely new design with the signature outsize date and an off-center time display inspired by the rule of thirds. This mathematical approach to dial design has since become a hallmark of all Lange timepieces.
The second new timepiece was the Tourbillon “Pour le Mérite,” which showcased the brand’s expertise in creating some of the world’s most complex wristwatches. This watch combined a tourbillon with a fusée-and-chain transmission—a feature that had never before been integrated into a wristwatch, making it a world first. This model immediately established Lange’s reputation as a brand capable of crafting technically brilliant timepieces.
A Combination of Clever Design and Brilliant Watchmaking
A. Lange & Söhne has become synonymous with a blend of clever dial designs, top-notch finishing, and exceptional technical watchmaking. This reputation has placed it among the world’s leading watch brands. Following the success of the initial collection, the brand introduced the Datograph in 1999, featuring an in-house-developed chronograph movement—a feat that the brand’s Swiss competitors at the time had not achieved.
In the early 2000s, A. Lange & Söhne added more standout watches to its lineup. Key models included variations of the Lange 1, with its off-center time display and outsize date. The Grand Lange 1 and the Lange 1 Moonphase helped establish the Lange 1 as a beloved icon. The brand also continued to impress with new creations, such as the Double Split and 1815 Chronograph, which demonstrated its exceptional skill in crafting some of the world’s best chronographs.
The Zeitwerk model introduced a mechanical watch with a digital time display featuring windows for jumping hours and minutes. Though it appears to be a modern marvel, the display has roots in 19th-century German watchmaking. Since its introduction in 2009, the Zeitwerk has become one of the brand’s most recognizable watches, thanks to its unique display.
A. Lange & Söhne Today
Today, A. Lange & Söhne’s collection consists of six distinct product families: the Lange 1, Zeitwerk, Saxonia, 1815, Richard Lange, and Odysseus families. Each has a unique design signature and combines it with exceptional mechanical watchmaking, exquisite materials, and meticulous finishing.
The brand is not bound solely by its history and traditions. The Odysseus family represents a modern luxury sports watch. Following the initial releases in steel and white gold, the brand also introduced a titanium version, marking another first and demonstrating its commitment to innovation in design and materials.
However, what remains constant is the distinct A. Lange & Söhne approach to watchmaking, defined by a straightforward dedication to creating the best watches, blending technical excellence with intelligent design rooted in classic German traditions. This focus differentiates the brand from its Swiss peers. As Günter Blümlein aptly put it, the phrase “Made in Germany” resonates worldwide, establishing A. Lange & Söhne as one of the leading high-end watch brands globally.
