A. Lange & Söhne

Glashütte, Germany

Lange was originally founded in 1845 by Ferdinand Adolph Lange in Glashütte, near the city of Dresden in German Saxony. Ferdinand’s son Richard joined him in the business, and the company changed its name to A. Lange & Söhne. They specialised in making high quality pocket watches.

After their main production building was destroyed in the last days of the war the company ceased to exist under postwar Soviet administration. Walter Lange who is the great-grandson of the founder and the lead of the company had to flee the country in order to avoid forced labour.

When the fall of the wall is celebrated in November 1989, Walter Lange sees the chance for a new beginning for the family business in Glashütte. Shortly after their first new patent is registered for the outsize date which marks many of their models.

Highlights

1845
Ferdinand Adolph Lange founded the company in Glashütte which is located in the German state Saxony.
1868
Ferdinand Adolph Lange’s son Richard officially becomes a partner in his father’s company and is renamed to A. Lange & Söhne. Shortly after second son Emil joins them
1875
After their father’s death, brothers Richard and Emil Lange take over the manufactory. Both complement each other perfectly.
1902
The only Grand Complication no. 42500 was built. A pocket watch with chiming movement, grande and petite sonnerie, split seconds, minute repeater, perpetual calendar and moon-phase.
1930
Richard Lange files patent: no. 529945 for a “metal alloy for watch springs”. Later, this will be marketed as the “Nivarox® balance spring”which is still used in quality watches
1945
During the last days of the war the company’s main production building is destroyed during a bombing and during the postwar Soviet administration the company ceased to exist in 1948
1990
Walter Lange and Günter Blümlein make a plan to establish the Lange manufactory and the brand name is re-registered.
1992
Lange Uhren GmbH files its first patent in 1992 for the outsize which will become a distinctive feature of many of their timepieces.
2000
A. Lange & Söhne became a member of the Richemont group
2007
A. Lange & Söhne opens its first boutique in Dresden

Did you know?

Precious

With the exception of a very few special edition watches, all A. Lange & Söhne watch cases are made in precious metals
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