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| A. Lange & Söhne |
The renaissance of the watch brand A. Lange & Söhne is a true phenomenon in time. It certainly wouldn't take a fortune teller to predict that from the ruins of the bornagain German luxury brand, at least in Germany, a successful beginning would arise. But the extent of the Lange euphoria that has now lasted just about ten years has surprised even the most optimistic of critics. |
| Enthusiasm for the newcomer from the East gripped not only impassioned Lange pocket watch collectors and homesick Saxons, but also ambitious watch collectors from every discipline and, above all, from every social stratum, who had never before wasted a thought on buying themselves a special (or expensive) watch. Least expected in Glashutte was the positive resonance from international circles, especially Switzerland, the generally accredited home of luxury wristwatches. Italians, who are rightfully said to have a special feel for horological refinements and collectible exclusivities, welcomed the descendants of Adolph Lange with open arms. And in the country possessing the largest number of watch collectors and enthusiasts worldwide, the good ole U. S. of A., those in the know dashed to scoop up these mechanical gems made in Germany. Winners prefer to be in the company of winners, or so the saying goes.
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There were four models in the starting collection from 1994: Lange 1, available in three case sizes since this year; Arkade; Saxonia; and the tourbillon Pour Ie Merite, no longer in production. These are now accompanied by numerous new classics. The successive ranges 1815, Cabaret, and Langematik (the first automatic watch by Lange) have also been able to gain a faithful following. In its inimitable way, the Datograph, introduced in 1999, combines the technical and aesthetic values of column wheel control, flyback function, Lange large date, and a precisely jumping minute counter in one fascinatingly clean and unmistakable package. The Lange 1 Tourbillon represents a beautiful amalgamation of two neoclassics: the characteristic "face" of the Lange 1 combined with the breathtaking filigreed Glashutte rotating movement technology. The Langematik Perpetual is the first perpetual calendar for the wrist coming from the Saxon manufacture, and naturally this timepiece also possesses a special technological- and user-friendly - feature: In addition to the single correction buttons for the calendar functions, it features a main button with which all displays can be forwarded one day simultaneously.
The moon of the Lange 1 with moon phase is always in motion: Contrary to conventional moon phase mechanisms that are driven forward once or twice in a day by the date wheel, this moon disc is constantly rotating. Even if the wearer hardly notices the rotation, he or she can enjoy a smooth, quick correction and highly impressive display precision. The same is true of the new set Luna Mundi. This set comprises two timepieces housed in the case. of the large Lange 1: Luna Mundi/Southern Cross in a red-gold case shows the correct display of the moon as seen from the southern hemisphere, and Luna Mundi/Ursa Major in a white-gold case shows the path of the moon as seen from the northern hemisphere.
More than a decade after the founding of Lange Uhren GmbH, demand for the manufacture's products remains unbroken, and the opening of new markets provides for consistent growth rates. This situation may console the employees a bit in light of the heavy loss that the sudden death of Gunter Blumlein represented, the brand's true captain and brilliant mentor. The hole that the company's visionary president has left behind will not be easy to fill, but the phenomenon that is Lange has produced a brand rich in tradition aided by strikingly distinctive features.
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Lange
Uhren GmbH Altenberger Str. 15
01768 Glashutte, Germany
Tel.: 011-49-35053-440
Fax: 011-49-35053-44 100
www.lange-soehne.com
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