In a world dominated by Swiss watchmaking, A. Lange & Söhne stands as Germany's answer to Geneva's finest. Founded in the Saxon town of Glashütte in 1845, destroyed by Soviet forces, and resurrected after German reunification, Lange represents perhaps the most remarkable comeback story in horological history. Today, the manufacture produces some of the world's most beautiful and technically accomplished timepieces.
Ferdinand Adolph Lange (1845)
Ferdinand Adolph Lange trained in Switzerland under the great Abraham-Louis Breguet before returning to his native Saxony with a mission: to create a German watchmaking industry. In 1845, with a loan from the Saxon government, he established his workshop in the impoverished mining town of Glashütte.
Lange didn't just build a company—he built an industry. He trained apprentices, developed new tools and techniques, and established Glashütte as Germany's watchmaking capital. His sons continued his legacy, and by the early 20th century, A. Lange & Söhne timepieces rivaled the finest Swiss creations.
Distinctive German Style
From the beginning, Lange watches differed from their Swiss counterparts:
• German silver (nickel silver): Untreated three-quarter plates that develop a warm patina
• Hand-engraved balance cocks: Each individually decorated
• Screwed gold chatons: Jewel settings secured with blued screws
• Glashütte ribbing: Distinct striping pattern on plates
• Large date displays: Borrowed from the Semper Opera House clock
The Double Assembly: Every A. Lange & Söhne movement is assembled twice. After initial assembly and testing, the entire movement is disassembled, cleaned, and rebuilt to absolute perfection. This painstaking process ensures flawless finishing and function—no other major brand does this.
Destruction and Soviet Era (1945-1990)
World War II devastated Glashütte. Soviet forces occupied the town in May 1945, dismantled the factories, and shipped machinery to Russia as war reparations. The Lange family was expropriated, and the company was absorbed into a state-owned combine. For 45 years, the Lange name disappeared.
The communist era wasn't entirely negative for Glashütte watchmaking—the state company continued producing watches—but the Lange tradition of haute horlogerie was extinguished.
The Resurrection (1990)
Just weeks after German reunification, Walter Lange—great-grandson of the founder—re-registered the company. In partnership with Günter Blümlein of LMH (later IWC), he set out to rebuild A. Lange & Söhne as a manufacture of the highest caliber.
On October 24, 1994, Lange unveiled four watches that announced its return: the Lange 1, Saxonia, Arkade, and Tourbillon "Pour le Mérite." The industry was stunned. After 45 years of darkness, Lange had returned not merely as a viable brand but as a genuine competitor to the Swiss elite.
The Lange 1
The Lange 1 became the brand's icon. Its asymmetric dial—with off-center time display, outsized date, and power reserve indicator—was unlike anything else in watchmaking. The large date display, inspired by the five-minute clock at Dresden's Semper Opera House, became a Lange signature.
Critically, the Lange 1 demonstrated that Glashütte could compete with Geneva on finishing and innovation. Its three-quarter plate in untreated German silver, hand-engraved balance cock, and screwed gold chatons represented the highest level of traditional craft.
Ferdinand Adolph Lange establishes workshop in Glashütte
Sons Richard and Emil join; "& Söhne" added to name
Factory destroyed; expropriated by Soviet forces
Walter Lange re-registers company after reunification
Four launch models unveiled; Lange 1 debuts
Acquired by Richemont Group
Walter Lange passes away at 92
Technical Excellence
Lange's technical achievements rival any manufacture:
• Tourbillon "Pour le Mérite": Chain-and-fusée transmission (first wristwatch with this mechanism)
• Datograph: Considered the finest chronograph movement ever made
• Zeitwerk: First mechanical watch with jumping digital display
• Triple Split: Only watch tracking three simultaneous elapsed times
• Grand Complication: Multiple grand complications in one case
Today's Lange
Under Richemont ownership since 2000, A. Lange & Söhne produces approximately 5,500 watches annually—each finished to the highest standards. The manufacture in Glashütte employs traditional techniques alongside modern precision engineering.
Collections include the iconic Lange 1, the chronograph Datograph, the classical Saxonia, the digital Zeitwerk, the feminine Little Lange 1, and the sporty Odysseus. Each represents Lange's commitment to German engineering, artistic finishing, and technical innovation.
From a destroyed factory in communist East Germany to one of the world's most respected watchmakers in just 30 years—A. Lange & Söhne's story is one of determination, craft, and the enduring power of tradition.