A. Lange & Sohne Grand Lange 1 Watches

A. Lange & Söhne is a premier German watch-making company that creates watches ranking among the finest in the world. The company was founded in 1845 by Adolph Lange. Lange was born in Dresden in 1815 and began his apprenticeship as a watchmaker when he was only 15 years old. He was able to train with renowned watchmaker J.C. Friedrich Gutkaes. He remained in Dresden and continued to work with Gutkaes for several years before setting off to Glashutte on his own. The first 15 employees of the company later known as A. Lange & Söhne were underprivileged youth that lived in the small town. From those beginnings, Lange helped revolutionize the watchmaking industry. He was particularly influential on the town of Glashutte and is largely credited with reviving its struggling economy. In 1948, A. Lange & Söhne closed and did not resume operations for nearly 50 years. In 1990, the East German communist government collapsed and Walter Lange, great-grandson of the company founder, helped to restore the company.

Not only was Lange monumentally successful in launching a lasting watchmaking empire, he was also extremely innovative. He pioneered numerous techniques, many of which are still used today (and not just to make A. Lange & Söhne watches). One example of this is his replacement of bows with flywheels as the primary way to drive the lathes. This resulted in turned parts being much higher quality than conventional ones. Also, he introduced the three-quarter plate in an effort to enhance the stability of his movements. In addition, Lange was responsible for introducing the millimeter as the primary unit in watch making, which has impacted the industry every since.

Today, Lange’s legacy continues to live on with the A. Lange and Söhne line of luxury watches. All A. Lange watches are mechanical, as opposed to quartz-driven. This feature, combined with the fact that almost all A. Lange & Söhne watches are encased in precious metals like gold or platinum, separates them from many of its competitors. The watches feature the work of individual engravers, who decorate the balance cocks of each and every timepiece, which makes every watch unique. Because of the effort and work required to create just one of these fine watches, only a limited number of A. Lange & Söhne watches can be produced every year.

There are nine primary designs offered within the A. Lange & Söhne watch collection. One of the most popular models is the Cabaret, which is a rectangular timepiece. It is available in several different colors and boasts a remarkable display. Another of the companies most popular designs is the Saxonia, named after the German state Saxony, where Lange first began his career as a watchmaker. The Saxonia is boldly inscribed with the “A. Lange & Söhne” logo placed prominently on the top of the watch’s face. Other designs from A. Lange & Söhne include the Lange 1, the Richard Lange, the Lange 31, Langematik: Perpetual, Chronographs, and Arkade. Each of these watches is hand-crafted and is guaranteed to be top of the line in luxury.

Wingate’s is proud to offer a selection of precise A. Lange & Söhne watches for men and women, including several varieties of Cabaret, Datograph, Double Split, Lange 1, Langematik, and Tourbillon.

As one of the most unique and rare timepieces on the planet, an A. Lange & Söhne watch has timeless appeal and permanent value. Sure to become a family heirloom, the A. Lange & Söhne stands out both from the perspective of internal design and external appearance. Any one of the A. Lange & Söhne watches are sure to attract attention because of their unusual design and simple elegance that is like no other timepiece on the market.

No review of A. Lange & Söhne watches would be complete without mention of the wonderfully innovative Langematik Perpetual, released in 2007. The Perpetual is the first mechanical watch that only needs to be wound once a month. Winding is done with a special external key, similar to that used in the company’s pocket watches. The Perpetual is larger than the average wristwatch because of the necessity of the larger mainspring barrels required for the 31-day power reserve, but the larger size does not detract at all from its overall presentation. The watch itself is wonderfully designed with a large, easily viewable date right on top under the XII, and it features a silver dial and gold appliqués. 

This remarkable feat of engineering includes a perpetual calendar, and also displays the moon phase. Remarkably, it will not need to be re-synchronized until the year 2100. And in case you’re worried about resetting your watch in your extreme old age, it takes only a single press of a button to do the trick, and then it’s good for another 122.6 years. 

One of the most symbolic and meaningful gifts of a lifetime a man  could ever get is a fine wrist watch. A A. Lange & Söhne has the advantage of being a gift that will not only last for an entire lifetime—it will last for several lifetimes.  Many A. Lange & Söhne watches dating all the way back to the middle of the 19^th century are still treasured by the original owners’ heirs. The vintage A. Lange & Söhne pocket watches are particularly collectible and represent an important history of horology. Many well-known celebrities and members of the nobility, including Kaiser Wilhelm, carried A. Lange & Söhne pocket watches, which today continue to be highly prized.

As one of the most prestigious watches available, A. Lange & Söhne watches are often imitated, but no imitation can match the care that goes into an original A. Lange & Söhne watch, each one of which is painstakingly hand-crafted. The materials in an original A. Lange & Söhne watch are only the finest. Every movement is decorated with a unique finissage technique by hand, even if it is not visible through the caseback. Each A. Lange & Söhne watch is an individual work of art, made by master craftsmen, and each engraving on each piece reflects the talent, skill and training of the watchmaker who labors for days to create this magnificent work of art. Polishing the components alone is a labor-intensive process that takes several days, and must be completed fully by hand for the maximum desired effect.

The amount of highly skilled work involved in creating just one A. Lange & Söhne watch is nothing less than amazing—and the end result is nothing short of spectacular.

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