The History of A. Lange and Sohne

If you are a luxury watch enthusiast or looking for a high quality timepiece, A. Lange and Sohne is an excellent choice. As one of the leading watch brands to set up shop in Germany, it has a long history from 1845. Before launching the brand, Adolf Lange worked as an apprentice under J. C Friedrich Gutkaes, an experienced watchmaker. Lange made luxury watches on commission for the elite, which allowed him to refine his techniques.

At Atlanta Luxury Watches, we offer a range of timepieces from leading brands, ensuring your needs are met every time you visit our watch store. A. Lange and Sohne watches are part of our vast catalog, and we are proud to give you pertinent information to help you make an informed purchase. Let’s look at the history of this unique brand and what makes their watches sought after.

Lange and Glashutte

In 1848, Lange became the mayor of Glashutte, where he served for nearly 20 years. He transformed the town into a watchmaking industrial center with his innovative mind and meticulous work ethic. Lange passed down watchmaking skills to his sons, Emil and Richard, in the early 1870s before passing on in 1875 at 60. In the following years, his sons and grandsons continued his innovation and debuted the A. Lange and Sohne No. 42500 Grand Complication in 1900. Although a private buyer commissioned the pocket watch, it remains one of the most complex timepieces created by the German brand.

The Early 1900s

Besides the brand’s debut of the A. Lange and Sohne No. 42500, the 1900s marked a difficult period. The political uncertainty of WWI, the economic recession that followed, and the continued strife of WWII affected the town of Glashutte, especially the town’s watch manufacturing. However, A. Lange and Sohne manufactured large wristwatches for the German Air Force, which resulted in severe repercussions following the war. The company’s workshops were bombed, and in 1948, the Soviet administration nationalized the remaining property. Unfortunately, the brand name disappeared for the next 45 years.

The Collapse of the Iron Curtain

The iron curtain collapsed in 1989, which changed everything for the remaining Lange family. Adolf Lange’s great-grandson, Walter Lange, returned to Germany and continued the family watchmaking tradition. He re-registered the trademark, A. Lange and Sohne, and presented the first luxury watches in nearly 50 years.

The most notable of their new watches was the Lange 1, which incorporated a brand-new patent. Adolf Lange’s masterpieces largely inspired the outsize date, particularly a clock designed for the Semper Opera House in Dresden in 1830. A. Lange and Sohne watches continue to use this key date feature today.

The 2000s

After nearly ten years of restoration, the A. Lange and Sohne’s workshop opened in 2001. Since its re-invention, the brand has created over 40 new movements, which have won them over 150 international horological prizes. This shows that A. Lange and Sohne watches are here to stay. Contact us at Atlanta Luxury Watches or visit our watch store to learn more about your favorite brand. We offer a wide range of high quality timepieces from leading brands.