A. Lange & Söhne - Scholars of Super luxury watchmaking

A. Lange & Söhne boutiques are impressive ambassadors of Lange watchmaking artistry. At these venues, the venerable Saxon manufactory presents most of the watches of its current collections. The exhibited timepieces unite timeless beauty and superb precision in exquisite masterpieces that seduce the hearts of watch connoisseurs and collectors on all continents. But the boutiques are also a standing invitation to all aficionados who wish to personally experience the world of Lange and immerse themselves in the fascinating realm of A. Lange & Söhne creation.

What makes a super-luxury German fine watchmaking brand tick and makes it relevant to connoisseurs even when it traverses the test of time? A. Lange & Söhne has perfected the art and science of fine watchmaking. The super-luxury German watch brand was founded in 1845 and till date is considered as one of the most exclusive and best kept secrets of the watch making world. A. Lange & Söhne has an approach to watch manufacturing which is grounded in precision, engineering and immaculate supremacy in their craftsmanship. The few watches that leave the manufactory every year signify outstanding quality, state-of- the art engineered components combined with eye catching elegance, traditional and yet contemporary appearance.

Celebrities, high-ranking nobility from far and near and even monarchs were among the satisfied clientele of A. Lange & Söhne. The passion of these watchmakers can be effortlessly illustrated with a single glance at the creations of A. Lange & Söhne. They relentlessly admire several hundred tiny parts that go into each timepiece and new models can take years to design, develop and fabricate. They appreciate the unique characteristics of every A. Lange & Söhne watch makes the timepiece an icon of classical elegance. The balance cock of an A. Lange & Söhne watch is beautifully hand engraved till date. The depth of the cut and the curl of the lines make each balance cock distinctive and unique. The screwed gold chatons contribute essentially to the beauty of a Lange movement. Thus, each watch by A. Lange & Söhne is a handcrafted marvel of micro-engineering, precision and refinement loved, adored and passed on from generation to generation.

At A. Lange & Söhne, every part of a movement is decorated with its very own finissage technique, whether or not it is visible through the sapphire crystal caseback of the watch. Additionally, as these finishing touches are applied by hand, Lange’s finisseurs endow each timepiece with their personal signature…

With the establishment almost four years ago of the “A. Lange & Söhne Akademie”, the traditional watch brand has been making an active contribution to the quality of advice provided in the superior watch retail sector. In the meantime, the first “Lange Experts” have left the academy after completing the third – and highest – level of the training programme. The aim of the Expert Course is to increase awareness of the watchmaking expertise at A. Lange & Söhne and to familiarise dealers with the special features of the watchmaking complications and with superior new products.

Nothing remains more firmly implanted in our memory than what we have experienced ourselves or – better still – created with our own hands. Who ever visits the Lange factory and been allowed to look over the shoulders of the master watchmakers as they perform their highly concentrated and extremely complicated work, begins to understand just how much in the way of precision and, above all else, passion, goes into a watch that bears the signature of “A. Lange & Söhne”. This insight led to the idea of founding the “A. Lange & Söhne Academy” for appointed dealers. It is her aim to equip the watch retailer with greater competence when advising customers, and to help him to give knowledgeable answers to the frequently very detailed questions asked by well-informed potential purchasers.

As a company specializing in the manufacture of exclusive and highly sophisticated mechanical timepieces, with an extremely selective network of only 140 appointed dealers worldwide, Lange depends on the quality of the retailer’s knowledge and advisory ability more than virtually any other manufacturer. The most vital requirement for this is an excellent knowledge of watchmaking at Lange. Now the company’s own Academy has been disseminating this knowledge since 30 July in a purpose-built and equipped building. The courses last several days and cover a three-phase curriculum in which the participants learn everything worth knowing about the design and unique horological features of a Lange watch, as well as the history, philosophy and cultural environment of A. Lange & Söhne. The first stage – called “Lange Ambassador” – imparts basic information and turns the participants into ambassadors for the brand. The knowledge acquired during the second stage enables them to act as a “Lange Coach” and pass on what they know to others. Those who complete the third and final stage leave the Academy as “Lange Experts.

Karishma Karer, Editor, HOT, embarked upon a coveted tour that many aspired to undertake but only a few chosen ones made it. Only one publication’s representative from 15 different countries was invited for the Lange Akademie programme and from India, Karishma Karer made it to this first amongst equals sojourn. The delegates were hosted at the magnificent “Hotel Bülow Palais”. At the end of the magnificent trip she received her ‘certificate’ that propelled her into a league of ‘Lange Experts’.

Day 1 started with a Manufactory tour with Joanna Lange and Kirsten Hultzsch followed by a journey through the Lange Collection. The delegates were then taken to the “A. Lange & Söhne Watchmaking School” in Bärenstein near by Glashütte and were introduced to the apprenticeship along with an exclusive visit of the workshops. A perfect end to the day was a cozy dinner in the Saxonian vineyard „Klaus Zimmerling“ in Pillnitz. On Day 2, the delegates were once again taken to the A. Lange & Söhne Watchmaking School where the group now learnt the various finishing techniques, palache technique and assembling of the movement. They were then taken to traditional and classic A. Lange & Söhne Boutique in the heart of Dresden.

The trip ended with a fantastic dinner at the „Villa Marie“ with Walter Lange, CEO Wilhelm Schmid, Arnd Einhorn and Kirsten Hultzsch where the selected few were presented with Lange Experts graduation certificates. A true honour…!!

Lange & Söhne Akademie was started and headed by the beautiful Joanna Lange.
Here is Karer’s exclusive tete-a-tete with Joanna …

Tell us about the various tales about the Academy?

JL: Well, Academy courses are interactive and begun in 2007 and there are so many stories to tell. Most importantly, we found that our sales associates around the world were able to passionately tell the story; and so we have started in 2007 with the academic programme, mainly for our sales associates and we wanted to make it as lively and interactive as possible. So here, you can also see the history and tradition of the brand... no better place than the heart of the manufacturing. To recall one, Helmond, being one of the first 20 employees, started the engraving in 1992. He came here with an idea to make a high- end luxury watch in 1990. But in 1990 finish and luxury didn’t exist through the TDR times and the 2nd World war. These people really looked through their contacts and gained rich experience and evolved phenomenally.

Why did Lange feel the need to make such a significant contribution to the world of horology?

JL: We all know how the company has developed from humble origins to its premier status today. It had its ups and downs --- in 1990 it was merely a post box company with an address somewhere near the old school at Walter Lange. This company has really progressed and developed quite a lot since then. The very rich legacy and history since 1845 and then till 1948 has been restored in many ways. Lange was the first person to start fine watch making here. Here, you will see and you will get opportunity to communicate with our masterwatch makers, finishers, engravers. You will love it. Mind it, you are not disturbing them. It’s great for them to communicate with you and have free fact from you as much as you will get from them. So, our people and processes are our strongest assets at Lange. It is matter of great pride to restore the art and science of fine watch-making, which had ceased to exist in this region. So now, we have again gained a rich tradition going back 165 years.

What can one expect to see here?

JL: You will have the opportunity to see a few rarest of rare collections, after master watchmakers, finishers, hand gravers, head of departments and sales techniques especially for our sales associates. It is important for our sales associates that they communicate with our service or collector team. Four years ago, A. Lange & Sohne unveiled its “A. Lange & Sohne Akademie” in the hope to deal with application related ways for dealers. These application programmers are planned to enable dealers to receive comprehensive and good education including the fundamentals of guiding them through the renowned brand heritage values and receive these watches of excellence.

How many such evolved watchmakers do you create?

JL: Lange is a very exclusive brand, still making less than 5000 pieces every year, we can in a personal way contact those who are important to our brand. We have 363 graduates from the academy, 301 ambassadors, 62 experts all over the world and it is growing. We have also tarted with some collectors and connoisseur groups from Japan, Asia and America.