The watchmaking name of A. Lange & Sohne was first established in 1868 by Aldoph Lange in the town of Glasshutte, Saxony. The firm established itself as makers of distinctive timepieces, and had an illustrious history. Reinhard Meis’ excellent book: “A. Lange & Sohne – The Watchmakers of Dresden”, translated by Alan Downing devotes much space to the history, and gives a good account of the watches made.
After the end of the Second World War, the factory was seized by the German Socialist Union. Walter Lange, the heir to the company fled what was then East Germany.
It was only after the German reunification in1990, the founder’s great grandson, Walter Lange, began work to revive the company. Lange found a sponsor in Gunter Blumlein, at that time the boss of Switzerland’s famous International Watch Company. (Gunther has now moved to the parent company LMH, who also has interests in Jaeger LeCoultre, IWC and Lange Uhren.) And with funding from LMH, Walter set about to restore the fine name of A. Lange und Sohne.
A. Lange und Sohne has attained a singularly impressive stature within the world of high horology brands during its surprisingly short existence as a “reborn” company. Even the most established and insular of the traditional haute horlogerie industry privately praise the achievements of the company.