Posts Tagged A. Lange & Sohne
An Elegant Tribute to a Visionary Watchmaker
by Win Betteridge on May 1st, 2012
Last year, A. Lange & Sohne announced the production of an extremely limited series of watches, commemorating the 165th anniversary of Ferdinand Adolph Lange’s founding of his Glashutte manufacture. We just received one of the first to hit US shores: the “Homage to F. A. Lange” Lange 1 Tourbillon.
The tourbillon incorporates remarkable features that you will not find in any other watch. The case is in 18k honey-colored gold- a proprietary alloy that Lange created for this watch series. The honey gold has an unparalleled warmth to it, almost resembling the elegant patina taken on by Lange movements (in German silver) in the years following their production. Moreover, the solid silver dial is stunning with its exposed tourbillon mechanism and hand-guillochéd hour & minute sub-dial.
Finally, the Homage version of the Lange 1 Tourbillon incorporates a movement so innovative it would have made F. A. Lange proud. This is the first tourbillon movement that can actually be stopped, even when the watch is fully wound. This enables for time to be set to the second and to allow better viewing of the exquisitely finished tourbillon escapement.
Limited to 150 pieces worldwide, this watch is a collector’s dream come true.
A. Lange & Sohne Pocket Watches: Put a Bit of History in Your Pocket
by John Reardon on July 2nd, 2010
A. Lange & Sohne 18k Gold Open-Faced Pocket Watch, Circa 1925, $3,500
Many people appreciate the fine German watch making of A. Lange & Sohne, but the early watches made by the company are often forgotten.
When A. Lange & Sohne was founded in 1845, the factory remained devoted solely to the production of pocket watches for most of its early history. Many of these timepieces became prized possessions for many generations, and are only now starting to appear on the vintage market for the first time.
The company was not able to survive the end of WWII and A. Lange & Sohne ceased to exist in 1948. Fortunately, the brand was resurrected in the late 1980s and now continues its tradition of excellence.
Betteridge has a small collection of these rare watches available, including this fine example from 1925. To learn more about pocket watches, and other vintage timepieces, please visit Betteridge and ask for me!
The A. Lange & Sohne Lange 1 Daymatic : A Surefire Hit
by Mike Manjos on February 1st, 2010
Lange 1 Daymatic, Yellow Gold, Retail $37,700
The Lange 1 watch collection is responsible for A. Lange & Sohne becoming considered one of the finest watchmakers in the world. At SIHH 2010, the company presented a new addition to this iconic collection: the Daymatic, the first Lange 1 watch powered by an automatic movement.
The Daymatic also differs from other Lange 1 models in that it has a retrograde day-of-the-week indicator on the dial, as opposed to a power reserve indicator. I think that this is a really elegant addition to this extraordinary watch.
My take: Automatic movements require less attention than manual movements, which has made automatic watches, for the most part, more popular with the mainstream public. For watch collectors who have held back on purchasing the Lange 1, because of its manual movement, this is a great opportunity to get one of the finest watches ever made.