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koimaster
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HISTORY OF A. LANGE & SÖHNE
Haute horologie or the high art of watchmaking often is synonymous with brands such as Patek Philippe or Vacheron Constantin, or indeed a few, more particular independents like Roger W. Smith and Philippe Dufour. Yet, one brand which was regularly overlooked and has seen a huge resurgence in popularity in recent years, is A. Lange & Söhne. Many watch brands have rich histories of struggle, hardship, and new beginnings, one may think of Blancpain and Jean-Claude Biver, for example. However, it is safe to say that few watchmakers’ histories are as rich as that of A. Lange & Söhne.
FERDINAND ADOLF LANGE
The brands’ founder, Ferdinand Adolf Lange, was born in Dresden, Saxony in 1815, only 30km away from the future watchmaking hub of Glashütte (two very interesting details if you know the brand of today). As a young man he was enrolled at the Technical Education Institute in Dresden which had been founded in 1829. There, he met royal watchmaker Johann Christian Friedrich Gutkaes and became his apprentice at 15. Under his tutelage, Lange became accustomed to the art of watchmaking as well as the fundamentals of the industry he found himself in. Watchmaking was a far cry from gunsmithing, the trade of his father, Samuel Lange. Adolf learnt from his teacher, Gutkaes, before travelling to France to learn under Josef Thaddäus Winnerl, the former apprentice of Abraham-Louis Breguet. During that time, he also attended lectures by Arago, learning physics and improving his theoretical knowledge. In developing his skillset in France, Adolf also quickly understood that a problem with French design was that it relied heavily upon trial and error, which had a subsequent effect on the quality of the timepiece and in some cases the profitability of the enterprise.
https://montrespubliques.com/long-reads ... lange-shne
FERDINAND ADOLF LANGE
The brands’ founder, Ferdinand Adolf Lange, was born in Dresden, Saxony in 1815, only 30km away from the future watchmaking hub of Glashütte (two very interesting details if you know the brand of today). As a young man he was enrolled at the Technical Education Institute in Dresden which had been founded in 1829. There, he met royal watchmaker Johann Christian Friedrich Gutkaes and became his apprentice at 15. Under his tutelage, Lange became accustomed to the art of watchmaking as well as the fundamentals of the industry he found himself in. Watchmaking was a far cry from gunsmithing, the trade of his father, Samuel Lange. Adolf learnt from his teacher, Gutkaes, before travelling to France to learn under Josef Thaddäus Winnerl, the former apprentice of Abraham-Louis Breguet. During that time, he also attended lectures by Arago, learning physics and improving his theoretical knowledge. In developing his skillset in France, Adolf also quickly understood that a problem with French design was that it relied heavily upon trial and error, which had a subsequent effect on the quality of the timepiece and in some cases the profitability of the enterprise.
https://montrespubliques.com/long-reads ... lange-shne
1946-2006
“Your heart was warm and happy
With the lilt of Irish laughter
Every day and in every way
Now forever and ever after."
