Feature: Experiencing Watchmaking at the A. Lange & Söhne Manufacture | A. Lange & Söhne Gallery
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January 6, 2015

Feature: Experiencing Watchmaking at the A. Lange & Söhne Manufacture | A. Lange & Söhne Gallery

The balance cock is engraved with a traditional floral motif. Note its precision.
A student from the Lange Watchmaking School taught us the chamfering process before engraving.
Chamfering is done by applying a small grinder to the part fixed in a holder.
Engraving on the balance cock is done after fixing the part to the base with screws, like so.
The engraving practice begins with sketching the desired pattern in pencil before starting the work.
The classroom at the watchmaking school founded by Lange served as the venue for practical training in engraving and assembly.
Now, for the engraving. It's very hard, so you need to apply firm pressure to the chisel.
Attempting to chamfer the balance cock. The grinder in the right hand is applied to the part held by the left.
The engraving work was guided by a female engraver active in the Lange workshop.
A complication model during final assembly. This balance cock also features delicate engraving.
Final assembly with adjustments. The worker always wears rubber finger cots.
From the perspective of the watchmaker assembling the complex watch, one can feel their passionate dedication to timepieces.
Lange pioneered the "Outsize Date," a large, digital date display.
Watchmakers wear finger cots on all ten fingers. This is also a unique practice at the Lange workshop.
Assembling the decorated parts requires far more concentration and delicacy than a preliminary assembly.
Gold chatons to secure the ruby bearings. This is another detail unique to Lange.
The assembly is guided by instructors who are also master watchmakers at the Lange Watchmaking School.
Setting the blued-steel screws into the main plate after decoration. This proved surprisingly difficult.
The screws securing the gold chatons are less than 1mm in diameter. Finding and gripping them is extremely challenging.
A female watchmaker performing chamfering at the Lange workshop. The presence of women is notable.
Also experienced making blued-steel screws. They are made by heating the screws with an alcohol lamp like this.
While heating, the screw's color changes moment by moment, so you cannot look away.
Checking the color of the heated screw. To avoid uneven coloring, the screw is occasionally rotated.
Engraving on the balance cock is done by hand. Comparing it to a finger, you can clearly see the small size of the part.
Holding the chisel firmly, the engraver carves the pattern while rotating the balance cock fixed to the base.
Engraving is done while looking through a stereoscopic microscope. The engraver skillfully moves the cutting edge with force.
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Feature: Experiencing Watchmaking at the A. Lange & Söhne Headquarters | A. Lange & Söhne Gallery

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