WATCH & JEWELRY /
WATCH NEWS
May 1, 2015
A. Lange & Söhne | Lange 1 Tourbillon
F.A. Lange Homage Collection: Lange 1 Tourbillon
F.A. Lange Homage Collection Lange 1 Tourbillon
Diamond Bearings for the Tourbillon
As one of the three parts of the Homage Collection, this is a limited edition of 150 units of the Lange 1 Tourbillon model, based on the conventional hand-wound "Lange 1." Following the principles of Ferdinand Adolph Lange, the movement and its respective bearings that support the tourbillon cage, which rotates once per minute, employ diamond endstones, signifying the highest quality. Furthermore, by crafting the ones digit of the outsize date in sapphire crystal, its operation is made visible. The watch also features Lange's patented stop-seconds mechanism, enabling precise time setting down to the second. Alongside the "Tourbograph "Pour le Mérite"," a re-release of the most complex and legendary piece from Lange's 2005 offerings, and the "1815 Tourbillon" with its ultra-precise moon phase mechanism displaying an error of only 6.61 seconds per lunar cycle, this timepiece is a coveted treasure for watch collectors.
Hand-wound, honey gold case, 38.5mm diameter, sapphire crystal case back, ¥17,545,500, scheduled for April release.
BRAND HISTORY
In the early 19th century, during the zenith of the Kingdom of Saxony's prosperity, Ferdinand Adolph Lange honed his skills as a watchmaker under Friedrich Gutkaes, a court-appointed watchmaker in Dresden. The brand's history began with the watch workshop he established on the outskirts of Dresden. This great visionary laid the foundation for the brand.
Adolph Lange not only devised techniques such as the three-quarter plate, still renowned as a traditional method today, but also developed numerous tools essential for component manufacturing. By disseminating these manufacturing methods to his apprentices, he single-handedly established the brand's bedrock.
While continuing as a family-run business, A. Lange & Söhne crafted pocket watches and wristwatches utilizing the manufacturing techniques of court watchmakers, growing into a top European watch brand by the early 20th century. However, its operations were temporarily interrupted by World War II. After the war, the esteemed name of A. Lange & Söhne fell into a period of dormancy in history, having been confiscated and nationalized as a state-owned enterprise in the former East Germany.
Yet, in 1990, with the reunification of East and West Germany, Walter Lange, the great-grandson of the founder, masterfully revived the region's former watchmaking heritage. He poured the accumulated expertise and decorative techniques from the Kingdom of Saxony era into the field of wristwatches, subsequently unveiling one masterpiece after another, such as the "Lange 1" and "Datograph."
The company continues to demonstrate an unbridled spirit of innovation, a characteristic perhaps best described as Saxon tenacity. This is evident in its patent acquisitions for innovations like the outsize date, which displays the time on two discs, and the zero-reset mechanism, its proprietary seconds synchronization system. Today, A. Lange & Söhne has re-established its position at the pinnacle of the watchmaking world, continuing to reign in the 21st century as an object of admiration for watch enthusiasts.
Founding Year: 1845
Place of Founding: Near Dresden, Saxony, Germany
Main Collection Names: Lange 1, Datograph, Double Split, Richard Lange, Saxonia, Cabaret, Arkade
Inquiries: A. Lange & Söhne 03-3288-6639
Official Website: http://www.lange-soehne.com/