A. Lange & Söhne

PeterCDE
10167

• Show profile
• Show other posts

[press release] Opening of the first Lange Home of Time in Dresden

Opening of the first Lange Home of Time in Dresden

If you have ever visited the Lange workshops and looked over the shoulders of the master watchmakers, observing them at their concentrated and highly complicated work, you know how much craftsmanship, precision and, above all, passion go into the timepieces with the signature "A. Lange & Söhne". However, not every watch aficionado has the opportunity to take a trip to Glashütte, the idyllic small town in the Ore Mountains, south of Saxony’s baroque city of Dresden. With a newly developed sales concept, the traditional brand now offers an opportunity to experience the making of precision watches outside of its workshops. The first of these exclusive new stores was opened on 25 July at Töpferstrasse 8 in Dresden. Here, a World of Lange on a smaller scale has been created, a special place where time has a home and where visitors are invited to encounter the history and philosophy of A. Lange & Söhne.

With the opening of the first boutique in Dresden, the Saxon watch manufactory is returning to its roots, which lie here in the baroque city on the river Elbe. The location could not be more appropriate, as this is where it all began: It was here that Ferdinand Adolph Lange used to be the home before he moved to Glashütte in 1845 to become the founder of precision watchmaking in Saxony. It was here that he learnt his trade at the famous court watchmaker Johann Christian Friedrich Gutkaes. And it was here that he met his wife Antonia, the daughter of his master. That’s why only one location was considered for the world’s first Lange representation: In the historic centre, close to the rebuilt Frauenkirche and the Neumarkt, restored to its old splendour, stands the first exclusive "embassy" of the traditional manufactory. This neighbourhood has a special significance: In 1994, work was begun to reconstruct Dresden’s Frauenkirche, the landmark that had been destroyed in the flames of World War II. In the same year, the first A. Lange & Söhne collection of the new era was presented at the Royal Palace of Dresden, which laid the foundation for new international watchmaking success.

A. Lange & Söhne Dresden reflects the personality of the brand, characterised by its claim "state-of-the-art tradition". Therefore, only the best was good enough for the interior: The furnishings and ambience were created in the same spirit of perfect craftsmanship and technological innovation expressed in the watches of A. Lange & Söhne. Lange gave the challenging task of designing and constructing the interior of the Dresden premises to the renowned Deutsche Werkstätten Hellerau GmbH. The manufacture, established in 1898 by the master carpenter and social reformer Karl Schmidt, influenced furniture styles in the first half of the 20th century. From the very beginning, the company pursued the goal of combining craftsmanship and art as well as functionality and interior design.

It would not be exaggerated to say that the two companies are guided by a kindred spirit of commitment to Saxon craftsmanship. This congeniality made it possible to adopt virtually every detail of the Lange leitmotif in the design of the showrooms: The coffered walls in typical Lange grey create a pleasant contrast to the indigenous acacia wood. The design conceals the latest in communication, presentation and security technology. Light-coloured sandstone was selected for the display cabinets and the floors – the same material used to construct buildings such as the Frauenkirche. The collection drawers housing the watchmaking treasures have fronts of Meissen porcelain. For the VIP room, the porcelain manufacturer produced hand-painted murals with custom-designed watch motifs. Mirrors treated with a special technique show images from Ferdinand Adolph Lange’s journey book, while the stucco ceiling captures historic decorative elements. Two baroque angels are a gentle reminder to visitors that they are, after all, right in the middle of Germany’s most beautiful baroque city. Of course, the art of watchmaking can be experienced live as well. A master watchmaker is able to carry out certain maintenance work and check-ups on site.

Only a few months after the official opening of A. Lange & Söhne Dresden, Lange’s first international representation is scheduled to be opened in Shanghai at the end of the year. Chinese watch aficionados have been waiting for years to acquire the exclusive timepieces with the quality seal "Made in Germany" in their country. Soon they, too, will be able to experience first-hand the art of Saxon watchmaking.

(press release and pictures kindly submitted by A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte)

Site Info.