A. Lange & Söhne

SIHH 2011: Lange Söhne (Rhythm, Sound and Fine Tuning)

 

2011 will be a very important year for Lange. In 2010, Lange has been back on the right tracks with a new commercial dynamic and a big increase of the sales figures. The context is now much favourable to start a new area with the arrival of Mr Wilhelm Schmid as CEO of the brand. Obviously, it is too soon to see his influence (he officially arrived the 1st of January) but he has already perfectly understood what I would call the pillars of success for Lange (innovation, finishings, craftmanship, unique design style...) and what are the expectations of the Lange lovers. We will see during the next months and years what will be the strategic direction under his responsability. Be sure that Jérôme Lambert will still carefully follow Lange future. They are maybe details but we could feel his influence in the way the booth was designed: more open (reception desk was moved on the right side to give more free space in the entrance), more colourful (look at the pictures on the wall), he brought more excitement... and if the cocktail between this excitement, this energy and the german perfection works (and sure it will work...), Lange can be optimistic for the upcoming years.

I have to explain you now why I chose this report title.

Rhythm: when I did my 2010 report, I needed to split it into 10 parts. I will do it this year in 3 parts. I really think that 2010 was exceptionnal and that Lange is back this year with its "classic" rhythm, at least a more suitable rhythm for a brand which produces around 5.000 watches per year. But don't get wrong: Lange unveiled 5 new calibers during this SIHH, each of them using the in-house spiral. The list of novelties may appear to be short, it doesn't mean that it is less ambitious in a pure watchmaking point of view.

Sound: I believe I don't need to explain why, with the Zeitwerk Striking time, Lange has entered a new world: the one of acoustic watches. I know that we all expected more from Lange on this topic. In fact, whatever is the complication, we have great expectations with Lange. But the first Lange striking watch was so long-awaited that we all were secretly wishing a sort of ultimate watch, a sort of german answer to the swiss Grande Sonnerie.

Let's face it: within the Lange team, only Anthony de Haas has a great and big experience in striking watches. You don't build easily a striking watch even if you are an impressive watchmaker. There are so many problems to solve (how do the hammers play, what is the perfect shape for the chimes, how to design the watch to improve the accoustic and to reduce the useless sounds etc... that a striking watch is always, more than other any watch, a collective work. Anthony could have made the choice to duplicate his knowledge and to create a kinda Swiss Minutes Repeater in a context of a watch of the current collection. It is obviously not the will. With the Zeitwerk, the Lange team is learning about the striking watches. The choice of the Zeitwerk to create this first watch was logical. Thanks to the huge power delivered by the mechanism, there was enough energy left to add a complication  without disturbing the perfect behaviour of the watch.

Fine Tuning: with the new collection, Lange has redesigned its entry level collection by changing few details which are not obvious at first glance but which are far from being neutral. We will see why in the Saxonia part dedicated to this key collection for Lange.

What more can I say?

I would add that as usual, the Lange team (HQ, Western Europe, everybody has the booth) welcomed all the attendees as usual, with a very friendly and warm attitude. We also felt the positive trend in which the brand is currently. And we were very very pleased to see a dynamic Mr Walter Lange who attended the Lange Owners Group dinner on Tuesday with a lot of energy: he also participated in the presentation of the novelties and gave his comments and feelings about them.

Views of the booth:




Maybe I was the last one to leave the SIHH






The young watchmaker:

Arnd Einhorn:

The Richard Lange Tourbillon Pour le Mérite movie:

Tino Bobe is explaining the technical features of the novelties:

Mr Walter Lange is carefully looking at the novelties:

Anthony de Haas and Tino Bobe:

Mr Walter Lange:

Pour le Mérite:

Now, I propose you to browse the 3 parts of the report.

Please note that you will Nicolas' report here to get his feelings and points of view about the 2011 Lange presentation at the SIHH:
alang.watchprosite.com

Fr.Xavier


This message has been edited by foversta on 2011-01-23 06:00:46 This message has been edited by foversta on 2011-01-31 11:31:51

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