Homage to Tradition

by ei8htohms © 11-15-2002

Introduction

When A. Lange and Söhne reentered the world of high horology in 1994 with four new watches, each with dedicated, high-grade mechanical movements, they made a bold statement the repercussions of which are still being felt. Under the careful guidance of Walter Lange and Günter Blümlein, this "new" company could claim the heritage of the Saxon watchmaking tradition in Glashütte while benefiting from the vision, dedication and marketing genius of these charismatic men. Just as Ferdinand Adolph Lange created the watchmaking tradition in Glashütte in 1845 when he began manufacturing high-grade pocket watches there, so did A. Lange & Söhne create a new tradition. An intense dedication to an aesthetic vision coupled with a "spare-no-expense" approach to movement decoration helped the timepieces of A. Lange & Söhne to redefine the haute horlogerie landscape. With a shrewd understanding of the changing watch market, Lange rapidly climbed to the top tier of the high-mech renaissance on the strengths of their stark German styling and the ethereal beauty exhibited through their display backs. They quickly achieved the fierce fan loyalty, critical acclaim and up-market financial success that has earned them the admiration and respect of the rest of the industry. If there is a stroke of marketing genius behind Lange's success, it is letting the watches do the advertising, indelibly imprinting an image of a grand Saxon watchmaking tradition in the minds of watch enthusiasts who gaze upon their display backs. The creamy waves of the German silver 3/4 plate; the lustrous rubies, polished gold chatons and heat blued screws; and the elaborately engraved balance cock with swan-neck fine regulator offer a fanciful look into the horological past executed to a degree of perfection never before attained. Using the most modern production techniques, Lange embraced the anachronism of modern mechanical horology, offering an expression of luxury and craft that is as much a simulacrum as an homage. While lacking the iconic design status of the groundbreaking Lange 1, the 1815 is nevertheless immediately recognizable. Possibly the most distilled form of A. Lange & Söhne's aesthetic vision, the 1815 simple handwind is also the most affordable watch the prestigious company produces. As such, it serves as many collectors' entrance into the world of A. Lange & Söhne and serves here as our introduction to the horological approach of this enigmatic company.

Read the full story: Site Link

Respond to this post |