A. Lange & Söhne
Glashütte, Germany · Est. 1845
Founded by Ferdinand Adolph Lange
Founded in 1845 by Ferdinand Adolph Lange in Glashütte, Germany, A. Lange & Söhne is renowned for its hand-finished movements and quintessentially Germanic precision. The manufacture was refounded in 1990 after decades of suppression under East German rule, and quickly reclaimed its position among the world's finest watchmakers.
- Founded
- 1845
- Headquarters
- Glashütte, Germany
- Group
- Richemont
- Price Segment
- Ultra
- Status
- Active
Key Collections
- Lange 1 — The iconic off-centre dial with outsize date — the definitive Lange piece since 1994.
- 1815 — Clean, classical dress watch named after Ferdinand Adolph Lange's birth year.
- Saxonia — Ultra-thin, minimalist collection embodying restraint and German precision.
- Zeitwerk — Revolutionary jumping-numerals display — digital time in a mechanical watch, introduced 2009.
- Odysseus — Lange's first sports watch with integrated bracelet. Stainless steel, launched 2019.
Timeline
- 1845 — Ferdinand Adolph Lange founds A. Lange & Cie in Glashütte on 7 December, employing 15 apprentices and launching the Saxon watchmaking industry.
- 1868 — Richard Lange joins the company; name changes to A. Lange & Söhne.
- 1945 — Headquarters destroyed in a Soviet air raid on the last day of World War II.
- 1948 — East German government nationalises Glashütte watchmakers; the Lange name disappears from dials.
- 1990 — Walter Lange and Günter Blümlein re-found the company on 7 December — exactly 145 years after the original founding.
- 1994 — Four debut models launched simultaneously: Lange 1, Saxonia, Arkade, and Tourbograph. The watch world is stunned.
- 2000 — Richemont Group acquires A. Lange & Söhne, ensuring long-term stability.
- 2025 — Debuted Odysseus in Honeygold on full gold bracelet, Minute Repeater Perpetual, and smaller 34mm 1815 at Watches & Wonders 2025.
- 2025 — Released limited-edition Lange 1 Daymatic Honeygold (250 pieces, boutique-only).
Frequently Asked Questions about A. Lange & Söhne
- Why is A. Lange & Söhne considered Germany's finest watchmaker?
- Lange produces only around 5,000 watches per year, each hand-finished in Glashütte. The signature three-quarter plate, hand-engraved balance cock, and outsize date complication are hallmarks of uncompromising craft.
- What makes the Lange 1 so iconic?
- Introduced in 1994 at the brand's relaunch, the Lange 1 broke every design convention: off-centre dial layout, outsize date, asymmetric subsidiary dials, and a patented twin mainspring barrel.
- Is A. Lange & Söhne Swiss or German?
- German. Lange is based in Glashütte, Saxony. Despite being owned by the Swiss Richemont group, all watches are made in Germany.
- How much does a Lange watch cost?
- Entry models start around CHF 15,000-20,000. Grand complications like the Datograph or Zeitwerk reach CHF 50,000-100,000+.