Watchatlas

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

Pronunciation & name

ah LAHNG-uh unt ZOH-nuh

The German “Söhne” means sons; English collectors often say “Lange.”

Name note: A. Lange & Sohne means A. Lange & Sons.

Why this brand matters

The modern brand was relaunched after German reunification, reviving a Glashutte name.

Collector flashcards

  • Post-reunification revival — The modern brand was relaunched after German reunification, reviving a Glashutte name.
  • Lange 1 layout — The Lange 1 became instantly identifiable through its asymmetric dial and outsized date.
  • German finishing language — Three-quarter plates, gold chatons, and hand-engraved balance cocks are core Lange visual codes.

Key Collections

  • Lange 1 (1994) — A. Lange & Söhne’s defining modern classic, the Lange 1 pairs an off-centre dial, outsize date, power-reserve display and Saxon movement finishing in a design first launched on 24 October 1994 and still central to the brand’s identity. Key references: 191.032, 191.039, 191.025.
  • 1815 (1995) — A. Lange & Söhne’s 1815 is the Saxon manufacture’s classically styled family, named after Ferdinand Adolph Lange’s 1815 birth year and shaped by 19th-century Glashütte pocket-watch cues such as Arabic numerals, chemin-de-fer minute tracks, subsidiary seconds and manually wound movements. Key references: 1815 Up/Down, 1815 Chronograph, 1815 Annual Calendar.
  • Saxonia (1994) — A. Lange & Söhne’s Saxonia collection is the brand’s broadest expression of understated elegance: a family that pairs minimalist German design with increasingly sophisticated mechanics, from slim two-hand dress watches to outsize-date models, moon phases, annual calendars and the Datograph line. Named for Saxony, it also connects the modern manufacture to its regional roots in Glashütte. Key references: SAXONIA THIN, SAXONIA AUTOMATIC, SAXONIA MOON PHASE, SAXONIA OUTSIZE DATE.
  • Zeitwerk (2009) — Revolutionary jumping-numerals display — digital time in a mechanical watch, introduced 2009. Key references: Zeitwerk, Zeitwerk Date, Decimal Strike, Minute Repeater.
  • Odysseus (2019) — The A. Lange & Söhne Odysseus is the manufacture’s sporty-elegant watch family, introduced in 2019 with an integrated bracelet, 120-metre water resistance, outsized day and date displays, and a dedicated self-winding Datomatic movement developed specifically for the line. Key references: Odysseus steel, Odysseus titanium, Odysseus chronograph.

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+.

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