Are A. Lange & Söhne Watches Handmade?

If you are interested in an A. Lange & Söhne timepiece, or have had the remarkable opportunity to wear or own one of these pieces, you are among an exclusive grouping of individuals. Luxury and exclusivity are the words of the day when it comes to these divine watches. However, when looking at these masterpieces, one must stop and wonder how they are made.

A. Lange & Söhne watches are all handmade at the Glashütte Manufacture. Although numerous watches are made simultaneously, it can take several months for each one to go from start to completion. They are immensely complicated and expertly crafted timepieces that German artisans have to offer.

It is good to know that the company crafts each timepiece by hand, but there is so much more that we can learn about this fantastic brand of watches. This includes the exclusivity they bring, how their technical aspects have advanced and stayed with the times, and even their rich history. So if you are avid about learning the ins and out of A. Lange & Söhne watches, be sure to read on.

Is It True That A. Lange & Söhne Watches Handmade?

Making these watches takes tremendous time and effort, and various individuals play a role in creating each timepiece that comes out of A. Lange & Söhne. From the offset to the final product, each watch undergoes multiple production phases and will be worked on by numerous artisans.

The highly skilled hands that are all typically trained in-house are often people who have been with the manufacturer for several years, some even decades. Their level of dedication to crafting watches to perfection goes to show, and as a result, A. Lange & Söhne produce some of the finest and most elegant watches found worldwide.

Lange & Söhne is found in Glashütte, Germany’s Saxony province, and they are known for being highly renowned and sought-after brands of watches to date. It is not a secret that the watch industry is dominated by Swiss brands; however, A. Lange & Söhne have certainly made their mark regardless. They offer the essence of German engineering and precision.

These highly complex luxury watches, created by A. Lange & Söhne, are known to enthrall even the most sophisticated watch collectors, who will do almost anything to get their hands on one of these pieces. Some of their pieces and most popular models even have waiting lists that extend over years, which indicates a lot about the quality and demand for these high-end products.

In various manners, the watches created by the watchmakers at A. Lange & Söhne are still put together in simple and complex methods, which have not changed much over the 168 years that the brand has existed.

The watches are worked on by an array of skilled people, varying from technicians, engineers, watchmakers, jewelers, and others. And these dedicated individuals have evidently lavished each watch that leaves the factory with hours of attention and work.

There has obviously been the advent of state-of-the-art machines that are used today, especially when it comes to creating particular components of the watches. This means that the watchmakers do not have to labor with outdated hand tools, but the dedication to detail has not altered.

The Exclusivity They Create By Crafting Handmade Watches

Firstly it must be noted that the brand generally only produces around 5,000 timepieces per year, but this is a fraction of what many other top-tier brands produce. As far as the majority of A. Lange & Söhne watches go; it is not a simple process of entering a store, selecting your desired piece, and swiping your bank card.

Due to the drastically small level of annual supply and the relatively high demand to own one, they are difficult to come by. And even if, perchance, you come across a retailer that does sell their products, it does not guarantee that you will have the chance to purchase yourself an A. Lange & Söhne.

Additionally, the company is more than aware that they manage demand and the expectations of its buyers. And they are not aloof to the battle between supply and demand and can back it up as each of their timepieces is handcrafted with exceptional precision and a tremendous amount of care; they will not sacrifice quality for quantity.

So due to their low number of watches produced, coupled with their near-unbeatable dedication to craftsmanship and precision, few companies can truly compete with A. Lange & Söhne in terms of the exclusivity and prestige of owning one of these pieces.

Technical Advancements And Aesthetics

Those who have followed the company and witnessed the watch industry, on the whole, will be aware that A. Lange & Söhne are a force to be reconned with and have been a disruptive element in the market over the years. They constantly surprise potential buyers with new and innovative pieces that are equally easy on the eyes.

One area that they are spearheading is in horological development, which has been evident over the past two decades. They have led from the front, and in many respects, they have inspired other traditional players to continue to break new barriers and to think outside the box.

However, with that being said, at the same time, when we look at the mainstream manufacturers globally, when it comes to the sphere of horology today, very few are managing to match the level of dedication to traditional craft and implementation of creativity that we see coming out of A. Lange & Söhne.

We have seen repeatedly that A. Lange & Söhne are constantly hoping to create technologically innovative timepieces while still offering a consistent level of excellent aesthetics to their work.

Their watches are also instantly recognizable, endowed with signature features such as the exposed balance wheel and off-center dials. But while all are distinctly A. Lange & Söhne pieces, all of their watches retain a timeless, classic appeal.

A. Lange & Söhne Watches Rich History

The German watch company came from humble beginnings and was founded in the town of Glashütte, Saxony, in 1845. The brand’s founder was a visionary watchmaker, Ferdinand Adolph Lange. His goal was to restore the timekeeping industry in the area that had completely disappeared during the Napoleonic occupation.

To begin, Lange trained 15 master craftsmen, and since then, the company has produced some of the finest watches people have ever seen. Lange was initially from Dresden and was the individual responsible for laying the cornerstone of the precision watchmaking industry in the area when he started the company.

Following World War II, the company was expropriated, and the company came very close to disappearing altogether. However, in 1990 Lange’s great-grandson Walter Lange saw that A. Lange & Söhne was relaunched, and the brand has thrived since. To this day, the initial pocket watches his company produced are highly coveted by avid collectors of the original pieces.

Conclusion

When we talk about A. To some, Lange & Söhne is merely another watchmaking company that produces high-end watches, but following what we know about the company, there is so much more. From how they approach the craftsmanship of their watches to the high level of exclusivity that comes with owning one. These pieces are to be treasured and ultimately timeless.