A. Lange & Sohne
A. Lange & Söhne is the most important German watchmaker of the modern era and one of the great redemption stories in horological history. Founded in 1845 in Glashütte, Saxony, by Ferdinand Adolph Lange — who effectively created the German fine watchmaking industry — the brand was nationalized and shuttered after World War II when Glashütte fell within East Germany. It was reestablished in 1990 immediately after German reunification by Walter Lange, Ferdinand's great-great-grandson, and relaunched with four new references at the Basel Fair in 1994 — the Lange 1, Saxonia, Arkade, and Tourbograph — that announced to the world that a new horological standard had arrived. The Lange 1's asymmetric dial layout, outsize date, and hand-engraved balance cock are among the most distinctive design elements in modern watchmaking. The Zeitwerk, with its jumping digital display; the Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon; and the Triple Split chronograph are among the most admired complications in the industry. Every A. Lange & Söhne movement is assembled twice — built to set parts, then disassembled, cleaned, and rebuilt — a quality standard extraordinary by any measure. DeMesy & Co. in Dallas has been a respected source for pre-owned A. Lange & Söhne references since 1987.
