From its base in Germany to its new boutique in Central district, A Lange & Söhne exudes an air of superiority. We find out why the 173-year-old brand is considered the crème de la crème of watchmakers
In an era of mass production, it’s a pleasure to lay your hands on a superbly designed item handcrafted by talented artisans. The German watchmaker A Lange & Söhne has been providing such delight since its founding by Ferdinand Adolph Lange in 1845. Like drinking a 1961 Bordeaux or slipping on a Chanel suit designed by Coco herself, attaching a Datograph or Zeitwerk to your wrist is a deliciously sensual experience—as is stepping into an A Lange & Söhne boutique, an experience now available to Hongkongers with the recent opening of the watchmaker’s premises in Central.
To understand the exclusive nature of the brand, which makes fewer than 5,000 watches a year while many other luxury brands make 10 times that, you have to go back to its foundation in the Saxon town of Glashütte, where Lange’s passion for horology led him to launch the manufactory Lange & Cie. A perfectionist and a visionary, he meticulously trained his sons, Richard and Emil, who worked with him throughout his life.
In 1848, Ferdinand was elected mayor of Glashütte and transformed the little-known agricultural town into a modern industrial hub during his 18-year tenure. The grateful town erected a monument to him that still stands in the central square today.