A Lange Watch

With a watchmaking legacy that has its origins in the early 19th century, German brand A. Lange and Söhne has created a wide range of iconic watches such as the Lange 1 and is renowned around the world for its chronographs and impeccably polished and elegant aesthetics.

A. Lange and Söhne’s story begins with Ferdinand Adolph Lange, who, at the age of 15, apprenticed with master watchmaker Johann Christian Friedrich Gutkaes in Saxony. In the late 1830s, Gutkaes and his young apprentice developed the Five-Minute Clock for the Semper Opera House in Dresden, considered by historians as a masterpiece in Saxon clockmaking artistry.

Following his apprenticeship with Gutkaes, Lange traveled through France, England and Switzerland before returning to Germany to work at a watch manufactory in Glashütte. Lange’s watchmaking talents began to gain recognition by Europe’s wealthy nobility. Among them was Russian Czar Alexander II, who was so enamored by Lange’s pocket watches that he gifted Lange a diamond scarf pin.

In 1845, Lange founded his watch company, and in 1868, his sons Richard and Emil became the business’s co-owners upon his retirement. Both brothers were talented in their own right. Richard, an innovative designer, contributed to dozens of watchmaking patents. Meanwhile, Emil achieved world fame for his Century Tourbillon watch, which he presented at the 1900 Exposition Universelle in Paris. 

Throughout the early 20th century, the Lange family’s watchmaking firm flourished. After World War II, the manufactory was shut down and nationalized. However, in 1990, Ferdinand’s great-grandson Walter Lange resurrected his family’s watchmaking legacy, reviving the A. Lange and Söhne brand with entrepreneur Günter Blümlein.

In 1994, A. Lange and Söhne debuted their first wristwatch collection, which included the Lange 1, Saxonia, Arkade and Tourbillon “Pour le Mérite” models. Subsequently, other successful models followed, such as Odysseus, Cabaret, Zeitwerk and the iconic 1815 — named for Ferdinand Adolph Lange’s birth year.

Blümlein died in 2001 and Walter Lange died in 2016, yet A. Lange and Söhne continues to rank among the world’s top luxury watchmakers with exquisite pieces that are highly coveted by today’s discerning collectors. 

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Antique, new and vintage wristwatches have captured the hearts and minds of all manner of watch collectors as well as the watchmakers themselves — it's time you found your own.

Certain vintage watches for men and iconic watch designs for women are sought after not only because of their graceful proportions or innovative materials but also because of the illustrious histories of the houses that created them, histories that they stylishly embody.

Bulgari’s legendary Serpenti watch was on everyone’s list after the collection’s bold bracelet, which technically debuted after the timepiece, graced the wrist of actress Elizabeth Taylor. If anything, elaborately crafted timepieces — the unmistakably boxy silhouette of Cartier Tank watches, the elegant and minimal Calatrava designed by legendary Swiss house Patek Philippe — are even more effective than the shape we associate with traditional wristwatches.

Form watches — the all-encompassing moniker bestowed upon non-round watches — are making headlines and completing contemporary fashionable ensembles the world over. At the same time, both casual fans and careful collectors are drawn to the unbeatable charm of vintage styles, such as the icons designed by Omega that even James Bond can’t resist.

In the early days of watchmaking, watches were fragile enough that they necessitated protection from the elements. Now, wristwatches made of gold and steel can withstand the harshest climates — even 100 meters underwater, in the case of Rolex’s Submariner. Designer Gérald Genta, whose range of clients included Rolex, created for Audemars Piguet the first luxury sports timepiece to be made from stainless steel. First introduced in 1972, the Royal Oak was a perfect choice for blending the form and function that are now synonymous with sports watches.

Are you shopping for a wristwatch? It’s good to keep your needs as well as your specific personal style in mind: A smaller, subtle timepiece is a good fit for small wrists. When will you be wearing your new accessory? There’s a versatile model out there for everyday wear, while a rugged, feature-heavy watch is a safe bet if you’re prone to embarking on all-weather activities in the great outdoors.

Find antique, new and vintage wristwatches on 1stDibs.