A. Lange & Söhne

History

The extended history summarises the open references listed under Sources; each statement was checked against the cited passage. Confirm key dates in period documents before relying on them.

Timeline

A. Lange & Söhne's recorded dates, dated events from this profile and its sources, and dated pieces and sales from the object catalogue. Dates are as each record gives them.

1. 1815 · Career

   Current collections include model families such as the Lange 1, Zeitwerk, Saxonia, 1815, Richard Lange, and Odysseus.

   Profile text · see Sources

2. 1845 · Career

   Founded (Glashütte, Saxony)

   Profile text · see Sources

3. 1868 · Career

   In 1868, Ferdinand's sons Richard and Emil joined the business, leading to the company name being changed to A.

   Profile text · see Sources

4. Circa 1890 · Catalogued piece

   A. Lange & Söhne Anchor Chronometer

   Provenance: Antiquorum

5. circa 1903 · Catalogued piece

   A. Lange & Söhne 18 ct. Pink Gold Karrusel Pocket Chronometer

   Provenance: Antiquorum

6. circa 1910 · Catalogued piece

   A. Lange & Söhne 14K Pink Gold Hunting Cased Pocket Watch

   Provenance: Antiquorum

7. 1920 · Catalogued piece

   A. Lange & Söhne Keyless Lever Full Hunter Pocket Watch

   Provenance: Musée international d'horlogerie

8. circa 1940 · Catalogued piece

   A. Lange & Söhne B-Uhr Observation Watch

   Provenance: Sammler-Uhren

9. 1948 · Career

   Production was absorbed into the East German combine after 1948; the name was revived as an independent manufacture in 1990.

   Profile text · see Sources

10. 1948 · Career

    The firm operated for 103 years until it was expropriated by Soviet occupation forces in 1948 following the Second World War.

    Profile text · see Sources

11. December 24, 1998 · Sale

    A. Lange & Söhne Lange-Tourbillon Pour le Mérite Ref. 701.001: original sale recorded

    Recorded by Antiquorum

12. 2000 · Career

    Since 2000, the company has operated as a subsidiary of the Swiss Richemont Group.

    Profile text · see Sources

Current watchmaking & later fate

• Since 2000, A. Lange & Söhne has been a subsidiary of the Swiss Richemont Group.
• The company maintains its headquarters and manufacture in Glashütte, Germany.
• Current collections include model families such as the Lange 1, Zeitwerk, Saxonia, 1815, Richard Lange, and Odysseus.

As stated in the references listed under Sources, retrieved 2026-10-27. Ownership and collections change; check the maker's own announcements for the latest position.

Key models

Lange 1

Introduced in 1994, this watch is recognized for featuring the first series-produced big date display in a wristwatch.

Zeitwerk

This model, which became a brand icon, is distinguished by its jumping numeral display for hours and minutes.

Saxonia

Part of the inaugural 1994 collection, this model series is currently a staple of the brand.

Major innovations

• Three-quarter plate Glashütte movement architecture
• Decimal-based measurement system in the Glashütte trade

Known markings

• 'A. Lange & Söhne Glashütte b/Dresden'
• Three-quarter plate with gold chatons
• The firm utilized the brand name Deutsche Uhrenfabrikation for a simplified line of pocket watches starting in 1877.
• The acronym OLIW was used as a brand for watches manufactured on an industrial scale.

Serial numbers

Pre-war Lange serials are researched through Glashütte records and specialist literature; post-1990 watches are documented by the modern company.

Collecting significance

Pre-war pocket watches must be distinguished carefully from other Glashütte makers and from later re-signed movements.

Identification and dating notes

• Watches produced before 1945 typically relied on purchased movements of Swiss origin.
• The Caliber 28 was the first movement developed entirely by Lange after 1945 prior to the company's 1990 re-establishment.

In the object catalogue

56 catalogued objects are recorded under A. Lange & Söhne. Attributions are as given by each source and are not independent authentication.

• A. Lange & Söhne 14K Pink Gold Hunting Cased Pocket WatchHunter-case watch · circa 1910
• A. Lange & Söhne 14k red gold hunter pocket watchHunter-case watch
• A. Lange & Söhne 18 ct. Pink Gold Karrusel Pocket ChronometerTourbillon & karrusel watch · circa 1903
• A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Chronograph Ref. 402.026Chronograph · 2012
• A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Chronograph Reference 401.026Chronograph · 2004
• A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Chronograph Reference 414.028Chronograph
• A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Moon Phase “Homage to F. A. Lange” in HoneygoldCalendar & moon-phase watch · 2010
• A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Rattrapante Honeygold 'Homage to F.A. Lange'Chronograph · 2020
• A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Tourbillon ref. 730.079FTourbillon watch · circa 2010s
• A. Lange & Söhne 18K Gold Lever-Chronometer No. 58256Pocket chronometer & deck watch · circa 1906
• A. Lange & Söhne 18K Pink Gold Hunting Cased Pocket Watch No. 63162Hunter-case watch · circa 1910
• A. Lange & Söhne 18k yellow gold ladies wristwatchJewellery & cocktail watch · ca. 2000

Browse all 56 in the object catalogue

Provenance

Where the 56 catalogued pieces by A. Lange & Söhne were recorded, with the collectors, owners and sales their records name.

Collectors, owners and donors

• December 24, 1998Original sale · A. Lange & Söhne Lange-Tourbillon Pour le Mérite Ref. 701.001
• Property of a German ladyProvenance · A. Lange & Söhne Manual-Wind Movement

Auction history

Each line is copied from the object's source record and is not independently verified. Holders are as recorded when the piece was catalogued: museum objects may not be on display, and sold lots have since changed hands.