The unique story of a German watchmaking family
On December 7, 1990, Walter Lange – the great grandson of the historical founder of the company – announced that A. Lange & Söhne would be restored in his hometown of Glashütte. On that day, 145 years had passed since the founding of the company when Ferdinand Adolph Lange built his workshop with a loan from the Saxony government. Today, the name represents a prestigious watch manufacturer that is known to create one of the best high-end timepieces worldwide.
In 1845, the visionary Ferdinand Adolph Lange received a loan of 7,800 Thaler – a silver coin used throughout Europe for almost 100 years – in order to establish his watch manufactory. Ferdinand A. Lange was able to receive financial aid from the Royal Saxon Ministry of the Interior and was then able to hire 15 apprentices of whom he could train under his careful watch. As a result, Lange introduced the art of watchmaking to the region of Glashütte and sparked the development of a new industry in the area. The apprentices hired by Lange were locals from the Ore Mountains of Glashütte that were previously trained as stonemasons, woodcarvers, or straw braiders. They did not know anything about technical instruments and it took a great amount of patience and perseverance to properly train the apprentices in meticulous watchmaking techniques. With hard work and dedication, the company eventually flourished and established a new trade sector for the individuals residing in Glashütte.