I was fortunate enough to be invited to the “Lange Akademie Tour 2012” organized by Japan's Lange Owners' Club (“LOC”) and ALS Japan, held at the Headquarters of A. Lange & Sohne (“ALS”) in Glashütte.  To me, ALS was the beginning of this hobby on the serious level, and this visit and the Akademie is just like “a dream come true” and an unforgettable experience.

1?                What is the ALS Akademie (Lange Akademie)?

This “Lange Akademie” started as the training concept for the retail staff worldwide – with Ambassador, Coaching and Expert levels, in order to show the customers that this sales person is fully qualified to sell and explain Lange watches.  It would take 2-3 years to accomplish these three steps.  Japan's LOC requested to attend such courses (in Japanese) and ALS agreed to provide Japan's LOC members who are full of interest and quest for deeper knowledge with the special Ambassador course similar to the one for the retail staff in 2010.  The first Ambassador course was in 2010, the second in 2011, for those who could not make it in 2010 and the first Expert course was planned this year for the LOC members who had graduated from the Ambassador course.

In the meantime, the “Connoisseur’s Akademie”, the training concept for enthusiasts has spread to other markets worldwide and ALS started to give such courses, in the local markets, not necessarily in Glashütte, however in Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok etc. 

2?                The Curriculum this year and what is “customer service”.

The course content for the “Expert Course” is adapted from the course for the global retail staff to better suit the needs of us enthusiasts, so expectations were high.  We had the opportunity to visit specialized departments of the manufacture, such as the Hairspring production, pocket-watch case refurbishment and even try the traditional guilloche technique on a machine from 1820. 

We were given insights into Quality Control at Lange and the new collection, including technical information on the new perpetual calendar mechanism in the Lange 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar. We also had practical workshops assembling an 1815 movement and advanced engraving and finishing techniques. 

It was as always highly appreciated that the actual watchmakers and the senior management did take time to teach and discuss with us, and let us see inside these specialized areas of the manufactory (normally, no camera allowed) and participate in the interactive practical workshops.  We all thank ALS Headquarters and ALS Japan for it and once again realized the depth of its customer oriented culture.

3?                Summary of the Course (See photos below)

(1) Factory Tour (Photos permitted only for the Magazine and PPro)

(2) Lectures
- Hair Spring
- Quality Control
- 2012 Novelties

(3) Practical Exercise
This was the biggest fun part for me.  Of course, no one can be a great watchmaker overnight and i was helped by the teacher, but when the movement started working, the excitement was beyond words.

(4) Final Paper Test
My result was almost the last among the students....  All the participants had attended the Ambassador Course which I could not attend for the last two years due to my day job schedule.  Some of the questions were really unheard of for me - "hoe many in-house movement have been made so far? (Answer: 43)   “How many traditional finishing techniques exist in ALS? (Answer: 11), “What is the most difficult finishing technique? (Answer: Black Polishing), “What is the special ingredient in the hair spring? (Answer: Beryllium), etc.  Having said that, thank you Akademie for letting me pass and giving me the Certificate.  I couldn't be happier.

(5) Certification!

Now, I hope you enjoy the photo report of this 3-full-day Akademie at Glashutte!

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Welcome remark from Mr. Tino Bobe, Director of R&D (and Mrs. Joanna Lange on the right).



(1) Factory Tour

Factory Tour first stop: Engraving Department - each engraver has her/his own signature form.  Ask them, and they can tell you who actually engraved your watch and give you signed certification












Complication Assembly - Double Split Assembly



Zeitwerk Assembly



After the 1st assembly (as you know, Lange assembles the watch twice as its policy) - 3/4 plate has not been finished yet.




After the 2nd assembly




Now the most difficult finishing - black polish (tourbillon bridge)









A batch of Datograph U/D bridge parts



... to have vertical pattern on it






Finishing (chamfering) of the hammer of Zeitwerk Striking Time.




This is an interesting revelation...  The bridge (upper side of the photo) is the very hard Honey Gold, and the engraving tip (lower side of the photo) is plastic with Diamond coating (replaced for each task).



The machine is from 1820 - in the warehouse of Lange for a long time.



Yes, to engrave the wavy pattern on the Honey Gold Hommage series models was REALLY done with this machine.




(2) Lectures

Lecture of the Hair Spring by the new head of the department, Mr. Stephan Resch.

Lecture of Quality Control by Mrs. Joanna Lange



Novelty 2012 lecture by Mr. Tino Bobe




...and on his wrist....








(3) Practical Exercises

Attendees were given the white robe with his/her name embroidered



Now, the best part.  Assembly exercise of 1815 movement!  The washer is too small!






My all thumbs....



Working!



Next is "Perlage"....



And, balance cock chamfering and engraving.  Don't ask me for the result....




The final day - another practice day - Saturday, so teachers are in casual wear, too.





Part 1 - Bend the steel and make a spring used for the Cabaret Tourbillon Stop Second mechanism - the shape is printed on the tool.




And my result - not bad!




Part 2 - Mirror polishing the parts - pressing the part on to the cork.




Before





Use three stages of grinders




Then the result is.... needs a bit more...




Part 3 - Now the toughest one.  To screw and unscrew the balance screws.




How small?




This small!




It is VERY easy to take off just the head of the screw (which is BAD).




I managed to take off and put in again two of them.,,,




(4) Final Test - you have to really study to take high score.

And, the teachers are grading the final written test....




(5) Certification!

The "Graduation Ceremony" - Congrats, our BluNotte









4?             The future of the ALS Akademie

The “Connoisseur’s Akademie” for Lange enthusiasts distinguishes itself from the courses for retail staff in course content and in the titles awarded upon graduation. Our Certificate says “Connoisseur”, instead of “Expert”.  Although Japan is no longer the market most brands now focus on, Japanese collectors have a long and vast knowledge and love of what goes on inside the movements.  Many collectors buy watches after careful study, know a lot about the history and inside of the watches, and they have been one of the major forces that supported the industry for a long time. This Akademie started by the request of the group of Lange owners and I sincerely hope that ALS continues to provide such courses to the new owners and long time owners alike globally. The input from the knowledgeable, true connoisseur collectors through these seminars must be beneficial for them, too.

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Special thanks to:

Many management and staff at A. Lange & Sohne Headquarter and Japan, especially,
Ms. Kaori Ishida
Ms. Keiko Mimata
Mr. Tetsuji Takeyama
Ms. Joanna Lange
Mr. Martin Jonas
Ms. Kirsten Hultzsch
Ms. Ines Mager
and many more - too many to mention!....

World Wrist Watch magazine (published by World Photo Press) - Ms. Tomoko Kayama, Editor in Chief

Ms. Yukie Ziemer Miyata - interpreter all day during our stay in Dresden

And, lastly but not the least, the office of Japan's Lange Owners Club.

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ADDENDUM - The town of Glashutte

Some of us made a trip to Glashutte on Sunday, the day after the last day of Akademie to Glashutte again.  Note that it is almost only the Glashutte Watch Muserum that is open on Sunday.  The population on the weekend is surprisingly small here.




A monument for F.A. Lange - Father of watch industry of Glashutte





The town map of Glashutte - lots of watch brands here.





The fist Lange manufacteur building - a few minutes walk from the current ALS "Campus".




The address of this first ALS building









The current ALS Campus.




























Akadmie building, but now temporarily occupied by the watchmakers....












The ALS Park in front of the Lange Campus.  As reported by foversta below, this park will be converted to another ALS manufacteur building soon.  ALS is running at full capacity, but not enough to respond to the demand.





The night of Dresden....  Hope to visit again.   Very nice place...








Hope you enjoyed the journey

Ken