A. Lange & Söhne: My 2013 Lange Year

foversta · 2014-01-07T12:57:42Z

Foversta recounts his 'Lange year' of 2013, covering A. Lange & Söhne boutique openings, SIHH novelties like the 1815 Rattrapante PC, and exclusive events.

foversta

WPS member · A. Lange & Söhne forum

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Foversta reflects on his 'Lange year' of 2013, chronicling a series of memorable A. Lange & Söhne experiences, from boutique openings and SIHH novelties to exclusive events. This post offers a comprehensive look at the brand's activities and new releases through the eyes of a passionate collector, highlighting key moments and personal favorites that shaped his appreciation for Lange.

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As promised, I would like to come back to you about my Lange year. It was obviously a very busy one with memorable moments! I propose you to quickly browse some of them!

The year had a fantastic beginning with the opening of the Lange boutique in Paris the 19th of January!

I was so happy to have a new headquarter in Paris!

More here:
alang.watchprosite.com

Then two days later, time was coming to join the SIHH and to discover the new collection:

My fav watches were the 1815 PC Rattrapante:

And the 1815 up & down:

But at the end, I think I would purchase the Grand Lange 1 WG and black dial:

It was a solid SIHH for Lange with a good mix of complicated watches with more simple timepieces. Even if the main event was the presentation of the Grand Complication, I was more focused on the novelties which would enter the collection.

More details here:
alang.watchprosite.com

Then in February, during a visit at the newly opened Boutique in Paris, I had the chance to handle 3 Tourbillons watches:

What a gathering!

More here:
alang.watchprosite.com

In May, I had the chance to attend the Concorso d'Eleganza of the Villa d'Este... it was for me a superb privilege and I will never forget this stay by the Lake Como!

Watches:

Cars:

And superb landscapes:

More here:
alang.watchprosite.com

Believe me, it was difficult to be back to Paris after 3 days in paradise!

In June, the Richard Lange Boutique Edition landed in Paris:

More here:
alang.watchprosite.com

After a good summer break, I quickly found again the good rhythm with another LE: the Zeitwerk Handwerkskunst!

More here:
alang.watchprosite.com

Paris is nice but London is also a great city! The Lange presence at the SalonQP gave me a good reason to go on the other side of the Channel:

What about testing again the 2013 novelties?

More here:
alang.watchprosite.com

The year could only end at the place where everything started, in Saxony!

I was very happy to attend the pre-SIHH event in Dresden and in Glashütte:

My Cabaret was back to its craddle!

I could also visit the Lange Boutique of Dresden:

The stunning Mathematisch-Physikalischer Salon:

I couldn't miss the visit of the Manufacture:

The reason behind this journey in Saxony was to discover a new watch, the first of the 2014 collection: the Grand Lange 1 Moon Phase!

But maybe the biggest surprise was the great honour given to the guests: we were the first persons to attend an event in the new building of the Manufacture!

More here:
alang.watchprosite.com

But the year was not over!

The last surprise was the ability to see in Paris a LE unveiled a few months before at Watches & Wonders, the Saxonia Outsize Date:

More here:
alang.watchprosite.com

As you can see, it was a very busy year and it would be a dream if I could live a similar year in 2014!

I would like to thank a lot the Lange staff and all the Purists members who made this 2013 year so unforgettable!

Fx

Key Points from the Discussion

The Kalenderwoche, a watch featuring a calendar week complication, was highlighted as an instant winner and a difficult-to-see limited edition, despite not being the rarest, making it a significant find for collectors.
Highlights from the year included a visit to the Paris boutique, seeing a video of the Richard Lange Tourbillon Pour le Mérite running alongside a Lange 1 Tourbillon, and the precision and mastery of the Zeitwerk Handwerkskunst's relief engraving.
A. Lange & Söhne is seen as doing everything right to challenge Patek Philippe as a leader in haute horology, though some wish for bolder limited editions and boutique special editions to make them more distinct.
The number of novelties released by Lange in 2013 was considered a significant stretch for a manufacture of its size, suggesting that the brand's limited space and manpower were pushed thin, with expectations for a stronger year once a new building is completed.
The 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar was identified as a 'dream piece' from the year's releases, showcasing Lange's complicated watchmaking prowess.
The A. Lange & Söhne Cabaret was praised as one of the classiest watches ever made, with its distinctive rectangular case and elegant design.

The Discussion

Ares501 - Mr Green

Jan 7, 2014

Very rich year

dear FX! Thank you for splendid resume but there was one watch instantly capturing my heart that you presented on your wrist (where else) on the very end of last year and that is Kalenderwoche Now and then, and longer we are around watches, more then than now comes instant winner Thank you for it among all you mentioned Sincerely Damjan

Spellbound

Jan 7, 2014

Agree with Damjan here

And the hunt is on for one of these Kalenderwoche. The calendar week is never mentioned in conversations, but is in my opinion, a great indication of how much of the year has past, and how much to go, Anyway, certainly a great year in retrospect. For me, the highlight "dream piece" is the 1815 Rattrapante PC. Thanks for great coverage as always Fx. Dean

foversta

Jan 8, 2014

Thanks Dean!

When I saw this Kalenderwoche, I thought that I couldn't miss this opportunity to shoot it! Not the rarest LE but one of the most difficult to see! A strange paradox! Fx

foversta

Jan 8, 2014

Thanks Damjan!

And of course, thanks for your constant support during the full year. Fx

gensiulia

Jan 7, 2014

always a pleasure to watch / read your entry. thanks. ave, chris

foversta

Jan 8, 2014

Thanks Chris.

Be sure that I have also a lot of pleasure to write these articles. And your answers are fuel for me! Fx