A. Lange & Söhne Connoisseurs Akademie Tokyo

KIH · 2012-11-28T09:46:56Z

Experience the A. Lange & Söhne Connoisseurs Akademie in Tokyo, focusing on watch finishing, engraving, and hands-on challenges.

KIH

WPS member · A. Lange & Söhne forum

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KIH reports on the A. Lange & Söhne Connoisseurs Akademie in Tokyo, held at the prestigious Hiko Mizuno Jewelry and Watch School. This event offered Japanese Lange enthusiasts an unprecedented challenge in watchmaking perfection, featuring lectures on finishing and engraving, hands-on activities, and insights from Lange Japan's CEO and Ms. Joanna Lange. The article captures the dedication to horological education and the brand's commitment to its collectors.

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Connoisseurs Akademie Tokyo 2012 - A world of perfection!

Those Japanese Lange Connoisseurs had to face the latest challenge - A world of perfection - no one (other than Lange watchmakers) has ever gone before.....

The venue is so becoming - Hiko Mizuno Jewelry and Watch School (which Mr. Kikuno, AHCI Candidate, graduated from) in Shibuya.

The class room is actual watchmaking school class room.

Mr. Dufour's words framed. He had special lectures here in 2002 and 2003.
"To young Japanese watchmakers: Please explore the world of watchmaking with courage and patience. October 29, 2002, in Tokyo"

Opening remark by Mr. Edmond Boussemart, Lange Japan Brand CEO.

"This is an experiment for the Connoisseurs Adakemie Course in the future , how you like it or whether you can follow the speed to step up your knowledge and skill. Would love to hear what you think after you finished this course today".

It is good to have Ms. Joanna Lange here.

"It is always difficult to come up with the new challenges for Japanese Lange Connoisseurs. I hope we can satisfy you this time."

And Mr. Ishizaki, Dean of the Hiko Mizuno Watch School.

"It is a great honor to welcome the highest end watch brand, its academy instructor and the owners/ collectors to Hiko Mizuno."

Needless to say, Mr. Ishizaki is the one who Mr. Kikuno gave his "Wa-Dokei" which he exhibited at Basel and was awarded the candidacy to the member of AHCI. One and only production piece. He will try to make the smaller version of this next year.

Now the lecture starts, followed by big challenges....

To be continued....

...to "A world of perfection!"

Key Points from the Discussion

Participants faced challenges such as winding a mainspring and inserting it into the barrel, with the tiny hook and hole presenting the most significant difficulty.
The academy's themes included "Finishing and Engraving," detailing the four parts of a watch that can be engraved and various finishing techniques, including the five-day process for black polishing.
The event featured a lecture on "A world of perfection!" and showcased examples of perfect engraving by Professor Graff on the Grande Complication pocket watch #42500.
The contributor highlights the intriguing detail that even Mr. Lange does not know the ingredients for the polishing paste, likening it to the Coca-Cola recipe, emphasizing the brand's trade secrets.
The blued steel screws activity was a favorite, though it requires practice to master, with factories using automated ovens for the process.
The winding of the mainspring was the most enjoyed challenge, despite its difficulty, as it represents the fundamental beginning of a watch's operation.

The Discussion

KIH

Nov 28, 2012

Part I - Lecture

Part I - Lecture "A world of perfection !" Today's themes were "Finishing and Engraving". There are four parts on which engraving is or can be done. And there are various finishing and polishing process and technique. "Perfect" engraving by Professor Graff done on the Grande Complication pocket watch #42500 (remember?) Example of the case back engraving - requires thick plate to begin with. Custom-made engraving on the balance cock - read "P.N." Here is a unique custom order engrave - the head o

Ares501 - Mr Green

Nov 28, 2012

Another epic report dear Ken...

and lot to learn from I just like the part where not even Mr. Lange knows ingredients for paste reminds me of Coca-Cola recipe :) Thank you for the time and effort to bring it to us Cheers Damjan

KIH

Nov 28, 2012

While they are very open about most things...

... they do have trade secrets to keep! They have more than 11 finishing ways and black polishing is the most difficult one even for the proficient at Glashutte. It takes 5 days to finish! Cheers, my friend! Ken

KIH

Nov 28, 2012

Part II - The Challenges

Part II - The Challenges 1. Wind and put the main spring into the barrel. See the tiny "hook" to put into the small "hole" at the inner end of the main spring (see the photo below). Putting the hole onto the hook was the biggest task.... Somehow successfully winding.... This is the successful result (I dare not say whether this is mine or not ) 2. Make a blued steel screw. At the factory, they do it in the bul k using the oven. Pu t the sc rew in the center of t he pan. Just started.... Remember

Fricks

Nov 28, 2012

Great work... Best way

to fall in love is going deep into the movements. Thanks for the report

KIH

Nov 28, 2012

Yes, that is the spiriti!

You would love this brand more and more :-) Kudos to Lange! Ken

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