SJX
[Purist]
8540
Part 6: Engraving
One of the trademarks of German movements is the engraved balance cock (which was, along with the three quarter plate appropriated from the English). Engraving is a simple process: a burin (a chisel with a sharp tip) is used to remove metal. But it is done freehand and requires immense skill. Engraving a balance cock for instance takes about an hour.
Above: Helmut Wagner and his watch
Lange has a team of six engravers, led by Helmut Wagner. They are responsible for the engraved balance cocks, as well as custom engraving work. The italic text engraved on the movements of the 165th Anniversary Homage to FA Lange is also hand engraved.
Below: Cards for each engraver showing the individual styles of balance cock engraving; Lange owners visiting can take one that matches the work on their watch
Below: Three-quarter plate of the honey gold 1815 Moon Phase
The engravers can do both relief and intaglio engraving. Examples of relief engraving include custom case backs, while intaglio engraving is the type seen on balance cocks.
Various examples of engraving past and present
This message has been edited by SJX on 2010-11-12 06:42:06
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A visit to the Lange manufactory in Glashütte
A visit to the Lange manufactory in Glashütte An tour of the Lange Uhren factory in Glashütte covering the manufacturing and finishing of parts, assembly and testing, including in-house hairspring production By Su Jia Xian (SJX) Lange watches are today ma...
Part 1: Milling and drilling
Lange's trademark German silver plates and bridges start out as blanks which are first polished flat (below). Then they are drilled and machined into the requirement components in another area. Milling and drilling of larger parts, like bridges and base p...
Part 2: Wire erosion
Small components with complex shapes are produced via wire erosion. Put simply this technique utilises an electrical discharge in a wire which cuts through the material. Blanks are stacked and then cut several at a time....
Part 3: Checking of tolerances
Parts are then subject to quality control, to ensure the tolerances of the entire part, including thickness, wide, size of holes, are up to par. This is done optically, by comparing the component to a template. Some aspects of certain parts must be precis...
Part 4: Hairspring production
Since 2003 with the Double Split, Lange has been making hairsprings to equip a portion of its production, mainly the high-end, complicated models. During the GDR days, hairsprings could not be imported so the state-owned watch enterprise, Glashütter ...
Part 5: Finishing
Lange is of course well known for the remarkable finish applied to its movements. Consequently, out of approximately 450 employees, 70 work on finishing movement components, which is undoubtedly one of the highest ratios in the industry. There really isn&...
Part 6: Engraving
One of the trademarks of German movements is the engraved balance cock (which was, along with the three quarter plate appropriated from the English). Engraving is a simple process: a burin (a chisel with a sharp tip) is used to remove metal. But it is don...
Part 7: Assembly
Lange makes no secret of the fact that its movements are assembled twice. The first time round some components are undecorated; amongst other things the three quarter plate has no striping and the gold chatons are unpolished, and the screws used are plain...
Part 8: Testing
Tests of prototypes and samples from initial production batches are also done in the manufactory. These tests are intended to help development of new products; they are not meant to test all production pieces. Tests include endurance tests for push-button...
Many memories conjured!
Thank you for all of your photos! A great testament to the Lange manufactory's prowess and efforts in creating the finest watches in the world.
SJX, great report!
I have been there four times and still didn´t manage to see everything, e.g. hairspring production and testing. Maybe a good reason to go once more - at least Thanks for sharing! Oliver
Comprehensive post ! How many of the homage set are left in production ???
The shock testing is really impressive ! Poor litlle watches ! I counted 11 moonphase plates. Did you see more ? Great, great comprehensive insight into Lange ! Many thanks. Regards Moritz
Production rates are different
One Tourbograph is completed a month, while several tourbillon and several moon phase are. I expect the Tourbograph will take several years to finish while the others will be completed sooner. - SJX
fantastic post, thanks so much!
Indeed, the hairspring production is especially interesting. Best Andreas
You have a great job
Traveling to all these places looks like a lot of fun. One can see why Lange watches cost what they do. A few questions. Where do they get their hairsprings for the less complicated models? Do companies that make hairsprings for distribution follow the sa...
Some answers
The outsourced hairsprings are standard Nivarox. The hairspring companies generally use similar processes, but on a much larger, automated basis. There is much, much, much less manual work. The tests are typically done on prototypes in development and sam...
Standard Nivarox ... Nivacourbe shockproof spring
I can imagine that contracts for spring supply will run for many years to secure them, but a manufacturer like Lange would "deserve" a bit more : Nivacourbe from Nivarox-FAR SA as a shockproof spring would be a adequate choice. ETA SA invented this spring...
Just to be clear I am not certain what specific Nivarox hairspring Lange uses
I used the term generically, to contrast with an in-house hairspring. I presume Lange uses the highest quality Nivarox hairsprings. - SJX
Thank You for your comprehensive report
Thank you for your wonderful report. The time that you devoted to putting together your presentation is appreciated. I am very proud to wear a Lange watch (Datograph). I look forward to buying the next one (Richard Lange). I now have more of an understand...
I don't like that evil hammer machine...
...hurting the Langes I hope someday I can buy my dream watch (Lange 1 Moonphase) at the ALS boutique in Dresden and also visit the manufacture (and also GO). Thanks for the report, SJX Marcelo
thanks for a fantastic report and explantion of the processes involved
fav pic is the chrono poushers test machine....tht what every datograph goes thru before coming to our hands. do you know how many pushes each dato goes thru?
Several thousand times
but as noted before, only prototypes and samples are put through these tests, just to make sure there are not inherent weaknesses in the design. - SJX
simply great reporting...
wow...love the step by step and the great photos... noticed that paper towels are part of the finisher's desktop... loved the report...amazing stuff...thanks!
Thank you so much...an incredible report!
Still going to sleep at night with visions of a Richard Lange in my head. Or should I say, on my wrist? What an extraordinary report. Thank you again!
that's an Unbelievable Report!!
it's the Mother of all Reports .the best i've seen.!! THANK YOU so very much for sharing.. Tony
Very nice report. Thank you.
Thanks for refreshing my memory. The three days at the factory in 2007 were an unforgettable experience. BRAVO to our friends from Lange. Vte
reading those posts makes me really...
have even more an appreciation for my Lange and soon to be LangeS
Thank you for a great trip
Thank you for a fantastic report. Always nice to see the inner workings of the German Patek...Or is it the other way around?
Thank you for great report!
Ah, how I wish I could be there!!! Very nice and thanks for the report. Very, very appreciated! Ken
Thank you for your marvellous report..............
It is only when you look at the photos of the many parts and the final movements, that you realise how much skill is required from all the different departments, to assemble a timepiece.
Great to see that you have visited Lange!
And hopefully felt the perfection emitting from all corners of that beautiful manufactory in classic Glashutte! Stephen
if I ever break a bone
and want it re-connected with a bridge or plate, I would first go to these people to have it made and hand-engraved with signature. After a few hundred or thousand of years, this will be my only claim to immortality. amerix
Splendid piece of writing JX...
Lange continues to amaze and impress. With reference posts like this, more people hopefully will realize how good this watch house is. Thanks for sharing JX...
Wow, wonderful series of reports.
I hope to visit myself someday too. Thank you so much for sharing. Best, Goh
Thanks a lot SJX for this very comprehensive report of your visit.
I really think I need to come back to Glashütte ! So many things have changed since my last visit ! Fr.Xavier
If I could choose only...
one manufacturer to visit, this would be it. Thanks for the wonderful report SJX. fernando
How Interesting....
Absolutley fascinating write up & pictures, thanks so much for taking the time & posting...reflects what a fantastic brand lange & Sohne are ...brilliant
a feast of information and pictures!
still savoring the thread--but I am enjoying every moment of it! Jason
