 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| This section gives us an opportunity to answer frequently-asked questions. It is a revealing repository of information for everyone who wishes to know more about Lange timepieces. |
|
| How much time does it take to craft a Lange watch? |
| Since the company's comeback in 1994, Lange has developed 24 superb movements. The parts of which they are composed - many of them unique - as well as the scores of design features involve differentiated manufacturing, finishing, assembly, adjustment, and inspection times, so overall production times vary from model to model. For a LANGE 1, for instance, some six months elapse between parts production and the delivery of the watch. This does not include development, which took several years. |
|
| Is every Lange watch unique? |
| Although each Lange watch is crafted more than once, it is legitimate to say that each one is unique. The balance cock of every single Lange watch is decorated by a master engraver using a free-hand technique; this gives the watch a one-of-a-kind personality. Moreover, all the parts of every given watch are tuned for perfect interaction. For example, the balance of one Lange watch cannot simply be integrated into another Lange watch, even if both models are identical. |
|
| What makes a Lange watch so extraordinary? |
The "A. Lange & Söhne" manufactory has an illustrious heritage. The pocket watches that bore this proud signature were among the world's most coveted timepieces.
Today, Lange develops a dedicated and exclusive movement for each watch model, customised to the shape of the case. Lange integrates many elements of the company's historic pocket watch in its movements. This includes the three-quarter plate made of untreated German silver and gold chatons secured to the plate with screws. Apart from these traditional features, Lange watches also incorporate many useful innovations, such as the patented outsize date or the ZERO RESET time-setting mechanism. All parts of the watch are meticulously decorated and finished by hand. The exhaustive final inspection process assures that each Lange watch fulfils the ambitious requirements expected of a product "Made in Germany". |
|
| How many Lange watches are manufactured each year? |
| The extraordinarily high degree of craftsmanship involved in the making of a Lange watch clearly limits the capacity of the manufactory. Lange can produce only a few thousand timepieces a year for this reason. |
|
| What does the dial inscription "Glashütte I/SA" mean? |
| It is the declaration of origin of Lange watches and stands for "Glashütte in Saxony". |
|
| Are Lange watches certified chronometers? |
| The tolerances accepted in chronometer tests range from -4 to +6 seconds (mean daily rate deviation). For empirical reasons, Lange prefers adjustments that deliver a maximum rate deviation in the range from -3 to +7 seconds. Also, as an ambassador of the hallmark "Made in Germany", Lange does not apply for chronometer certificates because they are issued exclusively by the Swiss C.O.S.C. organisation. |
|
| Will Lange ever craft pocket watches again? |
| Lange will continue to delight connoisseurs of horological artistry with exceptional complications and technical innovations, some of which have already been under development for years. We do not yet want to reveal whether a pocket watch will be among the manufactory's showpieces. |
|
|
 |
|
|
Technology & Mechanical Engineering |
|
|
| What is the smallest and lightest part in a Lange movement? |
| The thinnest washer for the balance screw is the smallest and lightest part in a Lange movement. It has a diameter of 0.4 millimetres, a thickness of 0.01 millimetres, and a weight of 8 micrograms (0.000008 g). In other words: 125,000 of these washers would weigh one gram. |
|
| What is the largest and heaviest part in a Lange movement? |
| The movement plate is the largest and heaviest part. In the LANGE 1, it has a diameter of 30.40 millimetres, a thickness of 1.40 millimetres, and a weight of 5.42 grams. |
|
| What is the smallest bore in a movement? |
| The smallest bore is located in the index pointer (part of the whiplash precision index adjuster); it has a diameter of 0.12 millimetres. |
|
| Which Lange movement has the largest number of parts? |
| The movement of the DATOGRAPH PERPETUAL. It is composed of 556 parts. The runner-up is the LANGEMATIK PERPETUAL with 478 parts, followed by the LANGE DOUBLE SPLIT and the TOURBOGRAPH "Pour le Mérite", each with 465 parts. If the parts of the chain were to be counted, the TOURBOGRAPH would rank first with 1097 components. |
|
| How do the escapement and the balance interact? |
| Together, the lever and the escape wheel constitute the escapement; the balance wheel and the hairspring constitute the so-called oscillation system, or balance for short. If the escapement did not exist, the mainspring would unwind as fast as the going train could absorb the inrush of energy. Instead, the escapement converts the rotary motion of the going train into a steady (isochronous) reciprocating motion and thus incrementally transfers the energy of the mainspring to the balance. |
|
| How are Lange watches adjusted? |
The responsibility of a regleur is to influence the rate accuracy of a mechanical watch with various measures such that it will display the time within a specified tolerance range. At Lange, the process of timing has traditionally consisted of three steps:
The first adjustment involves spring contact play - the movement of the hairspring between the curb pins. For this purpose, the rate of the watch is measured in six positions with the mainspring fully wound. This is done immediately after the hairspring has been inserted. The initial result is a rate accuracy average across all positions. Then, the spring barrel is set as if it had already been working for a day, and a second measurement series is performed. Again, the regleur adjusts spring contact play in such a way that the rate of the watch with the partially unwound mainspring does not deviate more than three seconds from the fully wound state.
Thereafter, the regleur matches the weight of the balance wheel to the length of the hairspring. This is done by placing tiny timing washers in pairs under the timing screws in the balance wheel rim.
Finally, the balance is poised in at least five positions: The regleur removes the tiniest amounts of metal from the individual timing screws until the total difference of rates in all measured positions is less than four seconds per day. On the average, the initial regulation of a movement takes two to three hours. The final adjustment, after the movement has been assembled for the second time, involves only minor poising of the balance. |
|
|
|
|
|
Customisation & Purchase of Lange Watches |
|
|
| Does Lange accommodate customer requests regarding the manufacture of watches? |
| In certain cases, Lange watches can be customised to the extent that this complies with the philosophy of the brand. Personal engravings on solid casebacks are also possible, for instance. However, customisation requests that involve changes to or specially developed movements cannot be honoured due to the tremendous amount of time this would take. |
|
| Can Lange watches be purchased directly from the manufactory? |
| "A. Lange & Söhne" timepieces are sold only through the world's finest, hand-picked jewellers who fulfil Lange's strict requirements regarding customer support and professional service. The Lange manufactory does not sell watches directly. |
|
|
|
|
|
Typical Post-Purchase Questions |
|
|
| How should a new watch be handled? |
| In a new watch, the time should not be set when the mainspring is fully unwound because without this counterforce, the wheels in the movement will be able to turn freely - in other words, much faster than normal. This could skim off the oil that is needed to maintain the rate accuracy of the watch. For this reason, please wind the watch before setting the time. |
|
| Does a Lange watch need "breaking in" - like a new car? |
| No, that is not necessary. When it leaves the manufactory, every Lange watch has run sufficiently long to be "broken in". |
|
| How should a manually-wound watch be wound? |
| It should be wound with calm, even back-and-forth turns of the crown between thumb and index finger. No sideways pressure should be exerted on the crown. |
|
| How often should a manually-wound watch be wound? |
| If it is worn daily, it should be wound daily - ideally at the same time every day. This will keep the going train supplied with more or less the same level of energy. A mainspring that is nearly wound down generates less energy, so the watch may tend to be slow. |
|
| When is a manually-wound watch fully wound? |
| When the watch is fully wound, the crown will resist further turning. If an attempt is made to continue winding despite this resistance, the mainspring may break. It is recommendable to turn the crown back by one full turn after the mainspring has been fully wound. |
|
| How should a self-winding watch like the LANGEMATIK be wound after the mainspring has run down? |
| When the LANGEMATIK needs to be wound after an extended period of non-use, about 20 turns of the crown will create a sufficient initial power reserve. |
|
| What precautions must be taken when setting the outsize date? |
| The fast correction button for the outsize date should not be actuated between 8 PM and 1 AM because the complex date mechanism is invisibly preparing to switch during this period. However, the date discs do not perceptibly move until just before midnight. The visible switching process takes about 40 minutes. |
|
| Where should I put my watch when I take it off? |
To prevent the formation of condensate in the movement, do not store your watch in a cold place immediately after having taken it off.
Mechanical watches must be protected against direct exposure to sunlight because oil may escape from the bearings if the temperature inside the movement rises unduly. |
|
| How should I store my watch for an extended period of time? |
| As a rule, extended periods of non-use do not have any negative effects on a mechanical timepiece. However, the watch should be wound once a month to preserve the lubricating properties of the oil. Even if a watch is used relatively infrequently, it should be serviced at least every five years, and on this occasion, the oil in the movement should be changed. A relatively dust-free storage location, such as a safe, is ideal. |
|
| Are Lange watches waterproof? |
| Every Lange watch is splashwater-protected. This means that it is adequately sealed to cope with everyday situations such as when it rains or you are washing your hands. However, it should not be worn while swimming or diving. |
|
| May Lange watches be worn in the shower, bathtub, or sauna? |
| Lange watches are not designed for such situations. The precious crocodile strap would also be damaged under these circumstances. Conversely, a Lange watch can easily withstand exposure to water when you are washing your hands or when it rains. |
|
| Should Lange watches be protected against exposure to chemicals? |
| Yes. In particular, solvents such as petrol will damage the seals of a watch and render them ineffective. Soap and other cleaning agents will also cause damage in the long term. |
|
| Are Lange watches shock-resistant? |
| Your Lange watch will not be harmed by vibrations that occur during normal use. However, you should avoid collisions with hard objects and take care not to drop your watch. A lengthy succession of jolts such as they occur on a mountain bike in rugged terrain would eventually harm the watch as well. |
|
| When should a Lange watch be serviced? |
| If it is frequently worn, a Lange watch should be serviced every three years. If it is rarely worn, a service interval of five years is recommended. |
|
| Where should the watch be serviced? |
| Please contact an authorised Lange dealer to have your watch serviced. It will either be serviced in-house by a Lange-trained watchmaker or sent to a Lange service centre or directly to Glashütte. |
|
| What is done when a watch is serviced? |
| The movement is completely disassembled and cleaned. Service watchmakers check all parts for wear and if necessary will replace them with new parts. The movement is regreased and reoiled, assembled, and regulated. During assembly, the case is fitted with new seals and then subject to a water-resistance test. Finally, a master watchmaker will polish the case and buckle to remove small scratches and blemishes. |
|
| How long does it take to have a watch serviced? |
| Servicing a Lange watch is a very sophisticated and time-consuming task. For this reason, turnaround times can be as long as six weeks. |
|
| Can scratches on the case be removed? |
| Small scratches are easily removed by polishing when your watch is serviced. The weight and material loss is minimal. |
|
| How long is the warranty period for a Lange watch? |
| Lange grants a two-year warranty beginning on the date of purchase. After the two-year period expires, repairs are charged. |
|
| When do I have a warranty claim? What do I need to know? Whom must I contact? |
A warranty claim exists in the event of defects in material or workmanship.
Any work on the watch may only be undertaken by one of the Lange service centres for the warranty to remain valid.
In order to benefit from this warranty, you will be required to present the warranty card, duly completed, dated, stamped and signed by an authorised Lange retailer.
The warranty does not cover defects and damage due to loss, theft or fire. Nor does it include defects and damage resulting from deliberate misuse or negligence, or from accident. Further, this warranty does not cover defects and damage caused by improper use (knocks, dents, crushing, etc.), normal wear and tear, alteration or dismantling. The warranty also excludes watches with the serial number removed. |
|
| What is the expected service life of a Lange watch? |
| If a Lange watch is handled carefully and serviced at regular recommended intervals, it will last for several generations. |
|
| How many people are employed by Lange? |
| Currently, about 440 staff members work at the Lange manufactory. |
|
| How many Lange employees are directly involved in manufacturing watches? |
| About half of the 345 staff members are watchmakers, i.e. they are directly involved in the production of Lange's high-precision watches. But the designers, toolmakers, and CNC specialists should also be mentioned in the context of the active manufacturing processes. They, too, constitute a large group of Lange's workforce. |
|
| Does every master watchmaker craft a watch from beginning to end or are employees specialised in specific production steps? |
| Since Lange's comeback, the company has developed 24 totally new mechanical movements. Collectively, they are composed of several thousands of different parts that have to be assembled, adjusted, and decorated in many different ways. The resulting diversity of production steps necessitates a division of labour and specialisation. Nonetheless, the work of Lange's master watchmakers remains challenging and exciting. |
|
| Does Lange train apprentices? |
| It is not easy to find good watchmakers. For this reason, Lange Uhren GmbH places great emphasis on training talented youngsters in-house. Lange has offered a proprietary curriculum for watchmakers since 1997. The apprenticeship takes three years to complete. |
|
| How many buildings belong to the Lange manufactory and what functions do they have? |
Today, the manufactory campus is composed of three main buildings and a spacious annex building, the new Lange Technology & Development Centre.
The "Lange I" building was inaugurated on 23 December 1993 after extensive reconstruction. It covers an area of 1,500 square metres and accommodates the assembly department, the in-house toolmaking unit, the prototype engineering studio, and the purchasing department. The building dates back to the 1920s and was originally owned by Strasser & Rohde which used it as a production facility for precision pendulum clocks.
The "Lange II" production facility opposite the "Lange I" was established in the former Archimedes calculating machine factory. The building dates back to 1922 and was inaugurated in 1997 after extensive remodelling. It spans 2,500 square metres and accommodates production as well as many of Lange's administrative departments. Additionally, the entire first floor of the building has been transformed into a showroom where the manufactory's guests are welcomed.
A third building - Lange's original family domain - was reinaugurated on 7 December 2001. This former residence with annexed workshops was built by Adolph Lange in 1873. The founder's great-grandson Walter Lange grew up here as well. In April 2000, Lange was able to buy the building back from the community of Glashütte. It was converted into a spacious production facility with a useful area of 1,600 square metres. Today, it accommodates the Lange Watchmaking School, the finishing, engraving, and service departments, as well as several administrative offices.
When this landmark building was renovated, special attention was paid to the restoration of the pendulum clock that had been built by Adolph Lange: It has a nine-metre-long pendulum which traverses three stories and swings freely in the basement. This mechanical marvel tells the people of Glashütte and the town's visitors the time with two dials on the façade.
The glass wing added to Lange I was completed on 22 October 2003; it accommodates the new Technology & Development Centre where ideas are now born for tomorrow's Lange timepieces. |
|
| Are there imitations of Lange watches and how can they be recognised? |
It is hardly possible to counterfeit a Lange watch with all of its meticulously crafted details. However, that does not rule out fraudulent attempts. The following features make it fairly easy to distinguish an original from an imitation:
- All Lange watches have precious metal cases. They are perceptibly heavier than ordinary watches.
- Most Lange watches have a display back made of sapphire crystal. It reveals the intricacy of the superbly crafted mechanical movement inside.
The risk of acquiring a counterfeit watch is undoubtedly greatest if the seller is a street vendor. To some extent, Internet purchases are also fraught with this risk. Conversely, Lange watches acquired from authorised Lange jewellers are certain to be originals. Your dealer will also provide the authentic documentation and the warranty card for your watch. |
|
|
|
|
|
