Richemont-owned watchmaker A. Lange & Söhne is celebrating the life of an important industry figure.
Walter Lange, the great-grandson of company founder Ferdinand Adolph Lange, is widely credited with revitalizing the brand in the 1990s. On July 29, the maison commemorated what would have been his 100th birthday, sharing more about the businessman's impact on the high-end horology landscape.
“Walter Lange represented the old school in the truest sense of the word,” said Wilhelm Schmid, CEO of A. Lange & Söhne, in a statement.
“He has brought his values, such as watchmaking, his down-to-earth attitude and his humble character to the company and firmly anchored them so that his way of thinking and his actions will continue to have an impact and guide our decisions as a company in the future.”
Looking back
Before passing away in 2017 at the age of 92, Mr. Lange made it his mission to raise Germany's profile in the fine watchmaking market.
A. Lange & Söhne has a rich history. The company was seized following the end of World War II and the subsequent split of Germany into East and West states.
All German watchmakers merged under a single umbrella thereafter.
In 2022, the maison named its in-house watchmaking school the Walter Lange Training and Further Education Centre in Mr. Lange's honor. Image credit: Richemont
In 1990, Mr. Lange, with the help of entrepreneur Günter Blümlein, spearheaded the revival of A. Lange & Söhne, reincorporating the business on the 145th anniversary of its founding and nearly 40 years after its absorption.
Mr. Lange followed in his great-grandfather’s footsteps to become a watchmaker, winning several awards in his lifetime.
Mr. Lange helped spearhead the revival of A. Lange & Söhne, reincorporating the business on its 145th anniversary. Image credit: A. Lange & Söhne
He also supported the resurrected brand up until his death, overseeing the launch of new collections to ensure the operation scaled while speaking to media and business partners alike and otherwise contributing behind the scenes.
In 2022, the maison paid tribute to its longtime champion by naming its in-house watchmaking school, the Walter Lange Training and Further Education Centre, in his honor.
Heritage and legacy often guide luxury labels. Swiss watchmaker Longines recently uplifted the 70th anniversary of its Conquest timepiece line (see story).
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Walter Lange, the great-grandson of company founder Ferdinand Adolph Lange, is widely credited with revitalizing the brand in the 1990s. Image credit: A. Lange & Söhne 
Mr. Lange helped spearhead the revival of A. Lange & Söhne, reincorporating the business on its 145th anniversary. Image credit: A. Lange & Söhne
