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On May 7th 1945, Russian fighter-bombers bore down
on German Panzers retreating through the city of Glashűtte.
Their military targets were missed but the industrial center of
Glashűtte was left in ruins, the Lange factory included. The
remaining employees tried to repair damaged machinery and collect
the few remaining watch parts.
The Lange sons planned to re-open the facility but
in 1946,under the auspices of the post-war Denazification order 124,
the factory was threatened with a complete property confiscation.
The Langes succeeded in forestalling the appropriation of the family
owned business and two years later the order was officially
rescinded. Three days later the regional communist government took
control of the all A. Lange & Söhne assets.
Walter Lange fled to West Germany and in 1951 the Lange name ceased
to exist on watches as the factory was subsumed into an industrial
combine.
After an aborted earlier attempt to re-establish Lange as a
watch-making house, Walter Lange registered the name Lange Uhren
GMBR on December 7th 1990, two months after the re-unification of
Germany. With some financial and technical assistance, A. Lange
& Söhne was back in business.
Peter says that the watches produced by the company
are touchstones of care, effort and German precision. “It is
almost technical overkill,” he jokes, but this is one of the
reasons they are so collectable. For example, a regular wristwatch
has between 15 and 18 jewels (which reduces friction between the
moving parts) and will run very effectively. Luxury watches can have
21 jewels (to reduce friction). The Lange I has 53 jewels.
“Obviously friction will never be a problem.”
Some of the newer models have the most exquisite complications,
while retaining the trademark oversized dates. They are reputed to
be finest watches available today.
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