This episode is all about GERMAN watches! Luxury watches made in Germany are the equal of any made in Switzerland, but German style and traditions are entirely unique. Join Tim Mosso for a far-ranging discussion of the best watches from A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte Original and other German watchmakers. For watch collectors, shoppers, and enthusiasts of German watches, this show is the ultimate buyer’s guide.
A. Lange & Söhne is the most famous name in German watchmaking, but the company itself is young. Established in 1990, the modern A. Lange & Söhne carries on tradition of pre-World War II German watchmakers. Famous models include the Datograph chronograph, the Zeitwerk digital jumping time watch, and the Richard Lange Tourbillon Pour le Merite. Founded by original family scion Walter Lange and executive Gunter Blumlein, A. Lange & Söhne has become the point of reference in German high horology watchmaking and a legitimate rival to the Swiss “holy trinity” of Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Vacheron Constantin.
The A. Lange & Söhne Datograph as featured in this episode launched in 1999. That watch, made in platinum, forced a reckoning among Swiss watch brands. The extravagant movement finish, manufacture caliber, and original design of the flyback chronograph from A. Lange & Söhne convinced Patek Philippe to abandon its traditional use of chronograph ebauches from Valjoux and later Lemania. Datograph caliber L951 was a landmark for its beauty, intricacy, and superb operation.
Externally, the Datograph was a squat 39mm vessel that looked slightly archaic even when new, but the charismatic big date dial won friends among open-minded watch collectors. Watchmaker Philippe Dufour even purchased a rose gold Datograph 403.031 for himself – one of the few watches Dufour admired enough to buy for his personal use.
The A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk jumping time watch represented an even greater departure than the Datograph. Launched in 2009, the Zeitwerk was based on a concept created by Blumlein before his 2001 passing, and the idea was further refined with a view towards miniaturizing the five-minute clock from the Sächsische Staatsoper Dresden – the Dresden opera house.
With its uniquely balanced dial, remontoir-equipped caliber L043, and spectacular “triple jump” each hour on the hour, the Zeitwerk became an instant sensation. So compelling was this German watch that it won the GPHG “Aiguille d’Or” – the watchmaking equivalent of “Best Picture” at the Academy Awards. And because the GPHG is a Swiss competition, the Zeitwerk’s victory was all the more impressive.
Please Subscribe:
https://www.youtube.com/@the1916company/?sub_confirmation=1
Signup for The 1916 Company news and updates:
https://www.the1916company.com/email-signup
Buy Watches Here:
https://www.the1916company.com
View hands-on luxury watch reviews on The 1916 Company Reviews:
https://www.youtube.com/@the1916companywatchreviews/?sub_confirmation=1
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/The 1916 Company
#luxurywatches #watchcollector #watchcollecting #luxurywatch
MB01IM56DKHUGTR
18 Comments
The pathetic philippe crappitus on the wristshots 😂
I never tire of seeing the back of a Lang & Heyne Georg!
Tonight's Show Host: Tim Pool Mosso
Hanhart makes great watches for the price and great horology history.
GOs high end references are criminally underrated.
I will never buy a Lange or Glashutte. It’s just not Swiss. It is as simple as that.
Minerva’s 16.29 is objectively better finished than the Lange once you get under the macro lens.
You can tell Lange uses a handheld drill bit/pad evidenced by the super thin bevels. Lange & Heyne and Moritz Grossmann use a similar technique which can clearly be seen in the respective YouTube videos that show their in-house work being done.
He said “cock”.
One day, I will own a Panoreserve!! Would love that Moritz Grossmann, but that's so unlikely lol
The episode was extinction level event (e.l.e.) explosive, the Lang & Heyne is just superb
bravo
…" will need a cigarette after that one"…lmao on that comment. Keep em comin'…amazing craftsmanship on all! Thank you.
Wonderful stream. Thank you for showing such great craftsmanship and art. Hope to see more of this! Would love to see or have you explain in a video the difference between a flying tourbillon and a regular tourbillon
A New York Black an White Cookie in Germany is called "Ein Amerikaner" – "An American".
You would have to move up to at least a 5370 If you want better chronograph movement finishing than on a Datograph from Patek. 5170 and 5270, whilst great watches in their own right, cannot compare in this respect.
Fantastic show Tim !
If GO can align date wheels flush why can't ALS?
Great show Tim. I regularly need a 10min countdown and am your wrist double. Am I better going UN Marine Regatta or PanoRetroGraph? All the best, Ed
Amazing show Tim! I'm a big fan of German horology! If I may suggest can you make a similar show talking about high Japanese horology as well? Please talk about Credor, Hajime Asaoka and Ming if possible. I recently had a change to play with a Credor Sonnerie and just fell in love with it🤩 Best, Amintas