The English landscaped garden of the Rhenish moated castle near Düsseldorf is once again a unique setting for Germany’s biggest classic car event, Classic Days, from 2 to 4 August 2019, at which the cultural history of cars will be showcased – with all its facets. This is where you will find people with a passion for the finest mechanical craftsmanship – on wheels as well as wrists. A. Lange & Söhne attends Classic Days.
Among the classic cars, celebrities and motorsport legends, this year, for the first time ever, A. Lange & Söhne will be presenting two of its own themed exhibits. Around a giant version of the Lange model ZEITWERK DATE, only just launched in January 2019, visitors can discover the current collection and look on as a Lange watch is assembled at a watchmaking table.
The “House of Lange” in the orangery also presents precision watchmaking in the wider context of Saxon craftsmanship. Alongside watchmakers, finisseurs and engravers from Glashütte, porcelain painters from Meißen and violin makers from the Vogtland region will give an insight into their work and its long history. Here, at a press event, Lange CEO Wilhelm Schmid will also present another model from the ten-piece “25th Anniversary” series, celebrating 25 years of the LANGE 1 this year.
A. Lange & Söhne has been Classic Days’ exclusive watchmaking partner since 2015. The company is also involved with the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on Lake Como in Italy and the Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace near London.
Wilhelm Schmid sees natural affinities in the partnership: ‘Timeless design, mechanical perfection and master craftsmanship are the key values that A. Lange & Söhne has devoted itself to. This is something we share with the fans and collectors of vintage vehicles we meet at these events. And that’s why those who love sophisticated mechanical watches often have a weakness for classic cars, too.’ He adds: ‘I happen to be one of them, just like our company founder, Walter Lange, who would have celebrated his 95th birthday on 29 July. I have fond memories of him driving his Mercedes Pagode to Lake Como for our first presentation at the Concorso d’Eleganza in May 2012.’
Wilhelm Schmid has been CEO of A. Lange & Söhne since 2011. He inherited his love of driving from his father, who owned a car dealership. The former automotive manager bought his first classic car at 17. He treasures analogue elements as a counterbalance to an increasingly digital world. ‘When I drive a classic car or wear a mechanical watch, I feel connected to the world. When I’m working on my cars, I feel close to the people who made them, and I’m always amazed by the details they came up with. It’s a similar feeling when I hear a mechanical watch ticking. To me, it’s a bit like the heartbeat of life itself.’
