A. Lange & Söhne was supporting the Concours of Elegance as a cooperation partner for the first time this year. This exclusive beauty contest for classic cars was held in the gardens of Hampton Court Palace near London at the end of August. This is the integral release.
A. Lange & Söhne and Concours of Elegance
The Concours of Elegance brings together collectors and aficionados of rare cars. Against the spectacular backdrop of Hampton Court Palace in the United Kingdom, some 60 exquisite masterpieces of automotive construction were showcased from 31 August to 2 September 2018. The selected models on display in the spacious parks and gardens surrounding the Palace bear testament to craftsmanship, design and timeless luxury. The event charted a historic journey from the pioneers of motorsport in the late 19th century through to the very latest sports cars.
The vehicles were complemented by a top-notch exhibition covering the areas of fashion, art, jewellery and watchmaking. As the main sponsoring partner, A. Lange & Söhne presented a detailed, three-metre-high reproduction of the DATOGRAPH PERPETUAL TOURBILLON model there. This flyback chronograph with perpetual calendar, tourbillon and five additional functions, is one of the top models amongst the range of A. Lange & Söhne timepieces – all of which are, without exception, crafted by hand. In front of the monumental watch sculpture, visitors had an opportunity to glance over the shoulder of a master watchmaker from the manufactory, allowing them to admire the skilled craft and follow the creation of a Lange calibre at close quarters.
For Lange CEO Wilhelm Schmid, the extension of the company’s commitment to the world of classic cars reflects a passion for sophisticated mechanics and thrilling design that is deeply rooted in the corporate culture: “Consummate craftsmanship, technical innovation and timeless aesthetics are the core values that underpin both the Concours of Elegance and A. Lange & Söhne. Collectors and connoisseurs of modern precision timepieces share a passion for technology and elegance with aficionados of historic cars.” The traditional manufactory already supports the legendary Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Como, Northern Italy, and Classic Days at Dyck Castle near Düsseldorf.
About A. Lange & Söhne
Dresden watchmaker Ferdinand Adolph Lange laid the cornerstone of Saxony’s precision watchmaking industry when he established his manufactory in 1845. His precious pocket watches remain highly coveted among collectors all over the world. The company was expropriated after World War II, and the name A. Lange & Söhne nearly vanished. In 1990, Ferdinand Adolph Lange’s great-grandson Walter Lange had the courage to make a new start. Today, Lange crafts only a few thousand wristwatches in gold or platinum per year. They are endowed exclusively with proprietary movements that are lavishly decorated and assembled by hand. With 62 manufacture calibres developed since 1994, A. Lange & Söhne has secured a top-tier position in the world of watchmaking. Brand icons such as the LANGE 1 with the first outsize date in a regularly produced wristwatch and the ZEITWERK with its precisely jumping numerals display, rank among the company’s greatest successes. Sophisticated complications such as the ZEITWERK MINUTE REPEATER, the TOURBOGRAPH PERPETUAL “Pour le Mérite” and the TRIPLE SPLIT reflect the manufactory’s determination to achieve ever new pinnacles in horological artistry.