The CEO of A Lange & Söhne on his earliest childhood memories and the watchmaker’s latest novelties
When did you become interested in watchmaking?
My first horological memory is of my father’s wristwatch, which I was allowed to play with. It gave me the sense of being an adult and awakened my desire to have a mechanical watch of my own as soon as possible.
Tell us about your first watch.
At the age of 17, I bought my first vintage car, which I restored and still have, and my first watch, which unfortunately was stolen shortly afterwards. The brand didn’t matter to me at the time and it doesn’t matter to me today. It was my first watch and I’m proud of it for this very reason.
Which is your favourite A Lange & Söhne watch?
Every new product development is, in a way, like a child. Who would ever name his favourite child? I suppose the Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar is particularly newsworthy because it houses a newly developed calibre that champions an innovative approach to a classical complication.
What has been the biggest obstacle over the last year?
The fact that journalists, retailers and customers are not able to touch and feel our watches. It's something that we are determined to overcome.
What makes A Lange & Söhne special?
Collectors go for rarity, quality and provenance. All these properties can be found in every A Lange & Söhne timepiece, so a collector can’t go wrong with any of our models. Depending on what matters most to the person—do they want the watch to increase in value or are they buying it for the sheer joy of collecting?—I would recommend buying one of our limited-edition watches or just for them to follow their heart.
See also: A Lange & Söhne Makes Its First Foray Into Sporty Timepieces