Innovation
AnthonyTsai's report on the 2012 F.A. Lange Watchmaking Excellence Award highlights A. Lange & Söhne's commitment to nurturing emerging talent in horology. This post details the competition where young watchmakers from around the world showcased their innovative date display constructions, offering a glimpse into the future of watchmaking and the brand's dedication to craftsmanship.
F. A. Lange Watchmaking Excellence Award 2012
The winning timepieces: the retrograde date by Daniel Neugebauer (top) and the rotating date by Bennie R. L. Hernandez (bottom)
On 6 December 2012, the F. A. Lange Watchmaking Excellence Award 2012, the third such prize, was presented by A. Lange & Söhne. For the first time, there were two runner-ups instead of one winner. Bennie R. L. Hernandez (24) from Texas, USA and Daniel Neugebauer (29) from Munich each received 5,000 Euros in prize money for their date display constructions. The company's founder Walter Lange and Lange CEO Wilhelm Schmid presented the awards to both young watchmakers at a press event in Dresden.
Of the apprentices from 36 watchmaking schools around the world who had been invited to take part, eight budding watchmakers from Germany, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, the USA and the Netherlands qualified for the project. At a week-long workshop in the Lange Watchmaking School last summer, they familiarised themselves with the design and craft specialities of the Saxon manufactory. The competition task was set on the final day: The candidates were given four months to construct and build a fully functioning date indicator based on an ETA 6498 movement.
An overview of all the entries.
Seven of them submitted designs for evaluation in November by a five-member jury of experts. Alongside Walter Lange and Anthony de Haas, Director of Product Development at A. Lange & Söhne, the judges included trade journalists Gisbert L. Brunner and Peter Braun as well as the Director of Dresden's Mathematics and Physics Salon, Peter Plassmeyer. Marks were awarded for originality, innovation, functionality, technical prowess and quality of craftsmanship, as well as the aesthetic qualities of the execution.
As there was no clear winner in all categories, the jury decided to award two joint second prizes for two designs which distinguished themselves by originality of concept and attention to detail in the construction respectively.
*****
About A. Lange & Söhne
When Ferdinand A. Lange established his watch manufactory in 1845, he laid the cornerstone of Saxony's precision watchmaking industry. 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 A. Lange's great-grandson Walter Lange had the courage to relaunch the brand. 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. In a period of little more than 20 years, A. Lange & Söhne developed over 40 manufacture calibres and secured a top-tier position among the world's finest watch brands. Its biggest successes include innovative timekeeping instruments like the LANGE 1 with the first outsize date in a regularly produced wristwatch as well as the LANGE ZEITWERK with its supremely legible, precisely jumping numerals. Meanwhile, both models have become icons of the venerable brand.
Press Release
Both systems have their own innovative approach and I understand why Lange had to share the prize. I wish the best to them for the future! Fx
I wish there was a bit more detail on their date complications. I think I see how each of them works, but more detail is always nice thanks A
This thread is active on the A. Lange & Söhne forum with 3 replies. Share your knowledge with fellow collectors.
Join the Discussion →
