A. Lange & Söhne

Gary G
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More on the Napa Lange Akademie

Very hard to come close to the earlier post on this topic -- wow!  Great photos that really communicated the experience.

As usual for me, while it's all about the people, the photos are mostly about the watches .  Nothing too fancy -- all taken hand-held with my P&S.  Let's get started...

I did get a few shots of the proceedings -- here's Simone's engraving station, where she was doing her magic (and dispensing with extremely kind guidance to those of us who were trying out some very elementary engraving techniques of our own:

Master watchmaker Martin (who had a Dato Up/Down movement under glass, and who assisted us with our technical attempts) with Simone:

Different exercises at different tables: here I am on the engraving exercises, while a fellow attendee at the rear attempts to place rubies in a pallet fork.  I did the exercise in which we removed and then re-inserted rubies in a bridge using a press, but I didn't even attempt the pallet fork!  Apparently "wiggling" was the key word...

On to the watches, and not a moment too soon!  Perhaps "tourbillon" is not the first word that comes to mind when thinking of Lange, but perhaps it should be -- great examples at this event, both on the wrists of attendees and displayed by Lange.  As a starter, how about the L1 tourbillon?

The more recent PLM Tourbillon, with shutter to fill in the missing portion of the hour dial as needed.  I'm a Handwerkskunst man myself, but this piece in person isn't too shabby, either...

The most recent addition to the tourbillon line, the Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon.  A gorgeous piece, full of technical innovations (like replacing the 48-tooth perpetual wheel with a feeler mechanism around the perimeter of the watch and the instant change date and month mechanisms).  Wears well, too!  The daytime NorCal light was great for getting some clear wrist shots:

A friend's original PLM Tourbillon with two more recent pieces -- all we were missing was a Tourbograph (make mine the honey gold with guilloche dial, please )

Back outdoors for a final action shot of the L1 tourbillon...

...and its reverse:

Many other super Lange pieces in attendance as well!  A real fantasy assortment on the table:

We also had the opportunity to strap 'em on!  I'm liking the Dato Perp better and better -- may need to swap up to one of these in RG, although the PT was none too bad and the WG with the grey dial is stunning as well.  Sits great on my wrist, and the key info (time and date) is extremely legible.  While in photos the moon phase can seem a bit small, in person I find it to be just fine...

Another watch I've coveted for years, the L1 Zeitzone.  For some reason it just doesn't seem to sit perfectly for me -- perhaps something about the ratio of diameter to thickness.  That said, I love the look of this piece -- and I'm a "yes" on this WG version with luminous hands as well.  Anyone who has awakened briefly on an overnight transcon flight and is trying to figure out the time in the darkness, without glasses on, will know why .  My wife saw this watch later at the AD and loved how it looked on me -- uh oh...

Annual calendar meets perpetual.  The Annual was a revelation to me -- those big blued hands are fantastic!  A very classy piece, IMHO.

And of course, let's not forget the "simpler" classic pieces...

...as well as an icon from the past, the lovely 1815 moonphase with zillion-year moonphase gearing

Also seen: RL PLM with its beautiful enamel dial...

...and fusee and chain movement

Lots of fun (and great food) at the closing dinner at the 3-star (Michelin) Restaurant at Meadowood.  After enough wine, it was easy to start seeing things, and even to lose track of the date:

After dinner with Cognac and cigars by the outdoor fire, with Patrick seen here -- ah, the life of a PuristS moderator!

A truly wonderful event.  Many, many thanks to Herr Schmid and the entire Lange organization for the invitation to this special experience!

Best,

Gary G