A. Lange & Sohne 1815

The A. Lange & Söhne 1815 collection takes its name not from the company's founding date but from the year Ferdinand Adolph Lange was born — the founder of A. Lange & Söhne and of the entire Glashütte watchmaking tradition. It is the most historical line in the house: the dial quotes 19th-century pocket watches directly, with printed Arabic numerals, a railway-track chemin de fer minute scale around the edge, a recessed centre and blued-steel hands. The movements are hand-wound, and the sapphire caseback reveals a three-quarter plate in German silver, gold chatons held by blued screws and a hand-engraved balance cock — the engraving differs from watch to watch.

The core three-hand model has gone through three generations, which is the simplest way to understand the sizes. The first 1815 came in a 35.9 mm case with calibre L941.1; the second grew to 40 mm and received calibre L051.1; the current model has returned to 38.5 mm and offers a 55-hour power reserve. In 2025 the line was presented in a compact 34 mm case with a blue dial in white and pink gold. The 1815 is usually considered a men's watch, but the 34 and 36 mm versions sit comfortably on a slimmer wrist.

The same model has been produced in different metals and sizes, so the individual reference is what tells one version from another.