The watch company Lange was founded in 1845 in a town just outside of Dresden called Glashütte. The founder Ferdinand Adolph Lange produced high-quality watches and the tradition was carried on by his sons Emil and Richard Lange. The company was nationalised by the Soviet administration following the second world war and the brand Lange would not exist until 1990 when Ferdinand's great-grandson Walter restored the company with the assistance of IWC and Jaeger-LeCoultre among others.
Founded in 1860 Uhrenmanufaktur Heuer AG by Edouard Heuer has today become one of the greatest watchmaking companies in the world. In 1887 Edouard patented the "oscillating pinion" which is up to this day used by the major watchmakers of mechanical chronographs. The name of the company today is TAG Heuer, short for "Technique d'Avant Garde" combined with the founder's surname. The conglomerate LVMH bought almost 100 percent of the company in 1999.
TAG Heuer wasn't the only purchase LVMH did in 1999. Zenith the Swiss luxury watch company was also bought by the conglomerate the same year. Georges Favre-Jacot founded Zenith in 1865 in Le Locle. First released in 1969 the El Primero, featured above, was one of the first automatic chronograph movements with a frequency of 36,000 alternations per hour. The watch is still being made today and both later and vintage models are highly sought after on the auction market.
All of the watches above are featured in John Pye's watch sale taking place on 3rd May at 3 pm. Viewing is open to the public in Marchington on Monday 30th April and on Bond Steet on Thursday 3rd May.
Check out their sale at Barnebys!
