LANGE & SÖHNE

PASSION WATCHES

THE MOST FASCINATING CLASSIC CARS MEET THE ELEGANCE OF MECHANICS WITHOUT FORGETTING A CHARITY VISION text Teresa Favi photo courtesy A. Lange & Söhne

Mechanical and classic cars have in common the passion for the freedom of expression, independence and the precious nature of time itself. Precision and innovation are aspects that cars and watches both share. Two of the world’s major car events- the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on Lake Como in Italy and the Hampton Court Palace Concours of Elegance in the exclusive London countryside- have been offering for years the historic German watchmaker A. Lange & Söhne the chance to highlight the mechanical elegance of its movements. Today these two events give the guests the opportunity to admire the mechanical masterworks of special classic cars from the past alongside the craftsmanship at A. Lange & Söhne. The timeless setting, the elegant classic cars, the compet sphere are all of the highest standard. But what is the link that ties together a German company based in Glashütte so rich in tradition such as A. Lange & Söhne and the two Concours of Elegance Mostly their focus on the preservation of the historic/cultural heritage (in this case car heritage) whose value is fully understood only by those who, such as the Saxon brand, share the same history, since its origins date back to 1845.

“Classic cars are more than just a means of transport,” says Wilhelm Schmid, CEO of A. Lange & Söhne. “The more you familiarise yourself with the intricacies of the drive, bodywork and history, the stronger your personal relationship to the car becomes. This is also true of a Lange watch, which is not worn just to tell the time.” A. Lange & Söhne was once again present at the

‘THE MORE YOU FAMILIARISE d’Este ful classic cars were shown

YOURSELF WITH THE on the shores of Lake Como.

INTRICACIES OF THE The Saxon watch manufacto-

DRIVE, BODYWORK AND HISTORY, ry has been a partner of this prestigious classic car com THE STRONGER occasion, Mr. Schmid award-

YOUR PERSONAL ed the winner of the Best of RELATIONSHIP TO THE CAR BECOMES. THIS IS Show category with a unique timepiece. Just like the historic rarities on wheels, the ALSO TRUE OF A LANGE one-of-a-kind 1815 ChronoWATCH, WHICH IS NOT graph in white gold is an ex-

WORN JUST TO TELL THE TIME’ pression of the perfection, elegance, and the highest level of mechanical sophistication. The latest and most recent participation of the Saxon th British Concours of Elegance The presence of HRH Principe Michael of Kent, as patron of the Concours, was tangible proof of the Royal Welcome. While codes, pragmatics and cultural topography were proudly British, the universal language of car elegance was able to bridge

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1 6 1. The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on Lake Como, Italy 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Saxony precision watchmaking in an English country garden: A. Lange & Söhne’s presence at the Concours of Elegance 2022, where the 1815 Chronograph ‘Hampton Court Edition’ attracted widespread interest

A unique piece of the 1815 Chronograph ‘Hampton Court Edition’ auctioned off for a good cause after the Concours of Elegance 2022. It comes in a solid white-gold case with a diameter of 39.5 millimetres, black dial and, for the first time, sandstone-coloured numerals

The Concorso Edition 2022 presented by A. Lange & Söhne during the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este is hallmarked by a solid pink-gold dial

the distance between different cultures, as had At the Concours, which celebrated also the 75th already happened in May at Villa d’Este, welcom- anniversary of Ferrari, Italy was the star even on ing owners, collectors and fans from all over the British soil with its best ambassadors from the world. At the Concours, Lange - to which Prince Maranello-based company. Michael of Kent paid a special tribute- put its Highly fascinating was the contrast between the mechanical gems side by side classic and the contemporary, with spectacular and rare cars, between different ages, in parincluding the 1815 Chrono- ticular, the juxtaposition of graph ‘Hampton Court Edi- the 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza tion’, a one-of-a-kind time- with the 2022 Ferrari Monza piece in white gold with black SP1, its worthy heir. And yet, dial and sandstone-colored within such a sumptuous exnumerals, ensuring the best hibition of Italianness, the possible legibility. Best of Show was the French 1938 Delage D8-120 de Vilby hand as per tradition, is lars, owned by Fritz Burkard kept in the hinged cuvette and part of The Pearl Collecfeaturing an engraving of the tion. And while the great clasConcours of Elegance’s logo. sic car collectors are going This exclusive timepiece will back to work to face the chalbe auctioned at the Geneva the Concorso Watch Auction XVI with d’Eleganza Villa d’Este from the proceeds going to The May 19 to 21 and the HampPrince’s Trust, the charity ton Court Palace Concours of Elegance from September 1 to 3 - we wonto help young people who are unemployed to de- der what new, timepieces A. Lange & Söhne will velop their skills and gain access to job opportu- showcase at the upcoming events as its message of nities. mechanical and aesthetic excellence.

1815 CHRONOGRAPH ‘HAMPTON COURT EDITION’ WILL BE AUCTIONED WITH THE PROCEEDS GOING TO THE PRINCE’S TRUST, THE CHARITY INSTITUTION FOUNDED IN 1976 BY KING CHARLES III