Bolt from the blue: A. Lange & Söhne’s blue-dialled showcase

German watchmaker A. Lange & Söhne’s CEO, Wilhelm Schmid, took centre stage at Salon QP earlier this month, as he showcased the brand’s latest collection, created in collaboration with visual artist Sebastian Kite.

The Continuum installation featured a range of blue-dialled timepieces in a stark geometric exhibition space. Why blue? Because according to the luxury watchmaker “in the visible light spectrum, blue rays have shorter wavelengths and… can inject a sense of calm.”

After the event, The Week Portfolio caught up with Schmid via email to find out more about the collaboration – and the next steps for the much-admired watchmaker.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

What was the inspiration behind the Continuum installation at Salon QP?

When we developed our Blue-Crafts watch series and tried to find the perfect blue for the galvanised dials we asked ourselves how the colour is perceived in different cultures. This provided an impulse to explore the beauty and magic of blue in an experience-oriented art project that could be shared with the public.

Why did you choose to collaborate with Sebastian Kite? What about his design work do you most admire?

Continuum is already our second collaboration with Sebatian Kite. In May, we teamed up with him to develop a visual concept for the communication around the Lange 31 with a grey dial. The assignment was to create an experience that celebrates the colour grey. What we like particularly about Sebastian’s work is the way he approaches art with an architectural background. He has a masterly understanding of how to employ light as a sculptural medium to investigate how immaterial phenomena affect our sense of time and space.

You joined the company from BMW in 2011 – how do you feel A. Lange & Söhne has changed since then?

Since I joined A. Lange & Söhne six years ago, the company has grown in many ways. We have launched 20 new calibres, and while we have sharpened the profile of our five watch families, we have implemented almost every horological complication, including a minute repeater and the most complex wristwatch ever made in Germany. We have strengthened our international presence, among others by opening new boutiques at strategic locations. While our workforce has grown, along with our facilities and processes, A. Lange & Söhne has kept its familiar working atmosphere. There still is a strong feeling of identity among our employees.

Which is more important to A. Lange & Söhne, innovation or tradition?

It has always been the conviction of A. Lange & Söhne that innovation and tradition need not be contradictory. In fact, one might even say that we are innovative by tradition. While we adhere to the artisan tradition, research and development has always played a key role in implementing our strategy of making meaningful contributions to the advancement of haute horlogerie.

Has the emergence of the smart watch changed your approach to watchmaking at all? How has the market changed?

Three years ago, I said that the smartwatch is in a different product category and aimed at another target audience. Today, I am even more convinced of the long-term and sustainable success of fine mechanical timepieces, simply because they stimulate the mind and fulfil the desire for distinction, timeless beauty and lasting value. Most digital technologies that we engage with in everyday life will be obsolete in just a few years’ time, whereas high-end mechanical watches are built and designed to last virtually forever. To get back to your question, the smart watch will not change our approach to watchmaking.

You introduced three new movements in 2016 – how did they perform and do you intend to introduce more movements in the years to come? And more complications too?

We even launched four new calibres in 2016 and five in 2017. We got great feedback for the models of our two recent collections, which encourages us to continue on our path of developing new movements – to enrich our standard collection and to bring new ideas to life in the world of horological complications.

Beside your own, which watch brands most excite you?

I have the greatest respect for all players who have contributed to developing fine watchmaking into an exciting global success story. It would be unfair to single out one particular brand from a very small elite group.

Which parts of the world will be the most important to A. Lange & Söhne in the coming decade? And how does the UK fit into your plans?

Over the years, our global sales network has grown steadily in our European, American and Asian key markets, which will retain their importance in the future. With an active community of knowledgeable collectors and many passionate aficiondos, the UK has always been a very attractive market for us. Currently, we have five retail partners in the UK, three of which are in London.

What are the three most important qualities that contribute to an exceptional timepiece?

It should feature a compelling blend of distinctive design, ingenious technology and meticulous craftsmanship. At least, this is what we try to achieve in every Lange watch.

For more, visit alange-soehne.com