LANG & HEYNE is a high-end luxury watch atelier based at Radeberg in the Saxon Region of Germany. This fine watchmaking manufactory was co-founded by Marco Lang and Mirko Heyne in Dresden in 2001.
Although its founders resigned from the company to explore more creative opportunities, the brand still carries the name and the spirit of the two gifted watch makers. Since April 2013 LANG & HEYNE is a part of Munich based business group Tempus Arte.
History of LANG & HEYNE Watches
Born in 1971, Marco Lang is a fifth-generation watchmaker. He learnt first horology lessons from father Rolf Lang who worked as head restorer in Mathematisch Physikalischer Salon (Royal Cabinet of Mathematical and Physical Instruments), a museum of historic clocks and scientific instruments located in Dresden, Germany.
Rolf Lang suggested that his son should first of all learn the basics of metal working and sent him to Glashütte for three years in order to serve an apprenticeship in precision mechanic. Again, in this important historic town, Marco was inevitably inspired by the watch-making tradition.
After the reunion of Germany, Marco found his way to Ihno Fleβner, a north German watch expert. During these years as an assistant, Marco worked on the production of fine precision pendulum clocks. After seven instructive years, Marco returned to Dresden with his master certificate where he built up his own shop as a watch creator and restorer. True to the family tradition, Marco soon made his mark among German watch enthusiasts.
His father Rolf Lang, who in the meantime was working as an instructor for “A. Lange & Söhne”, introduced his first apprentice Mirko Heyne to the shop. In 2001, Marco and Mirko teamed up and founded the watch manufacture “LANG & HEYNE”.
LANG & HEYNE saw their entrepreneurial opportunity in their talent of watchmaking and as bringing completeness to the existing watch companies of Glashütte. They wanted to make their creations even more personal, more hand-crafted and more traditional. One year later, LANG & HEYNE presented their watch models on the trade fair in Basel.
In 2002, Mirko Heyne took resignation from the company. He then joined NOMOS Glashütte as the Head of Research and Development.
In 2005, after a three-year candidature, Marco Lang became a member of the AHCI (Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants).
In 2013, Tempus Arte GmbH & Co. KG purchased the majority shares of LANG & HEYNE. This Munich based watchmaking business group owned by Prof. Dr. Ulrich L Rohde also acquired Uhren-Werke-Dresden (UWD), the movement supplying company established by Marco Lang.
Since 2018, LANG & HEYNE and UWD share the same manufactory building at Radeberg, a small town located approximately 20 kilometers north-east of Dresden.
Prof. Dr. Ulrich L Rohde is the son of Lothar Rohde, the co-founder of Rohde & Schwarz, the global electronic business house based in Germany. Ulrich is a passionate horology enthusiast. In 2010, he co-founded a watch company named Leinfelder Uhren München in partnership with Juwelier Leinfelder. In 2013, Tempus Arte was incorporated.
In 2019 Marco Lang took resignation from LANG & HEYNE. In 2020, he founded his new watchmaking firm, Atelier Marco Lang in Dresden.
In 2021, Tempus Arte acquired Engelsbrand based German watch brand Stowa from Jörg Schauer. In 2022, the rights of Leinfelder watch brand were returned to Leinfelder Goldschmiede (E. Leinfelder GmbH). The Leinfelder watch manufactory has been converted to Tempus Arte Experience Centre. The group also holds a majority stake in custom watch specialist Blaken.
In 2021, LANG & HEYNE introduced Hektor, a luxury sports watch in stainless steel with an integrated bracelet. In 2022, LANG & HEYNE launched the Friedrich II Remontoir The Lavish Attic Edition (limited to 9 pieces) to celebrate its partnership with The Lavish Attic, the Hong Kong based distributor of luxury watch brands.
History of Dresden Watchmaking
In 1668 Johann Georg II certified the foundation of Dresden’s first independent watchmaker’s guild, and thereby inaugurated a glorious tradition.
August the Strong, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, as well as his son Friedrich August II, each famous for their appreciation of art and baroque lifestyles, attracted artisans and craftsmen to Dresden who created sumptuous watches, which were both genuine mechanical as well as artistic miracles.
Since 1728 these treasures have been closely guarded in the Royal Saxonian Watch Cabinet (Mathematisch-Physikalischer-Salon) which accommodates one of the world’s most historic and admired collections of timepieces.
The French Revolution in 1789 provoked dramatic changes in European lifestyles. The “mechanical” content of watches began to overshadow fancy cases and sumptuous artistry. In Saxony as well, watches turned gradually into instruments for the precise measurement of time.
Period watchmakers such as Köhler and Seyffert devoted their careers to developing technically superior, highly sophisticated pendulum clocks, chronometers, watches and scientific measuring devices. The precise movements, presented in cases without frills, perfectly reflected the new values: a type of modesty which still excites collectors and admirers of precision watches who desire elegance.
“Saxonia” – the first German railway connecting Dresden and Leipzig marked a new phase of mobility for the country. Portable watches to organize time for man’s advantage became inseparable companions for an increasing number of people.
Only a few were in the privileged position to afford one of the rare and prestigious pocket watches manufactured by a traditional watchmaker from Dresden. Some of these rarities originated from Friedrich Gutkaes, the court watchmaker. Ferdinand Adolph Lange, as his young apprentice, learned the art of watchmaking prior to the founding of the watchmaking industry in Glashütte.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the wristwatch finally began its triumphal march that continues strongly today. Lang & Heyne therefore, choose to enter this market with their superior, technically designed, handmade watches, unequalled in perfection and precision yet enclosed in cases of elegant simplicity.
LANG & HEYNE Watch Collections
The House of Wettin is a dynasty of German counts, dukes, prince-electors and kings that once ruled the Saxon, Germany.
The “Procession of Princes” (Fürstenzug), a large mural in the historic center of the Saxon state capital Dresden, displays the ancestral portraits of the 35 margraves, electors, dukes and kings of the House of Wettin between 1123 and 1904. The Lang & Heyne watches are named after selected rulers of this time.
The flagship collections from the Atelier are Anton, Johann, Albert, Augustus, Friedrich August, Georg, Konrad, Heinrich, Hektor and Moritz. All these wristwatches are powered by in-house mechanical movements. The approximate Lang & Heyne watches price range is $18,000 to $150,000.
The timepieces are mainly available in precious metal cases crafted in 18K gold or platinum. The brand also offers steel case versions of selected models, for example Friedrich III. The recently launched Hektor is offered with stainless steel case only.
The beautifully decorated movements can be admired through sapphire crystal exhibition case backs.
The highly exclusive mechanical timepieces from LANG & HEYNE are made of superior materials, with a combination of extraordinary constructions and delicate engravings.
Each LANG & HEYNE timepiece is produced utilizing the highest level of manual skill and knowledge of the experienced employees, starting with the construction and manufacturing of the components of movement, hands and cases, to the finishing –the aesthetic and functional processing of the raw materials.
A mechanical watch from Lang & Heyne requires imagination, skill, patience and precious time. It takes precious TIME to assemble a timepiece, since there are no assembly lines. Every single piece evolves and matures carefully in the hands of master watchmakers. The master craftsmen skillfully mount each movement, piece by piece, until perfection is reached and the balance starts to oscillate with the rhythmic pulse of time, precisely ordered.
Form and function are combined in this manner with the utmost precision and harmony until completion. These works of art are created with the philosophy which has defined watchmaking in Dresden for hundreds of years: meeting the aesthetic requirements of kings and prominent citizens, and equipped with absolutely the finest movements.
Time to admire the silky shining enamel dial contrasted with the artfully crafted hands. Time to discover the details of the gleaming, golden precision movement: the rubies set in gold, each chaton individually held by blued steel screws, the anglesite finished ‘swan-neck fine adjustment’ polished with pewter and finally the all important balance equipped with gold weighting screws and the freely pulsating Breguet spiral crowned by a sparkling diamond.
In-house Movements
Lang & Heyne has been renowned for its in-house expertise in manufacturing fine mechanical watch movements. Most movement parts (about 97% of each calibre) are made in house. The remaining components like raw spirals and jewels are sourced from specialized manufactures.
List of in-house movements and watches
- Caliber I – Friedrich August I & Johann
- Caliber III – Moritz
- Caliber IV – Albert
- Caliber IV – Konrad & Heinrich
- Caliber VI – Friedrich II & Friedrich III
- Caliber VII – Augustus I
- Caliber VIII – Georg
- Caliber IX – Anton
- Calibre UWD 33.2 – Hektor
Special Features of LANG & HEYNE Watches
Case with Three lug design
A major design feature of all LANG & HEYNE watches is the case with three lugs construction that provides a stable holding for the strap on each side of the watch. Emphasizing the vertical axis, the middle lug flatters the overall appearance of the watch and serves as a balance to the crown. The unique, well proportioned case is completed by the crown protection.
Hands
Secondly, the hands of the watch are worth every effort – whether they are masterfully hand-engraved, like the Louis-XV, or perfectly fled and polished, like the spade or cathedral hands. The three-dimensional shaping with a diverse range of structures requires craftsmanship at the highest level.
Silver Grinding
The plates, bridges and balance cocks of the mechanical watch movement are provided with a unique cover known as Silver Grinding by applying a special mixture to the brass movement components using a stiff-bristle brush. The result is a fine, grain-like surface which is then plated in gold.
Balance Spring
The balance spring is mathematically and precisely calculated, making every oscillation an experience. The last coil is bent into shape in a time-consuming and masterful process before.
Screws
Another attraction is the finely finished screws. For screws the watchmakers use a goat’s hair brush, domed threads and beveled as well as tin polished heads. The screws are polished and partly flame-blued in the finest shades of violet.
Gold wheels
Since 2016, each LANG & HEYNE watch incorporates solid gold wheels with chamfered spokes which run precisely and with the least possible friction. It turned out that the performance is much better by combining gold (wheel) and steel (pinion) than using conventional materials. Another advantage is that galvanic coating is not needed any more.
Gold Chatons
The polished Gold Chatons give the ruby jewels a stunning, deep fiery appearance. They are countersunk and screwed into the bridges and balance cocks in accordance with Saxon traditions. The ultimate beauty, however, is the sparkling diamond that crowns the masterpiece. The ruby jewels are tongued and located just below. The sensitive balance pivot is thus protected and shock-resistant.
Moustache-Anchor
The Moustache-Anchor is precision made of solid gold. Lever escapements correct the barycenter of the anchor and assure smooth power transmission to the balance in several different positions.
Dial
Lang & Heyne offers various dial finishes for example, black galvanized silver and pristine white enamel. Showing both charm and the character, the enamel dials are complex to manufacture and consist of several layers – sometimes classical, structured and manufactured for the best readability.
Bespoke services
In addition to the manufacturing of regular production models, Lang & Heyne atelier offers a wide range of bespoke options in terms of case materials, straps, dial colours, engraving and case enrichment with precious stones.
Official website: www.langundheyne.de
