A. Lange & Söhne Debuts Not One but TWO New Timepieces at the Concours of Elegance Hampton Court Palace

The royal Hampton Court Palace and its grounds outside London provided a picture-perfect backdrop for the Concours of Elegance Hampton Court Palace and its presentation partner, A. Lange & Söhne, during the event’s 13th outing, which took place from September 5th to 7th. If you’ve been following our coverage of the watchmaker’s activities at classic car shows this season, you already know to expect some of the unexpected.

In summing up the appeal of the gala event, Lange CEO Wilhelm Schmid told us: “What I think is really important to note is the name of the event that we are at right now – the Concours of Elegance – this is about the beautification of mobility. And I believe this is very much the same with watches – watches are the beautification of time.
 

“Whether you are dealing with cars or watches, the goal is really to detach it from its original purpose and turn it into a piece of art. And this is what the Concours of Elegance is all about – sharing this beauty.”

On a more personal note, he added, “I’m the son of a car dealer. I think I was probably around the age of 11 or 12 the first time I drove a car – just moving it around the lot – so this was the beginning of my journey as a petrol head.”
 

Here is an insider recap of some of the show’s most memorable happenings, including some special insights from Schmid himself.

While the watchmaker inaugurated a new practice of debuting a timepiece in concert during its classic car show activities at the Concours of Elegance Germany earlier this summer with the launch of an impressive Zeitwerk Date in rose gold, it “doubled down” at Hampton Court Palace with TWO new timepieces loaded with automotive connections.
 

With the signature Saxony technicality of its straightforward intersecting regulator sub-dials, the Richard Lange Jumping Seconds in 750 White Gold that debuted at the show recalls an artful execution of a vintage car dashboard, down to a kind of watch-centric execution of dashboard “redlines” for critical intervals on the minute sub-dial. Meanwhile, its 750 pink gold dial heightens the heritage vibe of this 39.9mm white gold watch.
 

This watch also sports a constant force escapement and its own zero-reset function. Still, the fascinating jumping seconds function adds a deeper level of complexity and challenge as Lange strives to constantly push its mechanical excellence and precise time-telling legibility. Limited to 100 pieces, this Richard Lange model’s movement provides 42 hours of power reserve.
 

“The Richard Lange Jumping Seconds and the 1815 Tourbillon come from watch families deeply rooted in our watchmaking tradition and are an impressive expression of our values,” Schmid said. “It is also important for us to continue to develop this tradition and carry it into the future. Like the exquisite classic cars here at the Concours, our timepieces reflect a special passion and a quest for perfection that transcends time and borders and connects generations.”

Both new timepieces require a request to obtain their pricing.

Watchonista contributor Cait Bazemore, who was attending her very first classic car concours on the invitation of Lange, reported these impressions:

“I was instantly struck by the quintessential ‘British-ness’ of the event. Women wore hats, Pimm’s Cups were served; there was even a station to pick up a packed wicker picnic basket (complete with a red-and-white checked spread) for an elegant lunch on a shady spot of the lawn. It was like a classic garden party, with spectacular breezy late summer weather, made more exciting by the autos on display and the concours proceedings.
 

“Being my first show of this kind, I was expecting a bit more formality and fussiness; that wasn’t the case. There was a special Juniors program that honored kids piloting scaled-down cars, and these little drivers were photographed, interviewed, and treated just like the adult participants. I was worried about intruding by carrying my camera, but selfie-sticks and content creation were the name of the game as people jockeyed to get the shots they were after.
 

“Also, while the flavor was British and classic cars of English manufacture were abundant, I think the folks at Lange were particularly pleased that German-made cars were also very well represented in the concours offerings.”

The regal setting of Hampton Court Palace and the convivial social gaiety of the concours did not detract a single whit from the primary business at hand: Honors and awards for outstanding classic vehicles and their owners. The coveted Best of Show award went to this immaculate 1926 Rolls-Royce Phantom 1, nicknamed the “Phantom of Love” owing to its romantic history.
 

While British cars, of course, appeared prominently on the award showcase this year, one Decade Awards win went to a roaring 1957 BMW 507 roadster, representing the 1950s.

Lange CEO Schmid awarded the Best of Show trophy, as well as the special “ThirtyUnderThirty” crown, to a fun, peppy 1983 Toyota Sprinter Carib (a 4WD vehicle akin to the Corolla wagon we’d know in the United States).