Akademie Report TONS of Pictures. Not all Watches. :)
Thu, 08 November 2012 19:01
Hello everyone, let me first start off by saying thank you to the A. Lange & Sohne team. Gaetan, Kate, Claudia, Martin, Simone and Wilhelm Schmid. They really know how to put an event together. Thank you so much.
My wife and I were fortunate to attend the Akademie in Napa Valley, California. We stayed at Meadowood and it was amazing. 3 Days of watches, wine, food and great company. Our 3 day stay got extended by Sandy and thankfully our home was intact when we arrived back in NY. However as you all know NYC was a disaster and we are still getting over it. The snowstorm yesterday didn't help that either.
The Akademie allowed all of us to take part in many aspects of watchmaking. I was successful in placing 2 rubies in the palet fork. Martin (Master Watchmaker) can do this in 10 seconds, it took me about 30 minutes and losing about 10 rubies and breaking 1 palet fork. We were also able to engrave a balance cock and take them home. Other stations had main plates that rubies had to be installed in.
Simone (1 of the 7 engravers at A. Lange) was showing everyone how she can make art out of nothing. She has amazing skills and she is just a great person.
Martin was at the station working on a movement (forgot which one) and throughout the Akademie was helping everyone out, the man has such patience!
Claudia and Gaetan were giving us the history on the company, people and watches. Even if you know about A. Lange & Sohne you can always learn so much more. It was an incredible event. A. Lange & Sohne marketing team is one of the best in the business, not one aspect is overlooked. Little details such as A. Lange & Sohne towels in the bathrooms around the property. Every server wearing A. Lange & Sohne aprons. The list goes on and one. It makes you feel like you are at the factory in Dresden.
It was a pleasure to meet the other collectors, talk watches and discuss what A. Lange & Sohne means to each of us. It's strange but every person there has the similar personalities; something special to A. Lange & Sohne collectors I guess.
Pics are with an iPhone5 and Nikon D90. Some are out of sync. Enjoy.
Our Home For 3 Days
1st Dinner
What I was waiting for! 1st time in North America. Simply stunning. I hope to own this one day. So simple and understated but what is hidden inside is a marvel!
Akademie
All of these in one place for you to just have your time with. Priceless.
Perfect fit for me. Just that little hurdle of $341,900.
My wife engraving a balance cock.
Simone Engraving a custom hunter caseback. You can get one for your Lange but why cover up the beauty? I thought about it for a few seconds just because of the cool novelty but everytime I look at my movement it puts a smile on my face.
New Datograph. SICK.
Striking Zeitwerk. So Crazy!
Steffan engraved my balance cock. What a great souvenier to take home!
Touring Napa Valley Reserve. Incredible
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Our Master Sommelier Jill, he has a wealth of knowledge and a great guy.
No more endorsements, lance might have a problem.
Touring Martin Estate, Stag's Leap and Quixote
Dinner
Louis 13th, Richard Hennessy
and a Cognac from 1923 paired with Davidoff Grand Cru. Everything was gone at the end of the night!
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- ATW