A. Lange & Sohne Odysseus 363.179
Collection : Odysseus
Model reference : 363.179
Case/Size : Steel, 40.5mm
Dial : Blue
Movement : Self-winding
Functions : Day, date, hours, minutes
Condition : Brand new / 2023
Accessories : Accompanied by an A. Lange & Söhne international warranty certificate, product literature and a leather presentation box with its outer packaging
The Rise and Fall
A Lange & Sohne has perhaps one of the most interesting stories of survival (or revival). The brand could be well-defined as the “Phoenix” of the watch industry, rising from the ashes quite literally.
Ferdinand Adolph Lange founded the company in 1845, in Glashutte, Germany.
The brand kicked-off with 15 apprentices, establishing a whole watchmaking industry from parts manufacturing to assembly, providing job opportunities in the region.
After F.A. Lange’s death, his sons Emil and Richard Lange continued his legacy into the 20th Century, advancing on their fathers innovations, earning a solid reputation through the early 90’s patenting quarter repeaters and chronographs and developing the up/down power reserve indicator.
But the demand for wristwatches declined steeply after World War I, and unfortunately Germany became the battlefield during the World War II.
If that was not enough, an airstrike in 1945, on the last day of the war destroyed the Lange factory completely. Then came the final nail in the coffin when the company was nationalized following the occupation by the Soviet Union in 1948. The brand ceased to exist entirely, bringing an end to a glorious century of one of Germany’s finest watchmaker.
The Resurrection:
After 40 years, in 1989, the Berlin wall came down uniting the West and the East Germany. While all of Europe was celebrating this historic event, in the crowd was a man determined to re-established his family’s legacy. Walter Lange, the great grandson of F.A. Lange reregistered the brand and started to build the company from ground up, with help from Gunter Blumlein (IWC).
In 1994, the brand presented their first batch of watches in nearly half a century. In 2001, the original workshop was renovated in the remains of the destroyed building.
Since its resurrection, the brand has created over 40 new movements and won over 150 horological prizes.
Odysseus – The Next Chapter
Today, A. Lange and Sohne is one of the most respected watch brands among the collectors worldwide. For the first 25 years, the brand produced watches in only precious metal and in a more classical format, with exquisitely hand-finished movements.
As much as the connoisseurs loved the brand’s existing offerings, they wanted something more practical and sportier that could be withstand their usual active lifestyle.
In 2019, A. Lange and Sohne launched the much-awaited steel sports model, the Odysseus featuring a stainless steel case, an integrated bracelet which was a bit controversial in the beginning and an entirely new self-winding caliber – the L 155.1 Datomatic – equipped with several features designed to make the watch suitable for a more active lifestyle.
The present reference 363.179 was launched in 2020 as the follow-up update of the Odysseus.
This new model features a stainless steel case and a stunning blue dial.
The rest of the watch remains the same as its predecessor, with the same robust caliber inside, the case uses the same dual pushers, with the bold and iconic day/date apertures, and a ‘seconds’ sub-dial at 6.
To add to the sportiness, this reference is offered on a full stainless steel bracelet,
A.Lange & Sohne 
