Lange was founded in 1845 by Ferdinand Adolph Lange in the town of Glashütte, near Dresden, in the eastern state of Saxony. Under Ferdinand, and then, following his death, his sons Emil and Richard, Lange produced quality pocket watches, the company's very best products generally being given the "1A" designation. Under subsequent generations of the Lange family the company continued to produce pocket watches and, like many German watch makers, produced special over-sized wrist watches for use by German airmen in World War II.

In 1948, the post-war Soviet administration expropriated the company's property, and the Lange brand ceased to exist. However, in 1990, following the collapse of the East German government, the founder's great-grandson, Walter Lange, together with watch industry executive Günter Blümlein, restored the company with the assistance of several Swiss watch manufacturers, including IWC and Jaeger Le Coultre. The re-founded Lange, again operating from Glashütte, presented its first range of wristwatches in 1994. Today, A. Lange & Söhne (litt. A. Lange & Sons) wristwatches are sold globally and Lange, like IWC, is a member of the Richemont group.

The company quickly regained its outstanding reputation as a robust innovator and manufacturer of classically beautiful watches.  A.Lange & Sohne uses only mechanical, manually wound manufacture calibers or automatic winders that have been finished according to the highest Glashutte standards.  The movements are decorated and assembled by hand with the fine adjustment done in five positions.

A. Lange & Sohne is not a high volume enterprise.  Its annual production is no more than a few thousand timepieces.  This philosophy has guided the company well and will continue to do so in the future.