FRANKLY SPEAKING

A. Lange & Söhne Product Development Director Anthony de Haas gets completely uninhibited about the Odysseus Chronograph

- ASHOK SOMAN

On the occasion of this latest meeting, WOW Thailand editor Ruckdee Chotjinda is with us because we are visiting the A. Lange & Söhne manufacture in Glashütte. The conversation happened in a nondescript conference room with journalists from our region; also present are representatives from Robb Report Malaysia and QP Thailand. For the most part, the questions and answers presented here are from Ruckdee and this writer, although interjections did occur but have been excluded for the sake of brevity. The second question, on double-assembly, came from the Robb Report journalist.

On that note, de Haas’ first answer is presented largely unedited, just so you can see how garrulous he can be, even when confronted with the simplest of questions (mine, as it happens, which is unusual for me). Both the question and the answer have been edited for clarity, language, an even length, but are otherwise unaltered. In case you are wondering, de Haas’ answer unfolded over 10 mins, which took up all of my time for the interview, but he graciously carried on for well over the time the group was originally assigned. We honestly have enough material for quite a personal piece on de Haas, but unfortunately, neither time nor space is on our side. No doubt we will get the chance again!

Congratulations again on the Odysseus Chronograph, which Tino Bobe showed us at Watches and Wonders Geneva this year. Everyone wants to know why you made this as a limited edition, and only a limited edition, which is a first for A. Lange & Söhne…