Richard Lange is one of the sons – or should
link I say, sohne – of the pioneering Glashutte watchmaker and
link founder of A. Lange & Sohne,
link F.A. Lange. Richard was the older son, alongside younger brother Emil, and the more horologically savvy of the two. When their father passed away, in 1875, Richard took over the still-young firm's technical operations, while Emil gradually turned his attention to A. Lange & Sohne's business operations and financial health.