Günter Blümlein
A German engineer and watch industry manager (1943 to 2001) who steered IWC back to mechanical watches after its sale to German owners in 1978, and who co-founded the revived A. Lange & Söhne with Walter Lange in 1990.
Born 1943, Died October 1, 2001, aged 58
Companies A. Lange & Söhne, IWC Schaffhausen
In the history The mechanical revival and the independents
IWC and the return to mechanical watches
When the German instrument maker VDO Adolf Schindling bought IWC Schaffhausen in 1978, it brought in Blümlein, a qualified engineer who also knew sales and marketing. Cheap quartz watches were pressing the Swiss industry, and IWC says he saw what fine mechanical movements were still worth.1, 2
He pushed the head watchmaker Kurt Klaus to build a mechanical perpetual calendar, shown in Basel in 1985, and backed work on cases of titanium and ceramic. That turn back to mechanics, in the wake of the quartz crisis, is the thread that runs from IWC to his next project.1, 2, 3
Lange, Glashütte and the holding
After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Blümlein and Walter Lange re-established A. Lange & Söhne in Glashütte in 1990, working out its products, design and marketing together and rebuilding the name almost from nothing. Under his guidance came the Lange 1 with its off-centre dial and the company’s own chronograph movement, and investment in the town and in training.3, 4
From 1991 IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre and A. Lange & Söhne shared a holding, Les Manufactures Horlogères, which Richemont bought in 2000, in the consolidation of those years.4, 8, 9
Blümlein, by then chairman of IWC’s board among other roles, died on October 1, 2001, aged 58. After his death Georges Kern became chief executive of IWC.1, 2, 3
Where Günter Blümlein leads
- Founded, CompanyA. Lange & Söhne
A. Lange & Söhne says the watch industry manager Günter Blümlein was the co-founder who planned the 1990 revival with Walter Lange.3, 10
- Part of, HistoryThe mechanical revival and the independents
The manager who steered IWC back to mechanical complications and refounded Lange.2, 3
- Part of, EventThe quartz crisis
IWC says Blümlein saw the worth of fine mechanical movements while quartz watches pressed the Swiss industry.2
- See also, CompanyIWC Schaffhausen
Brought in by IWC’s German owner VDO after 1978, Blümlein led its return to mechanical watchmaking and later chaired its board.1, 2
- See also, PersonWalter Lange
The manager who planned and ran the revived A. Lange & Söhne with him from 1990.10, 11, 12
- See also, EventGlashütte after reunification
The manager who founded Lange Uhren GmbH with Walter Lange.3, 4, 6
Facts and sources
- Born
- 19431, 4
- Died
- October 1, 2001, aged 583, 4
- Co-founded
- A. Lange & Söhne, re-established in 19903, 4
Sources
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
Acquisition of Les Manufactures Horlogères SA completed (opens in a new tab)
- 10
- 11
- 12
Sources read November 10, 2026.