Just say the name “A. Lange & Söhne” to a Fine Watchmaking enthusiast and see what happens : an instant surge of enthusiasm and interest. Since the renewal in the 1990s of the Manufacture founded in 1845 by the German watchmaker Ferdinand Adolphe Lange, the name A. Lange & Söhne is synonymous with mechanical precision, high-quality finishing, reliability and aesthetic innovation. With more than 50 in-house calibers, the Manufacture A. Lange & Söhne has in just over 25 years earned a remarkable position in the circle of watch brands of which a mere mention is enough to put a sparkle in the eye of aficionados. Among its most outstanding models is the Lange 1, which has played a key role in its ongoing success.
A true style icon since its creation in 1994, the Lange 1 is regularly reinterpreted over the years. Never exactly the same nor entirely different, this horological celebrity undergoes significant modifications, while retaining one key element : its distinctive design. The new pink gold edition of the Lange 1 presented is powered by a new hand-wound caliber, the 50th in the series of Lange creations. Virtually nothing has chanced in the dial layout, the only outwardly visible modification being a slightly narrower bezel. It gives an even more generous appeal to the watch which features the same 38.5 mm case diameter. Beneath the familiar dial with its off-centered design, featuring an outsize date and power-reserve indicator positioned in the upper section, beats handwound Caliber L121.1. A number of things have changed in this new movement. The outsize date jumps precisely at midnight and the force required to push it forwards is stored up over a period of several hours. In addition, this caliber comprises regulating elements consisting of a balance wheel with off-centered poising weights and a freely oscillating balance-spring crafted in-house. The latter continues to oscillate at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour, beneath a hand-engraved balance bridge. The twin barrel with its 72-hour power reserve has also been maintained.
Another descendant of the original model, the Lange 1 Time Zone, combines all the assets of the Lange 1 as well as a dual-time display. Thanks to its convenient indication of the time both at home and in wearer’s travel time zone, this watch has asserted itself as a must-have model for global nomads. In the course of its development, the priority was placed on ensuring superb legibility. The clearly organized dial enables a unique at-a-glance reading of home time as well as travel time appearing on a small subdial. Each of the world’s 24 time zones is represented by a city on the city ring. Its movement endowed with a three-day power reserve is meticulously hand-finished and assembled twice.
Le double assemblage systématique du mouvement est une des spécificités de la manufacture A. Lange & Söhne.
This systematic double movement assembly procedure is a specific characteristic of the Manufacture A. Lange & Söhne. A first assembly serves to test the movement operation and make the necessary adjustments. The components are then entirely disassembled, decorated, cleaned, oiled and reassembled. It is only afterwards that the artisans of the Manufacture will add the manual finishes whose beauty may then be admired in the slightest details through the sapphire crystal case-back.
The Grande Lange 1 is no exception to the rule. In addition to the tried and tested reliability and quality of A. Lange & Söhne watches, this all black-clad model adds a touch of remarkable elegance and aesthetic refinement. With its slimmer silhouette and an entirely redeveloped inhouse Lange caliber, the Grande Lange 1 has become an icon in its own right. To achieve the 72-hour power reserve that has forged the reputation of the Lange 1, the developers in the Manufacture opted for just one barrel. This choice took up less space and enabled them to significantly reduce the movement thickness. The characteristic layout of the Lange 1 dial is reproduced to scale in this larger model. Featuring a white gold case framing a black dial, this new version of the Grande Lange 1 has a commanding presence. Once on the wrist, it reveals the spirit of the Saxony-based Manufacture : a blend of mechanical beauty and innovative design, marking off time with nobility and elegance.
Lange 1
Case : pink gold
Diameter : 38.5mm
Movement : mechanical hand-wound, in-house Caliber L121.1, 72h power reserve
Functions : hours, minutes, small seconds with stop seconds device, power-reserve indicator, jumping outsize date
Caseback : sapphire
Dial : silver-toned
Strap : red brown alligator leather
Lange 1 Time Zone
Case : white gold
Diameter : 41.9mm
Movement : mechanical hand-wound, in-house caliber l031.1, 72h power reserve
Functions : hours, minutes, small seconds with stop seconds device, power-reserve indicator, outsize date, dual-time display with city ring and day/night indicator
Caseback : sapphire
Dial : silver-toned
Strap : black alligator leather
Grande Lange 1
Case : white gold
Diameter : 40.9mm
Movement : mechanical hand-wound, in-house Caliber L095.1, 72h power reserve
Functions : hours, minutes, small seconds with stop seconds device, power-reserve indicator, outsize date
Caseback : sapphire
Dial : black solid silver
Strap : black alligator leather
Mysterious, luminous and graced with the characteristic a. Lange & söhne design, the Grande Lange 1 Moon Phase “Lumen” is a real eye-catcher.
In 2013, A. Lange & Söhne had dazzled the watchmaking world with the Grande Lange 1 “Lumen” equipped with a semi-transparent sapphire crystal dial. A year later, the Grande Lange 1 Moon Phase made its appearance, featuring a main dial bearing a remarkable moon-phase display depicting the path of the Earth’s satellite with a 99.998 percent degree of precision. The Grande Lange 1 Moon Phase “Lumen” issued in a 200-piece limited edition unites these two watchmaking feats for the very first time. The dial of the new model is crafted in blackened silver with large openings, and in black-tinted semi-transparent sapphire crystal. The special coating applied to the crystal blocks most of the visible spectrum while allowing ultraviolet rays through that reveal the phosphorescence of the luminescent pigments in the outsize date mechanism. The hand-wound L095.4 movement powering this new model, assembled twice and adorned with sophisticated finishes, flaunts all the distinctive qualities of timepieces bearing the A. Lange & Söhne signature. The “Glashütte stripes” ribbed pattern adorning sanding on the three-quarter mainplate in untreated German silver elegantly highlights the seven gold screwed gold chatons. A classic balance wheel with screws combined with a freesprung hairspring ensure the excellent regularity of this timepiece. Its large barrel delivers a maximum 72-hour power reserve. Mysterious, luminous and graced with the characteristic A. Lange & Söhne design, the Grande Lange 1 Moon Phase “Lumen” issued in a 200-piece limited edition is a shining example of technical sophistication and a now iconic aesthetic that draws all eyes.
Grande Lange 1 Moon Phase « Lumen »
Case : platinum
Diameter : 41mm
Movement : mechanical hand-wound, in-house Caliber L095.4, 72h power reserve
Functions : hours, minutes, small seconds with stop seconds device, power-reserve indicator, luminescent outsize date, moon phases
Caseback : sapphire
Dial : black solid silver, semi-transparent sapphire crystal
Strap : black alligator leather
200-piece limited edition
