A. Lange & Sohne Lange 1 101.001 Yellow Gold Solid Caseback
This Lange 1 101.001 was the very first Lange 1 ever released by the company. The serial number puts it as one of the first 150 Lange 1 watches ever made by the company after its re-founding in 1994. The Lange 1 dramatically altered the industry’s perception of German watchmaking, and arguably did nearly as much as the quartz crisis to challenge the traditional Swiss watchmaking establishment.
It’s got one interesting quirk - instead of the usual sapphire back showing off the elaborately finished cal. L901, the 101.001 has a solid gold caseback. Prevalent custom at the time dictated this, as open backs were only starting to be offered with grand complications like manually wound chronographs or perpetual calendars. Lange quickly changed this after customers demanded to see the movements, and sapphire backs became the norm. This makes references with the solid back extremely collectible today.
A strong case could be made that the Lange 1 is one of the most iconic watches to have emerged in the last few decades.
The defining feature of the Lange 1 is the asymmetrical 'big date' windows. This display emulates one of the world's first digital time displays, from a clock at the Semper Opera House in Dresden. A decidedly bold look, the 'outsize date' sits off centre from the dial but retains a strong sense of place due to the use of the golden ratio in the overall design.
The Lange 1 sits in a rather interesting position. While novel and unique, its big date windows are do not exactly fall into 'complication' territory. Nevertheless, it is obvious that the Lange 1 is far more than a simple time-only dress watch, and certainly deserves the adoration it has received from collectors.
A. LANGE & SÖHNE
From the ashes of the Cold War, A. Lange & Söhne's relaunch in 1994 reintroduced the world to both the brand and the concept of fine German watchmaking. When its first four watches debuted, they formed the crest of a resurgent wave of high-end watchmaking. This period marked the high tide of the watchmaking renaissance that began in the late 1970s as a response to the Quartz Crisis. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Lange has since gone from strength to strength, building up a highly-focused range of watches that show off its signature complications and Teutonic aesthetics.
While other brands look to their own history for inspiration, Lange takes a broader view. The brand prides itself in being a thought leader, being one of the first manufactures to produce an in-house manually wound chronograph from scratch a full decade before Patek Philippe. At the same time, Lange also draws design cues from its surroundings, with the most famous example being the 'outsized date' window being inspired by the Five-Minute Clock at the Semper Opera House in Dresden.
This unique combination gives Lange a unique position. While the brand is part of a large luxury group and produces more watches than the highly-revered independent watchmakers, Lange collectors are arguably more passionate than their contemporaries who focus on other brands. The brand's positioning as a challenger while adhering to traditional watchmaking created an alluring combination that managed to excite even the most cynical of collectors, and continues to do so over 25 years after its revival.
LessThis Lange 1 101.001 was the very first Lange 1 ever released by the company. The serial number puts it as one of the first 150 Lange 1 watches ever made by the company after its re-founding in 1994. The Lange 1 dramatically altered the industry’s perception of German watchmaking, and arguably did nearly as much as the quartz crisis to challenge the traditional Swiss watchmaking establishment.
It’s got one interesting quirk - instead of the usual sapphire back showing off the elaborately finished cal. L901, the 101.001 has a solid gold caseback. Prevalent custom at the time dictated this, as open backs were only starting to be offered with grand complications like manually wound chronographs or perpetual calendars. Lange quickly changed this after customers demanded to see the movements, and sapphire backs became the norm. This makes references with the solid back extremely collectible today.
A strong case could be made that the Lange 1 is one of the most iconic watches to have emerged in the last few decades.
The defining feature of the Lange 1 is the asymmetrical 'big date' windows. This display emulates one of the world's first digital time displays, from a clock at the Semper Opera House in Dresden. A decidedly bold look, the 'outsize date' sits off centre from the dial but retains a strong sense of place due to the use of the golden ratio in the overall design.
The Lange 1 sits in a rather interesting position. While novel and unique, its big date windows are do not exactly fall into 'complication' territory. Nevertheless, it is obvious that the Lange 1 is far more than a simple time-only dress watch, and certainly deserves the adoration it has received from collectors.
A. LANGE & SÖHNE
From the ashes of the Cold War, A. Lange & Söhne's relaunch in 1994 reintroduced the world to both the brand and the concept of fine German watchmaking. When its first four watches debuted, they formed the crest of a resurgent wave of high-end watchmaking. This period marked the high tide of the watchmaking renaissance that began in the late 1970s as a response to the Quartz Crisis. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Lange has since gone from strength to strength, building up a highly-focused range of watches that show off its signature complications and Teutonic aesthetics.
While other brands look to their own history for inspiration, Lange takes a broader view. The brand prides itself in being a thought leader, being one of the first manufactures to produce an in-house manually wound chronograph from scratch a full decade before Patek Philippe. At the same time, Lange also draws design cues from its surroundings, with the most famous example being the 'outsized date' window being inspired by the Five-Minute Clock at the Semper Opera House in Dresden.
This unique combination gives Lange a unique position. While the brand is part of a large luxury group and produces more watches than the highly-revered independent watchmakers, Lange collectors are arguably more passionate than their contemporaries who focus on other brands. The brand's positioning as a challenger while adhering to traditional watchmaking created an alluring combination that managed to excite even the most cynical of collectors, and continues to do so over 25 years after its revival.