A. Lange & Sohne Lange 1 ref. 101.027 (2021 Lange Service)

Details

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.

This watch is in excellent condition, having been recently serviced by Lange. There are some very minor marks on the buckle.

The watch comes with the service papers and original box.

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.