A Lange & Sohne: Exploring Lange 1 Models in the Sotheby's Archive

T he A Lange Sohne Lange 1 stands as an icon of German watchmaking, known for its distinctive design and technical mastery. Its asymmetric yet perfectly balanced dial configuration, along with the signature large date display, established a unique aesthetic that became emblematic of the brand. The movement of the Lange 1 showcases German watchmaking at its finest. An untreated German silver three-quarter plate, the hand-engraved balance cock, and gold chatons—all meticulously crafted and finished by hand.

Since its introduction, the Lange 1 has grown into an entire watch family, each model embracing the original's off-center dial layout that adheres to principles of the golden ratio, ensuring both harmony and optimal legibility. This article explores six exceptional Lange 1 pieces from the Sotheby’s archive, highlighting the distinct features and history that make each model unique.

A Lange Sohne Lange 1 Reference 720.025, Circa 2012, 1,020,000 HKD

This A Lange Sohne Lange 1 Reference 720.025 sold for 1,020,000 HKD in October 2024 during Sotheby's Important Watches sale in Hong Kong.

Introduced in 2012, this Lange 1 combined a perpetual calendar and a tourbillon seamlessly, along with retrograde day, moon phases, leap year and day and night indication. The dial mirrored the traditional Lange 1 layout and displayed the tourbillon on the case back. Packing everything essential for a perpetual calendar, the case was crafted in platinum and wore with immense presence on the wrist. This A Lange Sohne watch was limited to only 100 pieces and was brought to auction in outstanding condition.

A Lange Sohne Lange 1 Reference 802.032, Circa 2014, 420,000 HKD

This A Lange Sohne Lange 1 Reference 802.032 sold for 420,000 HKD in October 2024.

This Lange 1 diamond-set watch was a glamorous timepiece that combined the classic Lange 1 design with high jewelry detailing. The iconic A Lange Sohne design, with its distinctive off-center dial and large date display, was complemented by the brilliance of the diamonds. These features helped make this watch a true statement of style and refinement for those who appreciate the finest in horological craftsmanship.

A Lange Sohne Lange 1 Reference 151.001, Circa 1995, 50,800 CHF

This A Lange Sohne Lange 1 Reference 151.001 sold for 50,800 CHF in May 2024.

The reference 151.001 was introduced by A Lange Sohne in 1994 after the 'rebirth' of the company. With its low case number, this watch was one of the earliest Lange 1 watches ever produced, bringing together a range of rare and distinctive features, such as its solid case back. This feature was only available for A Lange Sohne watches produced between 1994 - 1997, before the maison fully transitioned to sapphire case backs.

What made this particular watch even more attractive was its integrated bracelet, created by the famous German jeweler Wellendorff. This feature marked a difference to a Lange 1 reference 101.001. The watch came with an A Lange Sohne Certificate at time of auction.

A Lange Sohne Reference 111.025 Kleine Lange 1 'Little Darth' , Circa 1998, 48,000 USD

A Lange Sohne watches — A Lange Sohne Reference 111.025 Kleine Lange 1 'Little Darth' , Circa 1998

This A Lange Sohne Reference 111.025 Kleine Lange 1 'Little Darth' sold for 48,000 USD in June 2024, exceeding its high estimate of 40,000 USD.

This model, known as the "Little Lange 1", featured a 36mm case size, slightly smaller than its 38.5mm sibling. Moreover, the featured watch was nicknamed the 'Little Darth'. This moniker stems from its black dial with applied platinum finishes, along with black date discs bearing white Arial numerals, a rarity among Lange 1 models.

The reference 101.025 was in production for only one year (1998-1999), and it is believed that fewer than 100 of these A Lange Sohne watches were produced during that period. Complete with its boxes and papers, this timepiece was an elegant collector’s piece from the early years of the maison's resurgence.

A Lange Sohne Lange 1 Time Zone 'Sincere Watches Edition' Reference 116.031FB, Circa 2007, 28,800 CHF

This A Lange Sohne Lange 1 Time Zone 'Sincere Watches Edition' Reference 116.031FB sold for 28,800 CHF in November 2024.

In 2005, the Lange 1 Time Zone debuted, a testament to the brand’s expanding global reach and technical prowess. This model stood out amongst the Lange 1 collection, offering the highest number of variants, largely thanks to its customizable city ring. Between 2005 and its 2020 update, the model was released in over 20 different editions, each featuring various combinations of case materials, dial colors, and bracelet designs. Despite this diversity, all models retained the same core case and movement architecture, with the original Lange 1 Time Zone powered by the caliber L031.1, a sophisticated movement with 417 components, including a second time zone mechanism. This caliber, a marvel of Saxon craftsmanship, featured hand-engraved bridges, a German silver three-quarter plate, and a flat-polished swan’s neck regulator—hallmarks of A Lange Sohne's dedication to artisanal watchmaking. The 2020 update introduced the refined caliber L141.1, maintaining the same 72-hour power reserve and 3 Hz frequency.

The above example, the Lange 1 Time Zone "Sincere Watches Edition" Reference 116.031FB, represented one of the most exclusive iterations of this esteemed model. It was created in a limited edition of only 30 pieces for Sincere Watch Limited, a prominent Singaporean luxury watch retailer. This special edition was unique not only for its rarity but also for its striking aesthetic—having featured the only known instance of a black dial paired with a pink gold case on any Lange 1 Time Zone.

The design of the Lange 1 Time Zone, with its pusher-controlled jumping hour mechanism and rotating outer city ring, was reminiscent of Louis Cottier's world time system. The additional time zone complication was seamlessly integrated into the Lange 1’s distinctive asymmetric dial layout, with the home time and 24-hour display taking the place of the running seconds. As a final touch of exclusivity, the Singapore time zone replaced the more common Hong Kong on the city ring.

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