A. Lange & Söhne Just Released Two New Versions of Its Most Iconic Watch

A. Lange & Söhne doesn’t release many new watches, which makes this week’s reveal of two new Lange 1 versions a cause for celebration. Created to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the watch’s launch in 1994, the new models include one version in platinum and one in pink gold, each limited to just 300 pieces. There’s a lot more to the Lange 1 than that, however, as any of the elite German watchmaker’s ardent fans will tell you.

“Thirty years ago, A. Lange & Söhne succeeded in designing a mechanical work of art with the LANGE 1 that established new benchmarks in precision watchmaking,” explains Anthony de Haas, Director of Product Development at A Lange & Sohne, and one of the brand’s most outspoken boosters. “Developed out of the passion to do things differently, it has since been a symbol of our manufacture’s self-conception to craft timepieces that combine superb functionality with aesthetic appeal.” 

Indeed, with its unique off-centre dial, including an hour and minute subdial, a small seconds subdial, a retrograde power reserve indicator, and Lange’s patented big date display, the Lange 1 has been an outlier since it first appeared in October 1994. The Lange 1’s uniqueness doesn’t end at its dial, however. Powered by a L121.1 manufacture calibre made at Lange’s Glashutte workshop, its movement is equally noteworthy thanks to hallmarks like German silver components, blued screws, and hand-engraving, all of which are visible through the Lange 1’s sapphire case back. 

As an anniversary edition, the newest Lange 1 models pay tribute to the brand’s rebirth following an involuntary 40-year hiatus. After being destroyed by a WWII air raid and expropriated by the Communist regime, A Lange & Sohne was revived following the fall of the Berlin Wall by Ferdinand Lange. In addition to being the great-grandson of the brand’s founder, Lange was a skilled watchmaker with a passion for old-school craft and a visionary who created the template that the brand has followed ever since. As the first creation of the reborn A Lange & Sohne, the Lange 1 remains the ultimate expression of Lange’s vision and one of the most original watch designs of all time. 

The newest Lange 1 models remain faithful to the 1994 dial design and retain the same 38.5 mm case while offering a new and luxurious palette of materials. The 950 platinum model features a dial faced with onyx, a semi-precious stone with a jet-black shimmering surface that’s rarely used in watchmaking and has never before appeared in an A Lange & Söhne creation. The second version pairs the warm lustre of 750 pink gold with a blue dial in 925 silver — a favourite material among German watchmakers. These are accompanied by two new versions of the so-called “Little Lange 1,” which offer the same look in a slightly smaller 36.8 mm case.

“The Lange 1 is a timepiece that unites everything that distinguishes a refined mechanical watch: originality, timeless elegance, and horological precision, down to the last detail,” explains Wilhelm Schmid, A. Lange & Söhne CEO. “When it was launched thirty years ago, it broke the existing design rules and defined its very own style. This innovative force is embodied by our ambition to never stand still.” 

Discover the new Lange 1 models by A. Lange & Söhne.

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