A. Lange & Söhne Grand Lange 1

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Few watches have done more to define modern German watchmaking than the A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1. Introduced in 1994 as part of the brand’s remarkable rebirth following German reunification, the Lange 1 was unlike anything else in contemporary horology. With its asymmetric dial, oversized date display, and off-center timekeeping indications, it challenged traditional notions of watch design while remaining unmistakably elegant. It also became the foundation for one of the most celebrated collections in modern watchmaking.

For those who appreciate the Lange 1’s distinctive architecture but prefer a little more wrist presence, there’s the Grand Lange 1. Introduced in its revised form in 2012, the model retained the original’s signature design while refining its proportions and increasing the case diameter to 41mm. The result is a watch that feels both thoroughly modern and wonderfully traditional, a balancing act that Lange has perfected.

This particular example, a Reference 117.028 dating to the mid 2010s, is an especially handsome interpretation. Housed in a beautifully finished 18K white gold case, it features a striking black dial with the collection’s familiar arrangement of overlapping visual elements that somehow never actually overlap. An off-center time display with Roman numerals occupies the left side, while the signature outsized date sits prominently at two o’clock. A small seconds subdial at five o’clock and an elegant power reserve indicator complete the composition. Against the dark dial, the polished hands and applied markers create a sophisticated, almost architectural effect.

Inside beats the manually wound Caliber L095.1, an exquisitely finished manufacture movement comprising 42 jewels and offering an impressive 72-hour power reserve. Visible through the sapphire crystal caseback, it showcases the details that make Lange movements so desirable, including a traditional three-quarter plate, Glashütte ribbing, blued screws, and a hand-engraved balance cock. Fitted to a black leather strap with a signed 18K white gold A. Lange & Söhne buckle, this Grand Lange 1 is a compelling combination of technical accomplishment and thoughtful design.

For collectors who appreciate the finer points of German watchmaking, this is Lange at its most recognizable, with a little extra presence and a particularly sophisticated dark side. Sometimes the graphic contrast of white gold and black is simply more than enough.

For Germany, Reunification represented a renaissance of sorts for a country that had been rent asunder by the Cold War. And for A. Lange & Söhne, which fate had situated on the Eastern side of the Iron Curtain, it was indeed a rebirth.

Lange was founded in Glashütte in 1845, and its first century was truly a golden age. The brand imbued its products with a care and an attention to detail that brought worldwide renown. Its pocket watches, in particular, gained high marks in competition and saw use on the railroads of Europe.

But the coming of World War II and the subsequent Soviet occupation saw that golden age come to an end. The Soviet authorities expropriated the company in 1948 — the factory was shuttered, and the once-shining name of A. Lange & Söhne nearly faded into obscurity. That is, until 1990, when Walter Lange — great-grandson of the founder, Ferdinand A. Lange — resurrected his family’s old company and brought it to prominence once more.

Armed with Ferdinand Lange’s journal, Walter Lange sketched a watch that would adapt his great-grandfather’s designs to modern tastes, while still keeping an eye firmly on tradition. In the journal, Walter discovered sketches of a clock that Ferdinand designed with his mentor Johann Gutkaes. Commissioned by the Elector of Saxony for the Semperoper House in Dresden, the “Five Minute Clock” was nothing short of revolutionary.

With legibility as their primary concern, Johann Gutkaes and Ferdinand Lange designed a clock that, with its rectangular construction and two counter-rotating drums — one to show the hours, the other the minutes — was essentially the world’s first digital clock. Over one hundred years later, it was that clock that would inspire the modern manufacture’s first watch post-Reunification.

In 1992, Walter Lange filed a patent for a big date window, similar in style to the clock in the opera house. Two years later, it would appear on the Lange 1. Without question the firm’s flagship model, it features a big date function as its hallmark. Though found in watches like the Zeitwerk or the Langematik Sax-O-Mat, it’s in the Lange 1 that the big date is used to the greatest effect. Alongside other details such as asymmetrical sub-dials depicting the hours and sub-seconds, and the A. Lange & Söhne signature with its famous ampersand, it shows a clarity of vision that is wholly Lange.

Subsequent models — no less innovative — have only further cemented the brand’s footing as one of the most refined and fascinating watchmakers in business today. From the ludicrously complicated Zeitwerk to the elegant Saxonia to the recent Odysseus dive watch, Lange & Söhne is committed to pushing the horological envelope and reestablishing Germany as foremost amongst the world’s centers of watchmaking innovation.

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Condition

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Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

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Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.