Limited Edition of 250 Pieces
The LANGE 1 was the first watch of the new era and has been A. Lange & Söhne's undisputed icon for 25 years. This is why the manufactory is celebrating the anniversary of the award-winning watch with a "25th Anniversary" edition in white gold limited to 250 timepieces. Its special features include a deep-blue printed argenté dial with a recess, blue date numerals, a hinged cuvette with an engraving of Lange's headquarters and a hand-engraved balance cock with blued lines.
The 24th of October 1994 is the most important date in A. Lange & Söhne's recent history. It is the day on which company founder Walter Lange and his partner Günter Blümlein presented the first four new-era wristwatches at the Dresden Palace, including the LANGE 1. The asymmetric arrangement of its dial triggered discussions, and its technical facets such as the outsize date and the twin mainspring barrel were enthusiastically received.
In the beginning, every style-defining design is polarising. This is because it must overcome ha-bitual expectations to unfold its aesthetic appeal. The LANGE 1 is a good example. An outsize date and an asymmetric dial layout paired with a lavishly finished mechanical calibre in the mid 1990s, this was deemed a provocation by many people. But the unusual design attracted considerable attention and made A. Lange & Söhne famous again overnight.
The historic event that put A. Lange & Söhne back on the map of international precision watch-making in 1994 is recalled in the anniversary year of 2019 with a collection of different models in white gold that pay tribute to the key milestones of the LANGE 1 watch family. The hallmarks they share are an argenté-coloured dial in solid silver with printed deep-blue numerals and hour markers, blue date numerals, and a colour-coordinated blue alligator leather strap with a grey seam.
The LANGE 1 marks the kick-off of the "25th Anniversary" series: it has been crafted virtually un-changed since 1994. Its movement is what reflects its technical evolution. The manually wound calibre L121.1 introduced in 2015 includes a precisely jumping outsize date display and a freely oscillating Lange balance spring. Paired with a large cam-poised balance, it assures superb rate accuracy. The opulently finished movement as was the case with the first LANGE 1 calibre L901.0 features a twin mainspring barrel with a power reserve of 72 hours as well as typical Lange quality hallmarks. Noteworthy elements are the three-quarter plate made of untreated German silver, eight screwed gold chatons, and the hand-engraved balance cock. It exhibits a very special engraving: the outsize date with a "25" that symbolises the 25th anniversary. The manually executed lines of the new engraving pattern are blued for the first time and thus stand out with a particularly rich contrast.
Technical Specifications: Ref. 191.066
The case, in 18kt white gold, measures 38.5mm x 10.7mm. It has double sapphire crystals. Crown for winding the watch and setting the time; push piece for rapid correction of the outsize date. Engraved hinged cuvette crafted in 18kt white gold. The engraving depicts the Lange headquarters that date back to 1873, the names of Walter Lange and Günter Blümlein, and a relief engraving of the inscription "25 YEARS LANGE 1".
Movement is the German manual-wind Lange in-house caliber L121.1 with 43 jewels (8 screwed gold chatons), 21,600 vph and a power reserve of 3 days. It features a lever escapement. Shock-resistant cam-poised balance; balance spring manufactured in-house, precision beat adjustment system with lateral setscrew and whiplash spring. Crafted to the most exacting Lange quality standards, decorated and assembled by hand; precision-adjusted to five positions; plates and bridges made of untreated German silver; balance cock engraved by hand.
Functions are: hours, minutes, and subsidiary seconds with stop seconds; power-reserve indicator; jumping Lange outsize date.
It has a solid silver dial, argenté with blued steel hands.
It comes on a hand-stitched dark blue alligator leather strap with grey stitching and an 18kt white gold prong buckle.
MSRP is 43,700 Euros.
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