At the moment, Walter Lange would’ve turned 100 years outdated. It’s a big day for A. Lange & Söhne as a result of Walter Lange, who handed away on the respectable age of 92 in 2017, revived the model his great-grandfather based in 1845. In December 1990, a yr after the Berlin Wall fell, Lange re-established his great-grandfather’s legacy below the identify Lange Uhren GmbH. Greater than three a long time and plenty of outstanding releases later, A. Lange & Söhne is without doubt one of the main names in at this time’s watch trade. It’s time to check out among the model’s finest releases of the final three a long time.
When Walter Lange and the legendary Günter Blümlein devised a plan to make the Lange identify distinguished in watchmaking once more within the early ’90s, they won’t have pictured the model’s impression on the world of high-end watchmaking. Then once more, the 2 males created a sensible plan to set the corporate aside. The brand new A. Lange & Söhne was to be the proud torchbearer of German horology. Nearly 4 years after Lange revived the model, A. Lange & Söhne offered its first assortment on the Royal Palace in Dresden. The lineup consisted of 4 completely different fashions — the Lange 1, the Arkade, the Saxonia, and the Tourbillon “Pour le Mérite.”
Walter Lange’s mission
With these 4 fashions, A. Lange & Söhne instantly confirmed what Walter Lange and Günter Blümlein had got down to do. The Lange 1 was a testomony to the distinctive design selections which have characterised each Lange launch since then. The watch instantly turned heads with its outsize date and brilliantly designed dial. Thirty years later, it’s nonetheless as particular because it was on the time of its introduction, and it’s the model’s largest icon. The second new watch that instantly made its mark was the Tourbillon “Pour le Mérite.” This one confirmed the unbelievable lengths to which Lange can be prepared to go to change into one of many main manufacturers in excessive horology.
These days, it’s clear that Lange’s mission was accomplished. In 2024, alongside a choose group of producers, together with the Swiss maisons Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Vacheron Constantin, the identify A. Lange & Söhne is synonymous with the head of watchmaking. On this article, we need to have a look at among the model’s finest creations. They might be the best-looking ones, probably the most horologically spectacular, or probably the most related to A. Lange & Söhne’s growth. Primarily, these watches present the brilliance Walter Lange’s revived model has displayed over the past 30 years.
Picture: Antiquorum
A. Lange & Söhne Tourbillon “Pour le Mérite” ref. 701.001
Opposite to what you might need anticipated, we is not going to begin this record with the Lange 1. It could have made sense to start with the model’s largest icon. Nevertheless, it makes extra sense to start out the record with the watch that Walter Lange was sporting throughout the presentation of the inaugural assortment again in 1994. Lange wore no. 1 of the A. Lange & Söhne Tourbillon “Pour le Mérite” ref. 701.001.
Picture: Antiquorum
Over time, the model solely created 200 items of the watch that put A. Lange & Söhne on the map for its newly discovered mechanical watchmaking brilliance. It instantly confirmed what high-end watchmaking in Glashütte was all about.
A pièce distinctive of the 701.005 with a pink gold dial and platinum case — Picture: Sotheby’s
The important thing to its mechanical success was the mix of a tourbillon regulator and a fusée-and-chain transmission. This was the primary watch of its variety on this planet, and it instantly put the model on the watchmaking map. With a case solely 38.5mm in diameter and 10mm thick, the watch was modest in measurement. Inside that case was the L902.0 motion, which was the brainchild of Günter Blumlein and was created with Reinhard Meis and Giulio Papi.
Picture: Sotheby’s
In relation to selecting a favourite, the platinum model with the pink gold dial within the two footage above is probably going probably the most visually gorgeous. However are you able to prime the gold model that was on Walter Lange’s wrist in 1994? In all probability not.
Picture: Dr. Crott Auctioneers
A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 ref. 101.001
You didn’t suppose we would depart the primary Lange 1 off the record, did you? The inaugural mannequin debuted because the model’s flagship at that well-known presentation in Dresden in 1994. Reference 101.001 featured a 38.5mm yellow gold case with yellow gold arms and a champagne dial. On that dial is the place a big a part of the magic lies. Its design was created by a workforce that includes trade legends Reinhard Meis and Kurt Klaus.
Picture: Phillips
The objective was to design one thing distinctive to characterize the “new” A. Lange & Söhne and to point out that it wasn’t mimicking its Swiss counterparts. As a substitute, the workforce needed one thing extra technical and German. The result’s a dial based mostly on the “rule of thirds” that feels extremely balanced and attribute of Lange to today.
Picture: Dr. Crott Auctioneers
Contained in the yellow gold case of the primary reference, you can find the manual-winding caliber L901.0. At first, the motion was safely hidden behind an all-gold case again, however pretty quickly, the model launched a show case again so folks might witness the watchmaking magic themselves. The caliber operates at 21,600vph, has 53 jewels, and offers a 72-hour energy reserve. It additionally boasts a dual-barrel development.
Picture: Phillips
We discover a proud point out of this on the decrease half of the dial within the “doppelfederhaus” textual content. The motion options an outsize date show at 1 o’clock, an influence reserve indicator at 3 o’clock, small seconds at 5 o’clock, and an hours-and-minutes dial at 9 o’clock. This distinctive dial format has made the Lange 1 an immediately recognizable icon that is still the model’s flagship three a long time later.
Picture: A Collected Man
A. Lange & Söhne Datograph ref. 403.031
In 1999, A. Lange & Söhne launched the now-famous Datograph. The model’s first chronograph has change into legendary amongst watch followers. We might have picked the primary reference, the 403.035 in platinum, which was the one Datograph till 2003. However that’s when the model launched a pink gold model that grew to become referred to as “the Dufourgraph,” which is the one we picked.
Picture: A Collected Man
The reason being that the legendary watchmaker Philippe Dufour owns a pink gold model and has repeatedly said that the Datograph is the most effective chronograph ever made. His endorsement made this particular reference probably the most well-known of all of them.
Picture: A Collected Man
The three-layered case of the pink gold Datograph measures a pleasant 39mm in diameter and 12.8mm in thickness. With a mixture of finishes, it’s a pleasure to behold. However the true magic might be discovered on the dial. What may appear to be an odd dial format at first is, in reality, Lange’s design brilliance in all its glory. Drawing a line from the facilities of the 2 sub-dials to the center of the date show kinds an ideal triangle. Moreover, the three Roman-numeral hour markers observe swimsuit, forming one other triangle. This design results in a splendidly detailed and extremely well-balanced dial.
Picture: A Collected Man
The brilliance continues if you happen to flip the watch round and see the spectacular caliber L951.1 developed by Reinhard Meis. The flyback chronograph consists of 405 components and provides 36 hours of energy reserve. It’s an absolute feast for the eyes and one of many explanation why the Datograph has change into such a legendary timepiece.
Picture: A. Lange & Söhne
A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1A ref. 112.021
A. Lange & Söhne’s first tremendous particular dial debuted in 1998. That’s when the model launched the Lange 1A ref. 112.021 as a 100-piece restricted version to rejoice the opening of its new manufacture constructing (named Lange 1A) that very same yr. The watch was the model’s first particular version and launched a shocking guilloché dial in strong yellow gold.
Picture: Langepedia/James @waitlisted on Instagram
Wanting carefully, you will notice that each factor is made from yellow gold, from the case to the crown, the pushers, and the gorgeous dial. Even the outsize date is executed in yellow gold. The result’s removed from the stylishly understated dials we’re used to seeing from the model, however what a magnificence it’s!
Picture: A. Lange & Söhne
Contained in the yellow gold case, you can find the caliber L901.1. The identical motion additionally powers the common Lange 1. Nevertheless, for this particular gold model, the watchmakers at Lange used gold for the lever and escape wheel and the hand-engraved stability, lever, and escape wheel cocks. It completely enhances the gold brilliance on the entrance of the watch.
Picture: Sotheby’s
One of the simplest ways to purchase one in all these special-edition masterpieces is on the uncommon gold bracelet. Anybody sporting this can make an announcement that folks gained’t quickly neglect, simply as we haven’t forgotten concerning the gorgeous Lange 1A.
Picture: European Watch Firm
A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Luminous “The Phantom” ref. 140.035
The A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk has change into one other one of many model’s icons. The primary Zeitwerk ref. 140.029 hit the scene in 2009, and its sensible digital time show would change into well-known worldwide. A yr later, the model launched the primary Zeitwerk Lumen, which was additionally the primary Lumen-series mannequin total. Funnily sufficient, Lange didn’t use the Lumen identify but, therefore, the Luminous designation.
Picture: Luxify
It combines a whole lot of what makes the Zeitwerk idea and the model so particular in only one timepiece. The watch appears nearly futuristic, however leaping hours and minutes date again to a patent that Josef Pallweber registered within the nineteenth century. Combining the leaping hours and minutes with the Lumen execution, although, resulted in one thing far more fashionable and spectacular.
Picture: Luxify
The watch was produced in a restricted run of solely 100 items and was developed to make sure house owners might learn the time at the hours of darkness. Nevertheless, the draw back of the leaping time show is that the numerals will not be seen lengthy sufficient to correctly cost any luminous compound. As an answer, the designers at Lange got here up with a smoked sapphire dial that lets UV rays by means of to cost the lumed numerals. It’s a really sensible answer that additionally has an awesome visible impression.
The stealthy execution of “The Phantom”
Followers of this Zeitwerk love the mix of the platinum case with the stealthy dial and the black PVD time bridge. It offers the lume the stage to gentle up at the hours of darkness with none distractions. The watch nonetheless options the identical case as the usual model that got here out in 2009. It measures 41.9mm large and 12.6mm thick and options a big crown at 2 o’clock to function the motion. The caliber that powers the watch is the Lange L043.3. It differs barely from the L043.1 that powered the primary normal Zeitwerk, however it reveals the horological brilliance of the watch completely.
Picture: Ticking Approach
A. Lange & Söhne Double Cut up ref. 404.035
One other masterpiece was the A. Lange & Söhne Double Cut up, which was unveiled at Baselworld in 2004. This watch was extremely essential as a result of it was the world’s first double-rattrapante chronograph. As such, it offers the choice to separate the seconds centrally and has a smaller minute counter at 3 o’clock that additionally options two arms to separate the elapsed minutes.
Picture: Ticking Approach
This spectacular show of watchmaking abilities was the primary notable innovation on this planet of chronographs in a long time. The Double Cut up was additionally the watch that led to the Triple Cut up in 2018.
The primary Double Cut up had a platinum case mixed with a black dial and white sub-dials. As you possibly can see, the dial’s design is in step with the Datograph’s, with the designers having utilized the identical visible rules. Whereas they needed to rebalance the person parts as a result of the Double Cut up’s dial is larger, the result’s one other balanced format that appears superb.
Should you flip the watch round, you’re greeted by the spectacular caliber L001.1. The manual-winding chronograph motion consists of 465 components. Its three-layered structure options two column wheels, with one for the chronograph and one for the rattrapante mechanism. Mixed with the gorgeous end, it’s a feast for the eyes. It makes this Double Cut up one in all A. Lange & Söhne’s most spectacular creations.
A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Rattrapante Honeygold “Homage to F. A. Lange”
The following decide is a private favourite. As I defined in my prolonged overview of the 1815 Rattrapante Honeygold “Homage to F. A. Lange,” it was my grail watch two years in the past. Is that also the case? In all equity, it’s not a watch that I’ve considered lots within the final 24 months.
Then once more, when selecting grail watches, price range is rarely a difficulty, however it’s in actual life. That’s why my favourite unlimited-budget watches will not be all the time on my thoughts. However seeing this one once more and studying the story relit the fireplace and my ardour for it. This particular model of the 1815 Chronograph tops all of the earlier fashions by way of design, colours, and supplies.
The watch is a part of the “Homage to Ferdinand Adolf Lange” assortment. This particular line debuted in 2020 to rejoice the one hundred and seventy fifth anniversary of the corporate. It consisted of three completely different fashions, every that includes a Honeygold case. Moreover, the ending of the three actions differs from the common ending of Lange’s actions. The granulated end of the 4 bridges with their black rhodium inscriptions is particular to the “Homage to F. A. Lange” fashions and was instantly impressed by F. A. Lange’s historic class 1A pocket watches.
Proudly made in Saxonia
The Honeygold case of the 1815 Rattrapante Honeygold “Homage to F. A. Lange” measures 41.2mm in diameter and is 12.6mm thick. The distinctive hue of Lange’s Honeygold enhances the black dial completely. In relation to the dial, the designers let go of the common 1815 format. That may be a direct results of the motion, after all. Usually, I’m not a fan of vertical chronograph layouts, however the designers created an excellent good stability with the “Glashütte In Sachsen” wording. It ensures the proportions, the colours, and the general presence are merely great.
Should you flip the watch round, you will notice the 365-part caliber L.101.2. This manual-winding chronograph motion appears gorgeous, and its structure consists of three completely different layers. The highest half is the rattrapante mechanism, the middle half is in control of the chronograph mechanism, and on the backside, you can find the third half, which is accountable for timekeeping, power storage, and transmission. It’s one other murals that, together with the case and the dial, creates a really particular timepiece that’s nonetheless my grail watch. I don’t doubt that it’s going to keep like that for a very long time.
A. Lange & Söhne Odysseus Titanium ref. 363.117
The final watch we picked for this record is the sensible titanium model of the A. Lange & Söhne Odysseus. The model’s tackle a contemporary sports activities watch with an built-in bracelet was extremely anticipated when it got here out in chrome steel in 2019.
The reactions have been blended at the moment, almost certainly as a result of concept that A. Lange & Söhne designed a watch in that model. However if you’re a fan of the model, you perceive and recognize the selection to create a contemporary sports activities watch that, before everything, appears like a Lange.
Reality be informed, I needed to get used to the big day and date shows, however as you’ll perceive by now, I imagine firmly that Lange’s design makes the correct choices by taking a mathematical strategy and discovering a stability. As soon as I had an opportunity to see the Odysseus up shut, my assumption was proper. The whole lot concerning the watch made sense within the Lange universe. However I wasn’t offered on the dial shade of the chrome steel mannequin and the general presence of the white gold mannequin with its black rubber strap. When the model launched the titanium restricted version, I instantly fell in love. Not solely was the ice-blue dial a factor of magnificence, however the unbelievable presence of the light-weight titanium materials additionally bought me.
The primary titanium A. Lange & Söhne watch
It was Lange’s first titanium timepiece, so it was attention-grabbing to see how nicely the workforce in Glashütte was capable of work with this steel. Briefly, the outcomes are gorgeous. The ending of all the person components is nothing wanting spectacular, as we count on from the model. The Odysseus Titanium has a 40.5mm case with an 11.1mm thickness and is characterised by the protruding “crown platform” down its proper flank. It’s a unusual factor that additionally holds the 2 small pushers that will let you change the day and the day. The ice-blue dial has a greenish tinge and is extremely detailed. I am keen on the mix of the dial’s shade and the titanium’s hue. It makes for a profitable mixture.
Should you flip the watch round, you will notice the the model’s in-house caliber L155.1 Datomatic. This computerized motion was specifically developed for the Odysseus, and it appears sensible. It consists of 312 parts and is completed with an awesome eye for element, similar to any Lange motion. All 250 items of this titanium Odysseus offered out rapidly, displaying the nice acceptance of the model’s extraordinary step into fashionable sports activities watches. Certainly, A. Lange & Söhne is up for any problem.
Remaining ideas on the legacy of Walter Lange
As you’ll perceive, no shortlist will ever do justice to all of the completely different majestic creations that A. Lange & Söhne produced. There are such a lot of completely different fashions value mentioning that I might make three of those lists. What all of it comes all the way down to is that if you’re a fan of the model, you’ll meet each launch with nice enthusiasm. However that’s not as a result of each design or execution can be your favourite.
Quite, it’s since you perceive the nice dedication, experience, and craftsmanship that went into creating all of the completely different timepieces. And if you happen to love A. Lange & Söhne’s design signature, it’s exhausting to not get excited by all that this Saxon watchmaker has to supply. We’ve Walter Lange to thank for that great accomplishment.
To see all the model’s present choices, go to the official A. Lange & Söhne web site.
