A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1, late 1990s

Dealer description — Analog/Shift

What you’re looking at is an example of the most important wristwatches of the last 30 years. The Lange 1 is without question the manufacture's flagship model, and its outsize date function is its signature design element. Though found in watches like the Zeitwerk or the Langematik Sax-O-Mat, it’s in the Lange 1 that it’s shown 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. And while the Lange 1 has seen many versions, from tourbillons to Timezones and even a Perpetual Calendar variant, it’s the original versions that have become the iconic symbol of the maison — and perhaps even the symbol of modern watchmaking in entirety. This example, a Reference 101.027, dates to the late 1990s and features a 38.5mm 18k white gold case and a distinguishable satin blue dial that was produced between 1997 and 2002. It comes with all the usual accoutrements including a sapphire crystal, polished bezel, signed crown and the model's distinguishable dial layout with subsidiary hours and minutes at 9 o’clock, a seconds register at 4 o’clock, a power reserve indicator 3 o’clock and a framed date window at 2 o’clock — it’s asymmetrical balance at its finest. Fitted to a signed matte black alligator strap with a signed 18k white gold fold-over buckle, this masterpiece is mechanized by the manual-winding Lange & Söhne Calibre L901.0 with traditional German 3/4 plate construction, easily viewed and admired through its exhibition case back. While a good portion of the enthusiast community know about A. Lange & Söhne, the majority or collectors have yet to discover and truly appreciate the manufacture's brilliant timepieces. There is no better place to begin than with the Lange 1 — a legend celebrating 30 years of production in 2024.