A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Moonphase, late 2000s

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 manufacturer’s flagship model, and the big date function is its hallmark. 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. This particular example from the late 2000s, a Reference 109.032, is equipped with a moon phase. Housed in a 38.5 18K rose gold case with a sapphire crystal and sapphire case back, it features a matching 18K polished bezel, a satin silver multi-tone Super-LumiNova dial with applied rose gold quadrant indices and a matching lance handset. Its displays include subsidiary hours and minutes at 9 o’clock, a moon phase/seconds register at 4 o’clock, a power reserve indicator at 3 o’clock, and a framed date window at 2 o’clock. In excellent condition, it’s fitted to a black alligator leather strap with a signed 18K rose gold pin buckle. Powering this masterpiece is the Lange & Söhne Caliber L121.3, a manual-winding movement that’s stunning to behold — and which can thankfully easily be viewed via the exhibition case back. What’s more, this watch comes with much of its ephemera. There are complicated watches, and then there are works of art. This is the latter.