
Wristwatches · Wristwatch
A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 (Ref. 115.026) Platinum, 2003
- Maker / attribution
- A. Lange & Söhne (maker)
- Date
- 2003
- Historical period
- Mechanical Renaissance (1990 – 2010)
- Country of origin
- Germany
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Materials / technique
- platinum
- Dimensions
- Case 41.9 mm
- Stock no.
- ALNGSN115026
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (ALNGSN115026)
- Catalogue title (original)
- 2003 A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 (Ref. 115.026) Platinum W/ Box & Booklets (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number ALNGSN115026), this is a wristwatch by A. Lange & Söhne, made in Germany, dated 2003. The Atlas places it in the Mechanical Renaissance period (1990 – 2010) of its Wristwatches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: platinum. Recorded dimensions: Case 41.9 mm. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — Craft & Tailored
The origins of A. Lange & Söhne date back to 1845, when Ferdinand A. Lange, an exceptionally talented Dresden watchmaker, established his own company and began creating excellent pocket-watches that became highly coveted among collectors all over the world. Unfortunately during WW2, the company was seized during the Soviet occupation in 1948 and A. Lange & Söhne was almost forgotten. In 1990 Walter Lange, the great-grandson of Ferdinand A. Lange’s relaunched the company after the reunification of Germany, and founded Lange Uhren GmbH in Glashütte, and registered the A. Lange & Söhne name worldwide, which was the first step to bringing the Lange watchmaking tradition back to the world. The A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 was one of the first watches made following the re-establishment of A. Lange & Söhne in 1994. It's an amazing blend of tradition and innovation. With pioneering highlights such as the off-center dial layout and outsize date, making the Lange 1 one of the most recognizable watches to have come from the brand. A. Lange & Sohne cased its Lange 1 model only in precious metals but in 1998 a small number of stainless steel was produced. The German watchmaker never disclosed the exact numbers of this series but they made comments referring to "a very small number of examples" in stainless steel that was produced at the request of special clients or retailers. Following the requests of many lovers of large-sized watches, the manufactory presented the Grand Lange 1 in 2003. With a case diameter of 41.9 mm, this Grand Lange model maintained the same L901.0 movement and features of the Lange 1 but was produced in a much larger more "modern" size offering while retaining the classic layout and feature set of the earlier A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1. Stock # ALNGSN115026 Brand A. Lange & Söhne Style Grand Lange 1 Model 115.026 Serial 146679 Size Men's Material Stainless Steel Dial Matte Black Millimeters 42 Strap A. Lange & Söhne CASE & BRACELET The platinum case remains unpolished and shows honest wear from general use. The watch will come supplied with its original black crocodile strap with a signed platinum Lange tang buckle. DIAL & HANDS The dial shows some warm patina and has some darkening around the 1 and 2 o'clock markers of the main dial. ACCESSORIES
Historical context
Mechanical Renaissance (1990 – 2010)
Mechanical watches return as cultural objects; independent watchmaking flourishes.
Mechanical watches returned as cultural and luxury objects. Complications, tourbillons and new materials proliferated; independent watchmakers such as George Daniels, F.P. Journe and Philippe Dufour revived artisanal watchmaking; collecting vintage watches became a major field.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Quartz Revolution
Atlas type guide
Wristwatches
Bracelet watches were worn by women from the early nineteenth century — Breguet made one for Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples, in 1810–12 — but the wristwatch only became a man's instrument with military use and aviation in the early twentieth century. Between the World Wars it overtook the pocket watch; the 1920s and 1930s brought rectangular Art Deco cases, water-resistant cases and the first automatic winding systems.
After 1945 the wristwatch became a carrier of identity — dress watches, sports and dive watches, chronographs, calendars — produced by Swiss, American, Japanese, German, Soviet and Chinese industries. The quartz revolution after 1969 and the mechanical renaissance since the 1990s, including the rise of independent watchmakers, complete the story.
What to look for
- The reference number (between the lugs or inside the case back) and serial number, the starting point for dating.
- The calibre: its maker and number are often stamped under the dial or on the bridge.
- Originality of dial, hands and crown — refinished ('redial') dials are common.
- Case material marks: 18K/750, 14K/585, stainless steel, gold-filled, plated.
Dating clues
- Wire-lug cases: before c. 1925.
- Water-resistant screw-down cases: from 1926.
- Quartz movements: from 1969; sapphire crystals widespread after c. 1980.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
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