A. Lange & Söhne Langematik Perpetual Calendar, c. 2015

Dealer description — Analog/Shift

Born in 1815, Ferdinand Adolph Lange received a rigorous education at the hands of nurses and governesses. At 15 he became a student at the Saxon Technical school in Dresden. Next, he pursued training under Johann Christian Friedrich Gutkaes, Sr, royal clockmaker to the King of Saxony. In 1846 he and his brother-in-law formed A. Lange & Söhne , today one of the best watchmaking marques in the world. Lange’s use of precision tools and instruments allowed the manufacture to attain a level of precision that was heretofore unknown. After his death in 1878, his sons Richard and Emil would carry on his legacy. However, the Soviet occupation of East Germany at the end of the Second World War saw an end to A. Lange & Söhne. Following Reunification in the 1990s, the manufacture made its triumphant return. At the helm of the company was another Lange, Ferdinand’s great-grandson Walter. The Lange 1815 Chronograph, Grand Lange 1 and the Datograph Double Split are among the gems in the brand’s catalog. But like many other established brands, there are certain, overlooked diamonds in the rough. Maybe it’s because it was simply ahead of its time, or because its strong character was a diversion from the typical Lange aesthetic, but the A. Lange & Söhne Langematik Perpetual Calendar took some time to sink in. Nowadays, it's a certified classic. Introduced in 2001, the the Langematik Perpetual was first made available in platinum and yellow gold cases. This particular Langematik Perpetual, however, dates to circa 2015 and features a 38.5mm white gold case with a sapphire crystal, a signed crown, a polished bezel, and three recessed corrector pushers for individual function adjustments. The satin black dial features an array of familiar Saxonia design cues, including a set of applied ‘Roman’ indices, a ‘digital’ date display at 12 o’clock, a moonphase aperture and running seconds display at 6 o’clock, and a pair of perpetual calendar subsidiary registers with a matching, luminous ‘lance’ handset. Ftted to a signed black alligator strap with a signed, white gold deployant clasp, it packs Lange's ingenious, automatic Calibre L922.1 movement within — which is thankfully visible through a sapphire display caseback. If you’re looking for a horological work of art, a technical marvel, and an ultra-functional machine, then you’ve come to the right place!