A. Lange & Söhne Richard Lange, 2020

Dealer description — Analog/Shift

A Lange & Söhne isn’t merely one of the most celebrated names in German watchmaking. It’s among the finest watchmakers in the world — full stop. From the splendid simplicity of the 1815, to the unrivaled design of the Lange 1, to the masterful sophistication of the Zeitwerk, a Lange timepiece is, in each and every instance, an example of the best horological savoir faire of its day. The Richard Lange line is unique in that its focus is almost entirely that of precision. Ferdinand Lange’s eldest son, Richard was an innovator in every respect, whose advances in horology led directly to Lange’s chronometric excellence in the decade leading up to the Second World War. In 1929, he discovered that the addition of beryllium to a hairspring made it both more elastic and more resistant to changes in temperature, and it is in his honor that the eponymous collection is named. This example, a Reference 232.042 dates to 2020. Housed in a 41mm 18k rose gold case with a sapphire crystal, signed crown, and a polished bezel, it features an opaline silver dial with printed Argente Roman indices, a matching ‘lance’ handset with a blued steel seconds hand, and A Lange & Söhne's manually-wound Calibre L041.2 movement visible through a sapphire exhibition caseback. This piece comes paired to a signed brown alligator leather strap with a signed 18k gold pin buckle and is accompanied by its inner and outer box set, booklets, and retailer history paperwork. It’s difficult to argue with the beauty and horological firepower of a modern Lange design. Sophisticated yet classic, these wonderful watches are quite simply in a league of their own.