A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Annual Calendar, c. 2018

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 , which today is known 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, Lange 1 and the Datograph Flyback are among the gems in the brand’s catalog. But like many other established brands there are overlooked gems in the collection. Maybe it’s because it was simply ahead of its time, or because its symmetry was a diversion from the typical Lange aesthetic, but the A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Annual Calendar took some time to sink in with enthusiasts. Nowadays, it's a certified classic - discontinued and desirable! Introduced in 2010, the Saxonia Annual Calendar was offered with white gold, pink gold and platinum cases. This example dates to circa 2018 and features a 38.5mm white gold case with a sapphire crystal, signed crown, polished bezel, and four recessed corrector pushers for function adjustments. Its matte silver dial features an array of familiar Saxonia design cues, including a set of applied baton indices, an Outsize ‘digital’ date display at 12 o’clock, a moonphase aperture and running seconds display at 6 o’clock, and a pair of calendar subsidiary registers with matching blued-steel hands. Truly beautiful inside and out, this timepiece is a genuine high-complication masterpiece from the very best Germany has to offer.