The manufacture is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the LANGE 1 in 2019 with a special limited edition of various models of the LANGE 1 watch family. Their common features include a white-gold case, a deep-blue printed argenté-coloured dial, blue date numerals and a hand-stitched blue alligator leather strap with a grey seam. Limited to 250 watches, the LANGE 1 “25th Anniversary” is the prelude to the anniversary edition, featuring a deep-blue printed dial and blue date numerals.
LANGE 1 “25th anniversary” - our summary of fine watchmaking artistry
Now, a quarter of a century has elapsed since the vision of Walter Lange and his partner Günter Blümlein became reality. On 24 October 1994, at the residential palace in Dresden, A. Lange & Söhne presented the first four wristwatches of the new era – among them the LANGE 1.
When the watch, meanwhile commended with countless awards, was first introduced 25 years ago, the designers wondered how the then unusual style-defining concept would be received by connoisseurs. From the very beginning, its technical quality garnered enthusiastic ratings, but the trailblazing design innovations of the LANGE 1, such as its unorthodox off-centre dial layout, gave rise to numerous discussions. It attracted so much attention that the name A. Lange & Söhne became famous again virtually overnight.
Ultimately, courage, the quest for perfection, and an affinity with a balance between tradition and innovation paid off. The LANGE 1 became a classic and is still synonymous with Lange watchmaking artistry and expresses the company’s lofty ambitions with respect to a perfect union of mechanical ingenuity, design, and artisanship. The rapid ascent of A. Lange & Söhne back to the pinnacle of precision watchmaking after the company was reincorporated is definitely associated with the LANGE 1.
The engraved white-gold hinged cuvette is another hallmark: it depicts the A. Lange & Söhne family domain that was inaugurated in 1873. Visible through the sapphire-crystal caseback, the balance cock has a special engraving. After the LANGE 1 “25th Anniversary” debut in January, nine further anniversary models of the LANGE 1 watch family will follow in the course of the year.
The first model of the “25th Anniversary” edition, the LANGE, has been crafted virtually unchanged since 1994. Its movement is what reflects its technical evolution. The manually wound calibre L121.1 introduced in 2015 features a precisely jumping outsize date display and a freely oscillating Lange balance spring paired with a large cam-poised balance that assures superb rate accuracy.
Just like the first LANGE 1 calibre L901.0, the lavishly hand-finished movement is endowed with a twin mainspring barrel with a power-reserve of 72 hours as well as Lange-style quality hallmarks such as the three-quarter plate made of untreated German silver, eight screwed gold chatons, and a manually engraved balance cock. It exhibits a very special engraving: the outsize date with a “25” that symbolises the 25th anniversary. The manually executed lines of the new engraving pattern are blued for the first time and thus stand out with a particularly rich contrast.
The LANGE 1 family
The Legend Among Lange Timepieces
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