Swipe photos
Lange 1 Lange 1 Lange 1 Lange 1 Lange 1 Lange 1 Lange 1 Lange 1 Lange 1
lot 10

A. Lange & Söhne

Lange 1

Estimate CHF 10 000 / CHF 15 000
Starting bid CHF 10 000
Hammer price CHF 22 000
Total bids 23
All prices do not include 24% Premium

Specification

CaseRose gold case 750/1000 with sapphire caseback, date corrector at 10 o'clock
StrapBlack alligator, with original rose gold pin buckle
DialAnthracite dial applied with rosegold inidices, big date at 2 o'clock, power reserve at 3 o'clock, small seconds 5 o'clock, time display at 9 o'clock
MovementHand wound movement with double barrel, 3/4 german silver mainplate, with glashütter stripes, hand engraved balance cock, swan neck fine adjustment blued screws
Cal.L901.0
Ref.101.033
Movement No.38602
Case No.137997
D=38 mm

Condition report

Case:Good (dent top left horn)
Strap:Good, signs of wear
Dial:Good (small discloration on the hands)
Movement:Very good, movement working properly
Amplitude (Dial on top/Lift angle 52):300 degrees
Accuracy (Dial on top):+4 s/day
Box:Yes
Papers:Yes

Details 

A very rare and extremely attractive rose gold complicated wristwatch of the world-famous German brand A. Lange & Söhne, founded in 1845. Purchase date: 2005. Case in 18k rose gold, diameter 38.5mm, thickness 9.8mm. Slate grey solid-silver dial, rose gold hands, and rose gold applied indexes, Roman numerals and big-date window. Sapphire caseback. Double-barrel hand-wound caliber L901.0 with a power reserve of up to 72 hours. Functions – indication of time in hours and minutes, small seconds hand, big date and power reserve indicators. Rectangular pushbutton at 10 o’clock used for setting the date. Black crocodile strap, A. Lange & Söhne 18k rose gold pin buckle. 

Lot essay 

The branded asymmetric arrangement of the dial is a unique feature of the Lange 1 collection, which is perceived as one of the most valuable assets of the brand since its reincarnation in 1990–1994. Since the launch of the Lange 1 collection in 1994, it has been offered in 18k yellow, rose or white gold, with predominantly light-coloured dials. Since the early 2000s, rose gold has surpassed yellow gold in popularity, almost completely displacing it from the market. In the Lange 1 collection, among the 18k rose gold models the most common were two design options – Ref. 101.032 with silvered dial and the rarer Ref. 101.031 with black dial. Ref. 101.033, with a dark grey, slate dial is the rarest option. This model is believed to have been produced for a limited period, from 2003 to 2010, and therefore should be considered as having the highest perceived value as a collector’s item.

In addition to the collectible aspect, one should also note the undoubted attractiveness of the design, built on the contrast of the warm tones of the rose gold of the case and the decorative elements of the dial – the hands, the hour markers and the branded double window of the big date indicator, and the dark grey, slate dial with slightly recessed sub-dials for the indication of the hours, minutes and seconds, the backgrounds of which are decorated with fine circular grooves. These sub-dials feature the same dark matte-grey tone as the rest of the dial, but the embossed finish provides a fine contrast with its flat satin-brushed finishing, adding to the appeal of the dial. 

Ref. 101.033, with a dark grey, slate dial is the rarest option. This model is believed to have been produced for a limited period, from 2003 to 2010, and therefore should be considered as having the highest perceived value as a collector’s item.

Reference 101.033 is powered by the hand-wound 72-hour power reserve double-barrel caliber L901.0, which was developed during the revival of the manufactory in the early 1990s and was used as a base caliber in the Lange 1 collection until the 2010s. One of the advantages of this caliber is its unique design and finish, which make it easy to distinguish A. Lange & Söhne watches from high-end Swiss-made watches. This is the signature three-quarter plate construction, with the mainplate and bridges made from nickel silver without plating, and nine screwed gold chatons, considered one of the most visible and valued hallmarks of Lange’s watchmaking artistry. The meticulous finishing with Glashütte stripes, blued screws, polished bevels, a swan neck micrometer regulator, and engraved and gilded inscriptions, makes the movement very eye-catching, while the traditional hand-engraved balance cock makes each Lange 1 feel like one of a kind. 

Reasons to bid 

The Lange 1 “Slate Grey” Ref. 101.033 should be regarded as an excellent purchase for the collector who desires an outstanding, rare and complicated mechanical wristwatch from a world-famous traditional watch brand, the undisputed market leader in German high watchmaking. The combination of rare design features, including the spectacular asymmetric arrangement of the Lange 1 dial, the juxtaposition of the rose gold case and subtle slate-grey colour and finishing of the dial, along with the big date indicator, typical for Lange watches of the modern era, make the present lot highly desirable. The exquisite finishing of the movement’s parts and its typical Lange appearance will impress the heart of any connoisseur, and A. Lange & Söhne’s reputation in these aspects should be recognized as impeccable. 

N. B. 

The keen collector should note that also offered for purchase in this sale is another rare 18k rose gold and grey dial A. Lange & Söhne watch – the Grand Lange 1 “Black & Grey” Boutique Edition Ref. 115.031F. Together with the present lot, they represent the evolution of the Lange 1 collection over the years.