It is the flagship and most successful model from A. Lange & Söhne – the Lange 1. This luxurious dress watch is characterized by decentralized displays and a large date inspired by the historic five-minute clock in the Dresden Semperoper. The displays are harmoniously arranged and use Roman numerals, indices, and slim Lancette hands. As is typical for Lange, the entire watch and the in-house movement are finely finished by hand. The German manufacturer’s watches generally exhibit a high level of craftsmanship, placing them in the top tier of watchmaking.
The Lange 1 Line
Lange & Söhne presented the Lange 1 in 1994 together with the Saxonia, Arkade, and “Pour le Mérite” models. Over the course of its first 20 years, the Lange 1 remained practically unchanged and became an icon of the Glashütte-based manufacturer. The brand now offers numerous model variants in various sizes: from the 36.8 mm Little Lange 1 to the 41 mm Grand Lange 1, the Lange 1 Moon Phase to the elaborately refined Lange 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar Handwerkskunst and many more. In 2024, the brand presented limited editions of the Lange 1 and the Little Lange 1 in platinum with an onyx dial and in rose gold with a blue dial to mark the model’s 30th anniversary. So we can safely say the Lange 1 offers the right variant for every taste and every wrist. Let’s start with the basics and take a closer look at the classic model in the collection, the ref. 191.025.
Lange 1 – The Design of a Glashütte Legend
Lange & Söhne currently offers the “basic version” of the Lange 1 in different variants. When it comes to the case material, you can choose between platinum and 18-karat yellow, white, and rose gold. The platinum version bears the reference number 191.025 and has a solid silver dial. All appliqués and indices are made of gold, and the gold hands are also rhodium-plated to protect them from corrosion. As with every Lange 1, the dial for the time is located on the left-hand side of the watch. Roman numerals are used at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock, with indices in between. The small seconds dial is at the bottom right and also has indices. At the top right is a two-part window that displays the date using two panes. The hand for the power reserve indicator is located between the small seconds and date display. In typical Lange fashion, the power reserve indicator scale is marked “AUF” (for “up”) and “AB” (for “down”) at its ends. The scale is printed on the far right edge of the dial. If we connect the centers of the displays in our mind’s eye, we get an isosceles triangle. In addition, none of the displays overlap, which underscores the sophisticated, harmonious design of the Lange 1. With a case diameter of 38.5 mm, the Lange 1 is on the smaller end of wristwatches. Its height is 9.8 mm. The case is mostly polished and has a fine satin finish on the sides. A black alligator leather strap holds the platinum reference 191.025 securely on the wrist. The yellow gold version with the reference number 191.021 is fitted with a brown alligator leather strap. The appliqués and hands are made of yellow gold, while the champagne-colored dial is made of solid silver. The reference 191.032 in rose gold also has a silver dial and gold indices and hands. The strap is made of brown alligator leather.
Lange 1 from 1994 – The Original
For many watch collectors, the first generation of a watch model is of particular interest. In the case of Lange 1, that includes references 101.001, 101.002, and 101.005. The latter is made of platinum, the other two of 18-karat yellow gold. The case backs of these first references are made of solid precious metal. Current models have sapphire crystal backs so that the beautifully finished movement can be admired. Otherwise, more recent models look very similar to the watches of the first generation. Only the bezel has become slightly narrower over the years.
Towards the end of the 1990s, A. Lange & Söhne produced a few stainless steel variants of the Lange 1. They are so rare and sought-after that they regularly fetch record prices at auction. That was also the case in December 2019, when the Phillips auction house auctioned a piece for over $320,000, in cooperation with Bacs & Russo. (The husband and wife team Aurel Bacs and Livia Russo are renowned watch experts and previously worked at Christie’s auction house.)
Two Time Zones – Lange 1 Time Zone
Introduced in 2005, the Lange 1 Time Zone adds a second time zone to the Glashütte classic, making it ideal for frequent travelers. The watch displays the second time on the small dial, where the small seconds is located on the “standard” version. The small seconds dial is at 6 o’clock on the large dial, which continues to serve as the main time display. If you set the main time using the crown, the hands of the second time zone move along with it. The hour hand on the smaller dial can be advanced in hour increments using the pusher at 8 o’clock.
A small arrow at the subdial’s 5 o’clock position indicates the selected time zone via a series of reference cities listed on the edge of the dial. The date remains linked to the time displayed on the larger main dial. The red gold case of the Lange 1 Time Zone measures 41.9 mm in diameter. The finely decorated in-house caliber L031.1 can be admired through the sapphire crystal case back. The power reserve of the hand-wound movement is 72 hours. The watch can be found in mint condition for around $36,600 on Chrono24.
Prices and Performance of the Lange 1
Watches from A. Lange & Söhne generally belong to the higher price segment. As the first Lange 1 shows, an increase in value is certainly possible. This is not always the case with newer models. For example, the white gold reference 191.039 with a silver dial costs an average of around $42,500 in unworn condition and only around $31,400 in used condition. The difference is smaller with the Lange 1 reference 191.021 in yellow gold. As a pre-owned watch, you can buy the timepiece for an average of $27,000. You can find a mint example on Chrono24 for an average of $31,700. If you want to call the red gold reference 191.032 your own, you should have around $38,100 ready for an unworn watch. Red gold watches that have already been worn are more “affordable” at an average of around $30,000. The Lange 1 in platinum (ref. 191.025) is the most expensive of these. On Chrono24, new prices are around $54,400. Already worn watches are slightly more affordable at around $49,500.
