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Lot Essay
Introduced in 1998 to celebrate the opening of A. Lange & Söhne’s new manufacture building, the Lange 1A was only the manufacture’s second limited edition and the first ever created within the Lange 1 collection. Produced between 1998 and 1999 in a strictly limited series of 100 pieces, the edition sold out immediately. The present watch, numbered 31⁄100, is part of this exceptionally rare series, produced exclusively in yellow gold and distinguished by its hand-engine-turned solid 18k gold dial. The designation ‘1A’ itself pays tribute to A. Lange & Söhne’s historic pocket watches, for which the classification represented the highest level of quality and craftsmanship.
Aside from a unique Tourbillon Pour le Mérite with a pink gold dial, reference 112.021 was both the first A. Lange & Söhne wristwatch to feature a guilloché dial and the first with a solid gold dial. Its remarkable monochromatic appearance extends throughout the watch, from the case and dial to the hands and indications, with even the date discs finished in a complementary matte yellow hue. Interestingly, examples of the Lange 1A are known with either a blued steel or a gold seconds hand, such as the present timepiece, with no clear distinction as to when or why one configuration was used over the other. Given A. Lange & Söhne’s willingness to accommodate individual requests during its early years, it is possible that the choice was offered according to the preference of the original client.
The manually wound calibre L901.1 is equally distinguished by several exceptional details created specifically for the Lange 1A. Its escape lever and escape wheel are made from specially hardened white gold, chosen for its greater resistance to wear, while the pallet, escape-wheel and balance bridges are also crafted in gold and individually engraved by hand. Two mainspring barrels wound in tandem provide a power reserve of at least three days and are complemented by the characteristic progressive power-reserve indication.
Aside from a unique Tourbillon Pour le Mérite with a pink gold dial, reference 112.021 was both the first A. Lange & Söhne wristwatch to feature a guilloché dial and the first with a solid gold dial. Its remarkable monochromatic appearance extends throughout the watch, from the case and dial to the hands and indications, with even the date discs finished in a complementary matte yellow hue. Interestingly, examples of the Lange 1A are known with either a blued steel or a gold seconds hand, such as the present timepiece, with no clear distinction as to when or why one configuration was used over the other. Given A. Lange & Söhne’s willingness to accommodate individual requests during its early years, it is possible that the choice was offered according to the preference of the original client.
The manually wound calibre L901.1 is equally distinguished by several exceptional details created specifically for the Lange 1A. Its escape lever and escape wheel are made from specially hardened white gold, chosen for its greater resistance to wear, while the pallet, escape-wheel and balance bridges are also crafted in gold and individually engraved by hand. Two mainspring barrels wound in tandem provide a power reserve of at least three days and are complemented by the characteristic progressive power-reserve indication.