After 30 years, these new Lange 1 models celebrate an important A. Lange & Söhne milestone
Russell Sheldrake- Four new models celebrate the Lange 1’s 30th anniversary, with two Lange 1s and two Little Lange 1s.
- One set comes in platinum with an onyx dial, and the other in pink gold with a blue 925 silver dial.
- Limited to 300 each for the Lange 1s and 150 for the Little Lange 1s.
The Lange 1 is a watch that has constantly defied expectations. In reality, it shouldn’t have existed, having been born out of the rubble of the Berlin wall, and acting as the trailblazer to revive the old German brand, it has beaten the odds time and time again. Now, 30 years from its initial launch on October 24, 1994, we have four new models from A. Lange & Söhne celebrating its legacy. If you want to have a deep dive into the Lange 1, I strongly suggest you go and read Borna’s recent article, as it will give you the history, the tech, and information on notable models all in one place.
We have two standard Lange 1 models and two Little Lange 1 watches, one of each in platinum and the other in pink gold. The platinum versions have a dial made from onyx, which marks the first time this semi-precious stone has been used in a Lange 1, while the pink gold pieces have a blue dial made from 925 silver. While this is the extent of the newness of these four watches, the aesthetics of both have clearly been highly considered, as always, without stepping outside of the bounds of the sharply defined aesthetic language we have come to know and love.
Inside, one will still find the L121.1 calibre: first introduced in 2015, it’s fitted with a double barrel to help give it 72 hours of power reserve and keep that big date from ticking over instantaneously every day. As with all Lange movements, it’s decorated to incredibly high standards: so high in fact, I once spoke with the legendary Philippe Dufour and he said Lange is the only company doing decorating to a similar level as him. With its broad Glashütte stripes covering the three-quarter plate – punctuated by screwed, golden chatons – it’s a beautiful thing.
I am a particular fan of the Little Lange 1 in platinum with an onyx dial, as it reminds me heavily of the Lange 1 Darth, possibly my favourite Lange 1 model ever made, but now it has the rich depth that only onyx can give. And why the Little Lange 1? That is purely an aesthetic and comfort choice, given my small wrists.
While I would have loved to see something a little more groundbreaking from Lange for such a big anniversary, the brand is known for drip-feeding their releases to us, which I believe is a sign of just how hard and meticulous Anthony De Haas and his team work in the Product Development department. I do have a weak spot for complicated Langes, and I would not complain if the brand wanted to develop a new calibre, and premier a new complication in this iconic model. Maybe I’ll have to wait for the next big anniversary for that…
A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 and Little Lange 1 30th anniversary pricing and availability
Both of the standard Lange 1 30th anniversary models are limited to 300 pieces, while the Little Lange 1 pieces are limited to 150. Price: €49,800 (pink gold Lange 1), all others are POA.
| Brand | A. Lange & Söhne |
| Model | Lange 1 Little Lange 1 |
| Case Dimensions | 38.5mm (D) x 10mm (T) (Lange 1) 36.8mm (D) x 9.98mm (T) (Little Lange 1) |
| Case Material | Platinum Pink gold |
| Water Resistance | 30m |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Dial | Onyx Blue 925 silver |
| Strap | Hand-stitched alligator in black or blue, pin buckle in case-matched metal |
| Movement | Calibre L121.1, in-house, manual-winding |
| Power Reserve | 72 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, small seconds, large date, power reserve |
| Availability | 300 pieces (Lange 1) 150 pieces (Little Lange 1) |
| Price | €49,800 (pink gold Lange 1) all others POA |