The PHILLIPS Hong Kong Watch Auction: XX takes place on 23-25 May, 2025, at our West Kowloon headquarters. The auction includes more than 280 of the world's finest watches – and though we are loath to boast, we truly think it's one of the best catalogues we've ever put together. We'll be highlighting a number of the most interesting lots and stories featured in the sale right here, including all the watches highlighted below.
– By Logan Baker
For many collectors, building a diverse and meaningful watch collection means looking across borders — Switzerland, Japan, maybe even France. But the upcoming Phillips Hong Kong Watch Auction: XX reminds us that you can build an entire collection, rich in variety and depth, by focusing on just one brand: A. Lange & Söhne.
No other modern watchmaker has achieved what Lange has in such a short span of time. Since its revival in 1994, the Glashütte-based manufacture has not only reestablished Germany as a serious force in haute horlogerie — it’s created a language all its own. You see it in the sharp architecture of its movements. You feel it in the weight of a solid gold case. You admire it in the dial layouts, where restraint and asymmetry strike a perfect balance. And you understand it more deeply with every piece you add.
This season’s offering at Phillips Hong Kong is a crash course in just how varied a Lange-focused collection can be. Start with the cornerstone: the Lange 1. It’s here in several forms — from the earliest white gold references with matte grey dials to rare moonphase variants and boutique-only models with subtle twists. The Datograph, often cited as the greatest modern chronograph ever made, appears in both platinum and pink gold, including early examples with collector-beloved details like the “METER” tachymeter scale. Then there are the boundary-pushers: the Double Split and Triple Split, feats of mechanical overkill that remain unmatched even two decades after their debut.
But the lineup isn’t only about complexity. There are elegant entries too — Saxonia Automatics with boutique-exclusive dials, a rare Terra Brown variant from Tokyo, and beautifully preserved 19th-century pocket watches from the DUF line that hint at Lange’s earliest ambitions. And when Lange decides to do drama, it does so with flair: the luminous glow of the Grand Lange 1 Moon Phase Lumen, the jaw-dropping digital display of the Zeitwerk, or the tourbillon centerpiece of the platinum 1815 Tourbillon with its enamel dial and red “12.”
Every piece in this auction tells a different part of the Lange story, but together, they make a powerful argument: you don’t need to look far to build a collection that spans dress, sport, innovation, and tradition. Lange’s output, while far smaller in scale than most of its Swiss peers, is fiercely focused and wildly creative. You can chase high complication or pared-back elegance, limited editions or overlooked gems. The range is real — and the quality is uncompromising.
In the end, what makes a Lange collection fulfilling isn’t just the variety or the scarcity. It’s the feeling that each watch was built with purpose. That every screw, bridge, and engraved balance cock is there for a reason. And that maybe — just maybe — you don’t need a dozen brands to tell your collecting story. Just one, done right.
Lot 819: A Circa 2021 A. Lange & Söhne Odysseus in Stainless Steel
Estimate: HKD $200,000–400,000
A. Lange & Söhne shook things up in 2019 with the launch of the Odysseus — the brand’s first-ever sports watch. It was a bold move. Lange stuck to its roots with hallmarks like the outsized day and date display, but everything else was new: the case, the bracelet, the attitude. Built from stainless steel and water-resistant to 120 meters, the Odysseus wasn’t trying to be a Genta rehash. It had its own look — and not everyone loved it at first. But it didn’t take long for the watch to earn modern-classic status.
Inside ticks the Datomatic caliber L155.1, built in-house with all the finesse you expect from Glashütte: sharp finishing, crisp architecture, and a hand-engraved balance cock etched with wave motifs in place of the usual floral flourishes. It’s a quiet reminder — this one’s meant to move.
This example features the original blue dial and comes in new-old-stock condition, complete with its guarantee and presentation box.
Lot 837: A Circa 2002 A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Ref. 151.031 in 18k Pink Gold on Wellendorf Bracelet
Estimate: HKD $140,000–280,000
Since 1994, the A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 has stood as a modern icon. Its off-center dial layout, built around the golden ratio, flipped the script on traditional watch design — and collectors took notice. Add in the oversized date (quick-set, of course), and you’ve got a watch that’s both clever and genuinely useful.
This example keeps things classic with the original 38.5mm case size and ups the ante with rarity and weight. The reference 151.031 started life in 1997 as the leather-strapped 101.031: rose gold case, deep black dial, pure contrast. But soon after, Lange introduced this version — with a full 18k gold bracelet developed in collaboration with German jeweler Wellendorff. The result? A completely transformed Lange 1 that’s all presence and very hard to find.
Offered with its original guarantee, this is a chance to own a standout example of one of Lange’s most enduring designs.
Lot 838: A Circa 2012 A. Lange & Söhne Langematik Perpetual 'Sincere Edition' in 18k Pink Gold
Estimate: HKD $270,000–500,000
The Langematik Perpetual has been a quiet powerhouse in the Lange lineup since 2001. Most examples come in platinum or yellow gold with silvered dials — but not this one. The reference 310.047 pairs a pink gold case with a deep black dial, a combination made exclusively for Singaporean retailer Sincere Fine Watches. Just 25 were produced, reserved for top clients.
Inside, the L922.1 Sax-O-Mat movement offers all the hallmarks of classic Lange engineering, including a zero-reset seconds hand for precise setting and a beautifully finished rotor visible through the sapphire caseback.
This is only the fourth example of the 310.047 to surface at auction. It comes from the original owner, complete with its 2012 certificate signed by Walter Lange, full accessories, and the fitted winding box. Condition is excellent. Rarity like this doesn’t show up often.
Lot 839: A Circa 2022 A. Lange & Söhne Triple Split in 18k Pink Gold
Estimate: HKD $650,000–1,000,000
A. Lange & Söhne broke new ground at SIHH 2018 with the Triple Split — the first mechanical chronograph capable of measuring split times for hours, minutes, and seconds. Three years later, the brand followed up with this limited edition: the reference 424.037F, crafted in pink gold with a solid silver dial finished in blue. Only 100 were made.
Powering the watch is the L132.1 caliber, a technical marvel that delivers split-seconds and flyback functionality in a construction that borders on the absurd — in the best way. With 567 components and a view that could stop traffic, it’s the kind of movement only Lange would dare to build.
Numbered 93 of 100, this is the first example of the pink gold Triple Split to appear at auction. It’s in excellent condition and ready for whatever you plan to time — racing, running, or just racking up points for having one of the wildest chronographs on the planet.
Lot 887: A Circa 2017 A. Lange & Söhne Grand Lange 1 Moon Phase 'Lumen' in Platinum
Estimate: HKD $320,000–640,000
Since 1994, A. Lange & Söhne has earned a reputation for precision, restraint, and rock-solid German design. But every so often, the brand lets loose. The Lumen series — launched in 2010 — is proof.
The Grand Lange 1 Moon Phase Lumen, released in 2016 as a 200-piece limited edition, takes everything collectors love about the Grand Lange 1 and gives it a dramatic twist. The smoky sapphire dial lets UV light pass through, charging the luminous displays beneath. The result? A glowing, legible dial that lights up in low light, without losing any of Lange’s signature symmetry.
The oversized moonphase display steals the show. Laser-cut with 1,164 stars and a luminous moon, it’s more like a galaxy than a complication. Set it once, and it stays accurate for over a century.
This example is in excellent condition and comes complete with its full set of accessories. For collectors chasing innovation with presence, this is one of the most compelling modern Lange references around.
Lot 888: A Circa 2005 A. Lange & Söhne Datograph 'Dufourgraph' in 18k Pink Gold
Estimate: HKD $500,000–700,000
Collectors call it the “Dufourgraph” — a nickname born from Philippe Dufour’s famous praise of the A. Lange & Söhne Datograph as “the best chronograph ever made.” High praise, and well deserved.
This is the reference 403.031, a first-generation Datograph in pink gold with a black dial — a rarer and warmer alternative to the more common platinum version. At 39mm, the case hits a sweet spot, and the dial layout is peak Lange: oversized date, flyback chronograph, and a perfectly integrated tachymeter scale. Look closely and you’ll spot a key detail — “METER” rather than “METERS” on the scale, marking this as an early example produced before 2005.
Inside beats the hand-wound caliber L951.1, a movement that’s become the stuff of legend. Visible through the caseback, it’s a masterclass in traditional watchmaking: column wheel, horizontal clutch, hand-engraved balance cock, and flawless finishing throughout.
This isn’t just a Datograph. It’s a milestone in modern horology — celebrated by one of the greatest watchmakers alive, and deeply respected by collectors who know.
Lot 967: A Circa 2008 A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Ref. 403.035 in Platinum
Estimate: HKD $250,000–500,000
The Datograph changed everything when it dropped in 1999. Built from the ground up with an in-house movement, it showed the world that A. Lange & Söhne wasn’t just playing catch-up — they were rewriting the rules. The oversized date at 12 o’clock (inspired by the clock at Dresden’s Semper Opera), the flyback chronograph, the perfectly balanced 39mm case — this was serious watchmaking, and collectors knew it.
This example, dating to around 2008, is part of the original generation. It keeps the clean dial layout with no power reserve and features the early “METER” marking on the tachymeter scale, a detail prized by Datograph purists. The platinum case and black dial combo is the classic launch configuration — the one that made collectors fall in love at Basel in ’99.
Offered by the original owner, it comes with its guarantee and box, and just returned from a full service at Lange in March 2025, including a case intervention. It’s as sharp now as the day it was bought. This is the Datograph in its purest form — and one of the best modern chronographs, period.
Lot 968: A Circa 2024 A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Chronograph 'Boutique Edition' in 18k White Gold
Estimate: HKD $240,000–480,000
Introduced in 1996, the 1815 collection paid tribute to Ferdinand Adolph Lange’s birth year, channeling the look and feel of classic German pocket watches with Arabic numerals, railway-track minute scales, and clean, symmetrical dials.
Fast forward to 2015, and Lange gave the 1815 Chronograph a jolt of color. The Boutique Edition, housed in white gold, introduced striking blue accents and brought back the pulsometer scale — a fan favorite feature that had disappeared from previous versions.
Inside ticks the manually wound caliber L951.5, one of Lange’s finest. Flyback chronograph, column wheel, hand-engraved balance cock — it’s all there, visible through the sapphire caseback and finished to perfection with Glashütte stripes, polished bevels, and blued screws.
Sized at 39.5mm, this boutique-only edition hits a rare sweet spot between tradition and individuality. Offered by the original owner, this example comes with its complete set, including papers and box.
Lot 969: A Circa 2011 A. Lange & Söhne Double Split in Platinum
Estimate: HKD $390,000–780,000
When A. Lange & Söhne launched the Double Split in 2004, it didn’t just raise the bar — it set a new one entirely. This was the world’s first chronograph with both split-seconds and split-minutes functionality, letting you time two separate events down to the minute with perfect synchronicity.
At 43mm, the Double Split is larger than its Datograph predecessor, and its movement takes things to another level. The L001.1 caliber is a visual feast: layered levers, contrasting metal finishes, and some of the most beautiful movement architecture ever to come out of Glashütte. The finishing is obsessive — even by Lange standards — and the thickness of the caliber feels less like a compromise and more like a flex.
This example, in platinum with a black dial, represents the original and arguably most desirable configuration. It’s been kept in pristine condition and comes with its full set of box and papers. For collectors chasing peak Lange engineering, this is it.
Lot 970: A Circa 2014 A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Ref. 140.029 in 18k White Gold
Estimate: HKD $250,000–450,000
Introduced at SIHH 2009, the Zeitwerk broke all expectations of what a modern Lange could look like. With its digital-style jumping hours and minutes, displayed through the now-iconic “time bridge,” the Zeitwerk brought a bold, mechanical twist to reading the time — and did it with serious style.
Behind the unconventional dial sits the hand-wound caliber L043.1, made up of 416 parts and visible through the sapphire caseback. As always with Lange, the movement is a show in itself: three-quarter plate, hand-engraved balance bridge, and flawless finishing throughout.
This reference 140.029, released in 2014, pairs a white gold case with a matte black dial for sharp contrast and pure presence. It’s offered in excellent condition with its original accessories. For collectors drawn to the technical and the unexpected, the Zeitwerk stands alone.
Lot 991: A Circa 2018 A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Automatic 'Terra Brown'
Estimate: HKD $90,000–180,000
In 2016, A. Lange & Söhne marked the reopening of its Tokyo Ginza boutique with a special-edition Saxonia Automatic in a color unlike anything else in the lineup — “Terra Brown.” Available in limited numbers, the watch came in both pink and white gold, with this example cased in the latter.
The dial tone is where things get interesting. Warm and soft with a subtle sheen, it’s paired with a darker guilloché subdial that adds depth without overwhelming the minimalist design. Under the hood, the L086.1 automatic movement delivers 72 hours of power and classic Lange finishing — including a hand-engraved balance cock and gold rotor with platinum mass.
This example shows minimal signs of wear and comes complete with its full set. For collectors who appreciate nuance, this rare dial variant offers a refined — and very collectible — twist on the Saxonia.
Lot 1001: A Circa 2009 A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Ref. 101.030 in 18k White Gold
Estimate: HKD $100,000–200,000
The Lange 1 debuted in Dresden on October 24, 1994, as part of A. Lange & Söhne’s legendary comeback. It was one of four watches in the brand’s first modern collection — and it instantly became the face of the revival.
What set the Lange 1 apart then still defines it now. The outsize date, inspired by the Semper Opera’s five-minute clock, gives the watch its poetic rhythm. But it’s the asymmetric dial layout — based on the Golden Ratio — that gives it timeless balance. Sub-dials and date displays sit just off-center, but the whole thing feels perfectly aligned. It’s the kind of design that looks simple, but only works because it’s been obsessively thought through.
This reference 101.030, cased in white gold with a matte grey dial, was produced around 2009. Look closely and you’ll catch the subtle azurage finish on the sub-dials — just enough texture to elevate the design without pulling focus. Inside beats the first-generation L901.0 movement, a hand-wound caliber phased out in 2015.
Offered with its full set and preserved in excellent condition, this Lange 1 is a quiet classic — and a cornerstone for any serious Lange collection.
Lot 1002: A Circa 2021 A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Moon Phase in 18k White Gold
Estimate: HKD $150,000–300,000
The Lange 1 Moon Phase ref. 192.029 brings one of A. Lange & Söhne’s most iconic designs into quietly dramatic territory. Cased in white gold and paired with a black dial, this 38.5mm model keeps everything collectors love about the Lange 1 — off-center displays, oversized date, and flawless finishing — while adding a moonphase complication that blends seamlessly into the small seconds subdial.
Launched as part of the updated Lange 1 family, this version features an in-house automatic caliber that tracks the moon with enough precision to require adjustment only once every 122.6 years. The layout is pure Lange: balanced, legible, and rooted in geometry. The black dial adds weight and contrast, making the moonphase display feel all the more poetic.
Offered in excellent condition with partial stickers still intact, this watch comes with its original box and guarantee. For collectors seeking a modern Lange 1 with a twist of elegance and mechanical poetry, this is a standout example.
Lot 1003: A Circa 2019 A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Tourbillon Ref. 730.079F in Platinum
Estimate: HKD $640,000–1,280,000
In 2014, A. Lange & Söhne introduced the 1815 Tourbillon — a technical and visual showcase that continues the brand’s tradition of engineering excellence. The platinum version, reference 730.079F, was produced in a limited run of just 100 pieces and offered exclusively through Lange boutiques. It’s an incredibly scarce watch, with only two known examples (Nos. 67 and 92) appearing at auction to date.
This version stands out with its white enamel dial, red “12” numeral, and perfectly balanced design — a nod to vintage Lange pocket watches. The oversized cutout at 6 o’clock reveals the one-minute tourbillon, suspended under a black-polished bridge. It’s pure spectacle, executed with surgical precision.
Turn the watch over and you’re met with a masterclass in Saxon watchmaking: Glashütte stripes, gold chatons with blued screws, a hand-engraved balance cock, and a diamond endstone anchoring the tourbillon. The movement is the L102.1, a manually wound caliber with stop-seconds and zero-reset functionality — a first for a Lange tourbillon.
Numbered 38/100, this example is believed to be the earliest known to hit the market — and remarkably, it still retains its original factory stickers, making it a true new-old-stock piece. Offered with its full set, this is a rare opportunity to acquire one of Lange’s most refined and collectible tourbillons in pristine, untouched condition.
Lot 1007: A Circa 1900s A. Lange & Söhne Pocket Watch in 14k Pink Gold
Estimate: HKD $30,000–50,000
In 1877, A. Lange & Söhne launched the DUF line — short for Deutsche Uhren Fabrikation — as a more accessible option during a period of economic downturn. These watches, starting around serial number 20,001, were cased in 14k gold and designed to offer quality German watchmaking at a more approachable price.
This example, housed in a pink gold hunter case, features a white enamel dial with sunken registers and elegant Louis XIV hands, lending it a refined, period-correct look. Beneath the hinged cuvette lies a gold-plated brass movement with rubies set directly into the plate — no gold chatons here, in keeping with the DUF line’s more utilitarian approach.
Remarkably well-preserved, this piece comes with its original numbered certificate and presentation box. It’s a rare and authentic look into Lange’s 19th-century craftsmanship — built during hard times, but with all the hallmarks of the brand’s enduring quality.