A. Lange & Söhne - The Geneva Watch Auction: XIV Geneva Friday, November 5, 2021 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: A. Lange & Söhne
    Year: 1994
    Reference No: 101.005
    Movement No: 1214
    Case No: 111'425
    Model Name: Lange 1
    Material: Platinum
    Calibre: Manual, cal. L901.0, 53 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: Platinum A. Lange & Söhne pin buckle
    Dimensions: 38.5mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by A. Lange & Söhne Certificate and presentation box.

  • Catalogue Essay

    It is difficult to fathom that the modern A. Lange & Söhne has existed for less than 30 years considering their incredible technical achievements and the way they have changed the high horology watch market, the most important is having put German watchmaking back on the map right next to the Swiss greats.

    Following the fall of the Soviet Union, Walter Lange re-established, in 1990, the brand once founded by his great-grandfather in Glashütte. The first collection, which was comprised of four watches, was initially presented in 1994 and immediately rose to the forefront of haute horology.

    For Walter Lange and his friend Gunter Blümelin for Lange (and German watchmaking), to make a striking comeback, it was important that the first watches surprise collectors and experts and immediately establish the brand as one of the world’s greatest makers.

    They imagined what the “modern” Lange would look like if the brand had not ceased production after World War II. The movements needed to be not only superbly constructed but also have a visually arresting finish with gold chatons, red jewels, blued screws, polished angles and impeccably applied Glashütte waves (the name the brand gave to the Geneva waves applied to the movement).
    An element that they also got inspiration from was the Dresden Semper Opera clock which led to the creation of the brand’s signatory large date display.

    Of the four watches presented in 1994 was the timeless and now iconic Lange 1, with its unorthodox off-centre dial layout featuring hours, minutes, seconds, power reserve indicator, large date without any of these indications overlapping.

    The present Lange 1 ref 101.005 in platinum, is part of the original historical series featuring a solid caseback (Lange would switch to crystal case backs in 1996). In excellent overall condition, with its sleek design, superb craftsmanship, the present Lange 1 takes us back to a time where horological history was made.

  • Artist Biography

    A. Lange & Söhne

    German • 1845

    Originally founded in 1845 by Ferdinand Adolph Lange in Glashütte, Dresden, Germany, the firm established an entire watchmaking culture and industry in Glashütte. The brand quickly became Germany's finest watchmaker, first creating dependable, easy-to-repair watches before going on to produce some of the world's finest complicated pocket watches, including Grande Sonnerie watches, tourbillon watches and Grande Complications.

    On the final day of World War II, their factories were destroyed by Russian bombers, and in 1948 the brand was confiscated by the Soviet Union. Following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1990, Ferdinand's great grandson Walter Lange re-established the brand with the objective to once again produce top-quality luxury watches. Now part of the Richemont Group, its original vintage and modern creations are highly coveted by collectors. Key models from the modern era include the Lange 1, Pour Le Mérite Tourbillon and the Zeitwerk.

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Ref. 101.005
An incredibly rare, important and early platinum wristwatch with large date, power reserve indicator and solid case back

1994
38.5mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and buckle signed

Estimate
CHF30,000 - 60,000 
€28,000-55,900
$32,400-64,800

Sold for CHF108,360

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Watches, Continental Europe and the Middle East Director
AGhotbi@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: XIV

Geneva Auction 5 & 7 November 2021