90Σ︎
A. Lange & Söhne
Ref. 101.035
Lange 1 “Darth”
A desirable platinum wristwatch with small seconds, oversized date windows, power reserve indication, guarantee, and presentation box
Full-Cataloguing
• Known as “Darth” for its matching black backgrounds for the date windows
• Family of the original owner, full-set
“I wanna see the sun flying high in the sky / I wanna see it painted, painted, painted black” – The Rolling Stones
Amongst the Lange 1 collection, varied though it is, the reference 101.035 remains one of the most coveted. Produced in small quantities exclusively between 1999-2006, it features a platinum case with a distinctive monochromatic all black configuration and a handsome “white on black” date disc. The model was nicknamed by collectors “Darth”, after the monochromatic ensemble of the Star Wars villain, Darth Vader.
To this day, the “Darth” Lange 1 inspires a cult-like following, and can be found in some of the world’s most prominent watch collections. This example comes with its original guarantee and accessories indicating its sale in 2009, and is offered by the family of the original owner, a beloved and noteworthy American collector.
A. Lange & Söhne
German | 1845Originally 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.