Today marks the 30th anniversary of the reinvention of A. Lange & Söhne, and the brand is celebrating with the release of four new Lange 1 references in two different configurations. Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to view the watches and sit with the German brand’s CEO, Wilhelm Schmid to discuss the current state of the brand, the anniversary, and the cars seen at Audrain Newport.
The Lange 1 holds deep meaning for A. Lange & Söhne, and the latest limited editions capture the magic of its design anew. It’s worth appreciating the fact that this brand has resisted the idea of looking backward for releases such as this, instead continuing to push ahead with their design language in new and sometimes surprising ways. It was a similar story with the Datograph Handwerkskunst that we looked at right here.
The new Lange 1 models are presented in both standard Lange 1 sizing (38.5mm) and Little Lange 1 sizing (36.8mm) with two dial and case metal configurations. The first is a platinum case with black onyx dial, and the second is a pink gold case with blue dial. Both represent entirely new takes on the Lange 1, without straying too far from the original formula. The Little Lange 1 models were particularly compelling on the wrist, while the standard sizing allows the unique dials to find their natural proportions.
Blue dials within Lange’s catalog are truly something to savor, and the pairing with a pink gold case brings it to life in a way we haven’t seen prior. Likewise, the black onyx dial is unique for its smooth surface texture throughout, with the sub-dials defined only by the white and gray printed indexes.
Each of the four watches are limited to 150 units produced, and unlike the last big anniversary releases, these will fly under the radar with ease. You can read more about the new watches, and see more of my hands-on images over at Robb Report right here.