Pre-Owned A Lange And Sohne Grand Lange 1 40990996/AS06770

WHY WE LOVE IT

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What you’re looking at is an example of the most important wristwatches of the last 30 years.

The Lange 1 is without question the manufacturer’s flagship model, and the big date function is its hallmark. Though found in watches like the Zeitwerk or the Langematik Sax-O-Mat, it’s in the Lange 1 that it’s shown to the greatest effect. Alongside other details such as asymmetrical sub-dials depicting the hours and sub-seconds, and the A. Lange & Söhne signature with its famous ampersand, it shows a clarity of vision that is wholly Lange. And while the Lange 1 has seen many versions, from a tourbillon to the Timezone, it’s the original that has become the symbol of the maison — and perhaps even the symbol of modern watchmaking itself.

This particular watch, a Grand Lange 1, is a slightly upsized version of the classic. Dating to the 2000s, it features a 42mm yellow gold case, a sapphire crystal, a signed crown, a polished bezel, a gold-tone base dial with silver time displays and a matching alpha handset, and an exhibition case back. It’s fitted to a signed black alligator leather strap with a signed yellow gold pin buckle.

Powering this masterpiece is the Lange & Söhne Caliber L901.2, a manual-winding movement that’s stunning to behold — and which can thankfully easily be viewed via the exhibition case back.

There are complicated watches, and then there are works of art. This is the latter.

OVERALL CONDITION

Case is in outstanding condition overall showing only faint signs of wear from careful handling. Gold-tone base dial with silver time displays and applied yellow gold indices is in equally outstanding, as-new condition with matching ‘alpha’ handset. Sapphire display caseback. 18K signed crown.