There are some watches that make you marvel at how incredibly talented some in the watchmaking industry are. While the best in haute horology can be expensive in an eye-watering manner (even for some less impressive players when it comes to fundamentals), more often than not, you can justify the price tag.
The watchmaking industry has its fair share of unwarranted hype, but there’s no shortage of purists who have been around for ages that produce one mind-blowing timepiece after another. These watchmakers are so dedicated to their craft that they stick with time-tested methods of crafting mechanical timepieces.
What qualifies a watch as a haute horology timepiece mostly lies underneath the case. It is demonstrated in each element that makes the timepiece perform its function accurately. The mechanical parts show the incredible skill of the watchmaker in a process that involves more patience than most individuals can endure.
Oftentimes, you're treated to views (through a cutaway dial and/or sapphire crystal caseback) of the balance wheel, the escapement, and some of the other pieces working in harmony to make the watch tick.
Other times, the elegant simplicity of the case and dial are enough to draw awe from the discerning crowd, and there's no better watchmaker at this than A Lange & Söhne. The proudly German-made watches with signature features associated with the small watchmaking town of Glashütte have little trouble making a bold statement.
While I'll illustrate my point using the 30th-anniversary limited edition Lange 1 models, the specialty I'm alluding to can be seen in many models from the watchmaker’s collections. It's simply in their DNA.
The Lange 1 collection has a variety of timepieces with different complications, all sharing the signature asymmetric dial. You'll have a hard time finding a watch in the collection that's overly loud or ostentatious.
You could make the argument that a watch with two subdials and a retrograde power reserve indicator can't qualify as simple. But the counterargument to that is A.Lange's placement of the subdials is what makes it simple. It's also worth noting that one of the subdials is the 'main face' of the watch.
The collection was introduced in 1994 and has since taken its place as a pillar of excellence in horology. It is recognized for its off-center dial configuration, oversized date display, and compliance with the golden ratio. The Lange 1 30th anniversary has four limited edition (in pairs of Lange 1 and Little Lange) models that show off the brand's craftsmanship and design prowess.
Each pair of timepieces is finished in two material-and-color combinations. The first pairing features a 950-platinum case with a black onyx dial that adds a deep, glossy finish to the watch's face. It is the first time onyx appears in a Lange 1, and it's doubtful anyone will complain about it.
The second variation comes in pink gold with an eye-catching blue 925 silver dial. Both models have sapphire-crystal casebacks and polished bezels to complete the look that has made the Lange 1 famous.
The manually wound L121.1 manufacture caliber movement powers all four timepieces. First introduced in 2015, it features a twin mainspring barrel, which ensures a 72-hour power reserve.
The Lange 1's signature instantaneously advancing outsize date changes at midnight with mechanical precision, while the shock-resistant balance wheel oscillates at 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour.
Peering through the sapphire crystal caseback, you can see the three-quarter plate crafted from untreated German silver, adorned with traditional Glashütte ribbing. The presence of eight screwed gold chatons, held in place by blued screws, further enhances the movement's visual appeal.
Measuring 38.5 mm in diameter for the Lange 1 and 36.8 mm for the Little Lange 1, these models (like others in the Lange 1 collection) balance classic proportions and craftsmanship. It is an artistic display justifying the thought process of elegance in simplicity (in this case, simplicity in looks).
Over the years, even with the complications found in the Lange 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar and the Lange 1 Time Zone, the collection has retained its understated elegance. A set of timepieces that remains as captivating today as when it first made its mark 30 years ago.
