Lange 1 and the 25th Anniversary Editions

Watch enthusiasts are picky. Whenever a new watch comes out, there is always a festival of critique (which is very much healthy) on the case size, the proportions, the font, the finish, and more. However, every once in a rare while, there happens to be a design where collectors become fond of something almost unanimously and that piece cements itself as an icon in watch design and collecting. Further, in the case of the Lange 25th Anniversary pieces, we get to see 25 years of history, with some beautiful and meaningful special editions. Here we have one of those that we should consider ourselves lucky to have: the Lange 1 “25th Anniversary.”
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-1166473 size-full" src="https://watchbox-blog.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Lange-1-Timezone.jpg?max-w=1024&q=50&auto=format,compress&usm=10&usmrad=3" alt="A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Timezone" width="1400" height="900" />
In 1994, <a href="../watches/a--lange-sohne">A. Lange & Söhne</a> introduced the founding collection of four pieces, which you can learn more about, <a href="https://tv.thewatchbox.com/videos/the-rebirth-of-a-lange-sohne-in-1994-with-their-first-four-watches-lange-1-arkade-pour-le-merite-saxonia">here</a>. Among the collection there was Saxonia, to reference the birthplace of A. Lange & Söhne; the Arkade for the ladies — inspired from the Dresden’s Royal Palace Cour; the watchmaking marvel Tourbillon Pour le Mérite; and with its groundbreaking design, the Lange 1. To this day, even among such strong and characteristic pieces, there is one piece that stands out: The Lange 1 is the face of the brand.
Through the decades, we have witnessed the evolution of the base series with numerous experimental re-touches. The first one came in 1997/1998 with the special Lange 1A with its gold guilloche dial, and gold balance system — along with the highly sought-after references 101.027 and 101.028 with two-tone blue dials.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-1166469 size-full" src="https://watchbox-blog.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/MicrosoftTeams-image-1.jpg?max-w=1024&q=50&auto=format,compress&usm=10&usmrad=3" alt="A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1A" width="1400" height="459" />
As the brand grew and evolved, the Lange 1 collection also did, and always kept its place within the catalog, mostly with added complications — from the delightful Lange 1 Moonphase to the globe-trotter Lange 1 Time Zone, and the super complicated Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon. In 2014, the basic collection went through a slight renovation and the first-generation Lange 1 collection was discontinued after 20 years, receiving slight updates on the font and case, and a new movement.
Anniversaries are important for brands, and for us collectors. For brands, it is an easy sell mostly, if done right. For us, we get to see experimentations on the designs we love, and the Lange 1 <a href="../blog/lange-1-time-zone-25th-anniversary.html">“25th Anniversary”</a> piece in white gold, with hunter case back brings just that: a delightful, experimental treat on the familiar and <a href="../blog/watchbox-langepedia-history-lange-1.html">iconic Lange 1 canvas</a>.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-1166472 size-full" src="https://watchbox-blog.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Langepedia-Blog-Image-Resized.jpg?max-w=1024&q=50&auto=format,compress&usm=10&usmrad=3" alt="" width="1400" height="900" />
The two-tone dial features two-layers, which puts the emphasis on the eccentric design. With such arrangement, one can immediately recognize the pattern between the sub-dials and the signature big date which forms an equilateral triangle. The use of blue is the theme of the “25th Anniversary” collection, which is ever present with indexes, hands, and the date numerals. However, the real treat is on the back.
Turning the watch over, we see a hunter caseback, depicting the family house of Ferdinand Adolph Lange, which today is the brand’s headquarters. The “25 Jahre” and “Lange 1” inscriptions are relief engraved, putting further emphasis on the importance of the special edition. But perhaps more importantly, for the first time we see the name of Günter Blümlein, a monumental figure in the resurrection of A. Lange & Söhne along with Walter Lange. When I handled the watch in SIHH 2019, I was very pleasantly surprised that the brand finally gave credit to Blümlein on one of the watches, and I cannot think of a better way.
<center><iframe id="_ytid_42937" width="480" height="270" data-origwidth="480" data-origheight="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bYRgfODoB24?enablejsapi=1&autoplay=0&cc_load_policy=0&cc_lang_pref=&iv_load_policy=1&loop=0&modestbranding=0&rel=0&fs=1&playsinline=0&autohide=2&theme=dark&color=red&controls=1&" class="__youtube_prefs__ no-lazyload" title="YouTube player" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy="1" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=""></iframe></center>Opening the hunter caseback, we see the fantastic caliber L121.1 with its deep Glashütte stripes and purity of design. Looking closer, we see the usual stunning handcraft in every angle, but there is something more. The balance cock is engraved “25” and filled with the collection’s blue color.
Overall, the <a href="../watches/a--lange-sohne/a--lange-sohne-lange-1-2/">Lange 1</a> “25th Anniversary” is a watch of many firsts for both Lange and the Lange 1 collection, which in my opinion, is one of the best anniversary pieces the brand has produced in the past decade. A true collector’s item, celebrating some of the most important milestones of modern watchmaking history.
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Please don’t hesitate to contact me, either through <a href="https://langepedia.com/">Langepedia</a> or via asever@thewatchbox.com.

A Lange & Sohne

Written By

Alp Sever

Alp has had an interest in A. Lange & Söhne since the launch of the Zeitwerk Lumen when he was a teenager. From this fascination of art behind the watches he created the Instagram, Langepedia. He was also editor at Armband Uhren Tureky Magazine, leading him to create the encyclopedia Langepedia.com. Langepedia has partnered with WatchBox to bring his passion and knowledge on A. Lange & Söhne to the global WatchBox community.

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