Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The A. Lange & Söhne Little Lange 1 Moon Phase ‘Gold FLux’
New editions of the feminine Lange 1 with a dial inspired by a lunar-lit sky.
For some, the thought of wearing a wristwatch with anything other than a perfectly symmetrical dial would be unthinkable, yet for others, watches like the Lange 1 by A. Lange & Söhne are considered iconic. The German manufacturer’s new editions of the Little Lange 1 Moon Phase combine visual elegance with horological values harnessed in Saxony. It presents the time on a dial crafted from unusual materials to echo the moon against a star-studded sky. Through the back of the case, an in-house movement finished with hallmark Glashütte techniques is put on display. The 36.8mm model crafted from 18k white gold comes in an unadorned version or a diamond-set iteration boasting a total of 56 round brilliant-cut diamonds on its bezel (1.20 carats).
The famous asymmetrical dial
German watch manufacturer A. Lange & Söhne released the Lange 1 watch in 1994 alongside three other designs in a bid to revive the company after it was expropriated following the Second World War and to put Germany back on the map for high-end Saxonian watchmaking. Ferdinand Adolph Lange’s great-grandson, Walter Lange succeeded at both. The Lange 1, featuring the brand’s famed outsize date and the Zeitwerk watch with its jumping hour and minute displays are now two of the most instantly recognizable watches in A. Lange & Sohne’s catalogue.
The Lange 1 was characterised by its large date feature, off-centre hour and minute dial, small second sub-dial and power reserve indicator – features that still remain present after over 25 years of production, as proven by the new A. Lange & Sohne Little Lange 1 Moon Phase. The sub-dials of the Lange 1 were unusually arranged but there was a method behind this madness. The dial functions were placed according to the golden ratio – a mathematical equation that is believed to lead to an aesthetically pleasing and harmonious design, thus the collection continues to evolve…
The New Little Lange 1 Moon Phase Gold Flux
The dial of the new Little Lange 1 Moon Phase ‘Gold FLux’, crafted from solid silver and coated with a dark blue gold flux, has copper particles that shimmer under the light, achieving a colour close to that of a nocturnal starry sky. The hour track inside the main off-centre dial is a mix of star motifs and traditional Roman numerals crafted from rhodium-plated gold, as are the hands. In alignment with the 1 and 2 o’clock location is the distinctive oversized date aperture inspired by Dresden’s iconic five-minute clock featured in the capital’s Semper Opera House and comprises numerals that are around three times larger than standard watches with date complications. This feature sits near the power reserve indicator, displaying the remaining energy of the watch’s manual-winding in-house movement.
The Calibre L121.2 is made up of 411 individual components and features 44 rubies, a lever escapement and a twin mainspring barrel that enables it to deliver a solid 3-day power reserve. Through the back of the case, the movement’s Glashütte ribbed decoration, gold chatons, blued steel components, hand-engraved balance cock and three-quarter plate crafted from German silver can all be admired through a sapphire crystal glass exhibition feature.
The moon indicator of the new A. Lange & Söhne Little Lange 1 Moon Phase is remarkably accurate, especially when compared to most other moon-phase complications on the market that round the cycle down to 29.5 days. The average lunar month actually lasts 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes and 3 seconds to be exact. A. Lange & Söhne’s moon-phase complication tracks the lunar cycle with an accuracy of 99.998% requiring only one correction every 122.6 years – provided the watch runs without interruption. The white gold lunar disc featured against the dark blue gold flux dial of the Little Lange 1 is adorned with 628 stars.
The new A. Lange & Söhne Little Lange 1 Moon Phase ‘Gold FLux’ comes fitted with a shiny blue leather strap with sparkling pigments and a solid 18k white gold pin buckle fastening. The standard model is priced at EUR 42,800 and the diamond-set bezel version retails at EUR 53,900. More details at alange-soehne.com.
