Hands-on with the new A. Lange & Söhne Grand Lange 1 Moon Phase

09/12/2013 | By Frank Geelen | 3 min read |

Last Thursday day A. Lange & Söhne introduced a new timepiece: the Grand Lange 1 Moon Phase. It is actually the first Grand Lange 1 with an additional complication, when we’re not counting the transparent dial of the Grand Lange 1 LUMEN as a complication. In comparison with the ’normal’ Lange 1 Moon Phase, the moon phase indication has moved into the off center hour/minute dial and looks superbly well balanced.

The German high-end watch manufacture introduced this new model in the new buildings of the manufacture. Although they started construction just half a year ago, the entire structure and walls are already finished and showing how big the new buildings are going to be. We were present at the introduction of the new Grand Lange 1 Moon Phase and took some photos for you.

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The Grand Lange 1 was introduced in 2012 and is a perfect showcase of the impressive attention to detail at Lange & Söhne. It seems that no effort is too much, to do everything not only right, but to do everything perfect. For instance: the ‘normal’ Lange 1 measures 38.5 mm in diameter, the Grand Lange 1 is just 2.5mm larger, measuring 41 mm in diameter. The impressive part about that is that the movement of the Lange 1 is entirely redesigned to fit in the 2.5mm larger case of the Grand Lange 1, an operation that costs time and money, but assures to keep all elements on the dial in perfect relation to each other. I find that very impressive.

The moon phase indication is the biggest ever on a A. Lange & Söhne and it remains accurate for 122.6 years. This means an accuracy of 99.9978 percent accurate and a moon cycle of 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes, and 3 seconds. The moon phase disk features a solid gold moon and 300 stars of different sizes on a nocturnal dark blue sky.

On the wrist the Grand Lange 1 Moon Phase feel and looks great. The larger diameter and thinner case, make this into a very comfortable watch. The new position for moon phase indication, gives the entire watch a very clean and well balanced appearance.

The grand Lange 1 Moon Phase has just one main spring barrel, which still gives 72 hours when fully wound. On the dial, between the 6 and 8 o’clock position, is printed “GANGRESERVE 72 STUNDEN” which means it has a power reserve of 72 hours. On the ‘normal’ Lange 1 models, including the Lange 1 Moon Phase, it reads “DOPPELFEDERHAUS” (double main spring barrels) without any mention of the power reserve. The ‘normal’ Lange 1 models offer the same 72 hours of power reserve when fully wound and the power reserve indicator will tell you when to wind the watch.

The Lange manufacture calibre L095.3, is a manually wound movement. The movement is, as we can expect from Lange & Söhne, crafted and finished to the most exacting Lange quality standards: decorated and assembled by hand, precision-adjusted in five positions, plates and bridges made of untreated German silver, balance cock engraved by hand.

The new Grand Lange 1 Moon Phasecomes in three flavors: yellow gold, pink gold and white gold. Each model features a different dial and matching hands. Pricing for the yellow and pink gold versions will be € 38,900 Euro, while the platinum will set you back € 50,900 Euro.