LANGE 1 MODEL, REF. 101.002, MOVEMENT NUMBER 107, CASE NUMBER 110076, CIRCA 1994

One of the most important and historic pieces of the 1994 first collection ‘Lange 1’ in private hands, the present watch with movement no. 107 is, to the best of our knowledge, the earliest example of the model ever to be sold at auction and one of the earliest pieces to be made by the modern company. The case no. 110076 shows that it was the 76^th wristwatch produced by Lange & Söhne following the re-establishment of the brand in 1990. It is also an example of one of the rarest early Lange references, the 101.002, which features blued steel hands. In fact, it is far rarer than reference 101.001 that was fitted with yellow gold hands. Furthermore, this key piece of Lange history has wonderful provenance to a close friend of the founders of the new Lange & Söhne company, Walter Lange and Günter Blümlein. An important feature of the early specimens of Lange 1 is that they were fitted with a solid gold caseback as standard, another fascinating and unique aspect of the present watch is that in 1995, the original owner requested an additional sapphire crystal back. This special request caseback now accompanies the watch and is perhaps the first such display back ever fitted to a Lange 1. This watch is further accompanied by the Lange box, Archive Extract, engraver's certificate, instruction manual and an important and fascinating assembly of original promotional literature from the new Lange & Söhne company early period in 1994 to circa 2016.

Lange 1 – Reference 101.002
Part of Lange & Söhne’s most famous collection, the ‘Lange 1’, reference 101.002 was introduced in 1994. It has the defining asymmetrical dial design with 'big date' windows inspired by one of the world's first ‘digital’ time displays, the clock in the Semper Opera House in Dresden that would become so emblematic of the Lange 1 series.
This early first series reference made between 1994 and 1997 is distinguished by its solid gold caseback as opposed to the sapphire crystal display backs of more recent versions, the present watch is a probably unique exception with its special order display back. Additionally, reference 101.002 features highly distinctive blued steel hands which against the argenté silver of the dial creates an unusual aesthetic that makes this reference immediately recognizable to collectors. According to Lange & Söhne Brand Heritage, reference 101.002 with blued steel hands was made in far fewer numbers than the yellow gold hand reference 101.001 version.

The calibre L901.0 ‘German Silver’ (an alloy of copper, nickel and zinc) movement is, as always with Lange, highly impressive both mechanically and in the amazing level of hand-finishing. The balance-cock is engraved by Heidi Ahrendt, one of Lange’s master engravers and the Engraver’s Certificate accompanies the watch.
Perhaps the ultimate individual specimen for the collector and certainly one of the most significant ever offered at auction, this unique, historic and very early Lange 1 with unbeatable provenance is unquestionably a key piece in the brand’s history and one of only around 135 watches made overall in the first year of the new Lange production. An important timepiece in the development of contemporary watchmaking, the present watch can be considered a foundation piece of the modern legend that is Lange & Söhne.

We are grateful to Lange Uhren GmbH Brand Heritage for their assistance in researching this watch.