This reference 101.029 combines a jet-black dial against a white gold case and framing. Bearing a striking similarity to an earlier reference, the 101.035 Darth, the monochromatic dial and sleek look give this piece an unmistakably distinct character.

The Rebirth ofA. Lange & Shne

The name Lange has been tied to watchmaking and the Saxony area of Germany for centuries.In the 1800s,Ferdinand Aldoph Lange which is where the A in A. Lange & Shne comes from began his watchmaking journey under the tutelage of master watchmaker Johann Christian Friedrich Gutkaes. Passed from father to son, the Lange name flourished, before encountering considerable obstacles during the 20th century.The brand got caughtup in the turmoil caused by World War One, the financial crash of 1929, World War Two and was finally placedunder the rule of the Soviet Union. Thecompany was nationalised for the next 45 years, essentially spelling the end of the A. Lange & Shne name.

Years later, in 1990,the brand was resuscitatedby the great-grandson of Ferdinand Adolph Lange, Walter, and watch industry veteran, Gnter Blmlein.Blmlein, a Nuremberg native who grew up in post-War Germany, had previously overseen the resurgence of IWC and Jaeger-LeCoultre.This started the four-year journey that Lange and Blmlein would go on with their small team to bring the company back from the ashes, with the release of their first four models on the 24^thof October, 1994.The brand released four innovative models, all of them with their own distinctive visuallanguage, theArkade,Saxonia,Tourbillon Pour le Mriteand theLange 1.

The Ref. 101.029

One of the first watches released byA. Lange & Shnefollowing the resuscitation of the brand, theLange 1has become ain its own right. The decentralised arrangement of the displays on the dial is characteristic, with the centres of the displays designed to form the corners of an isosceles triangle. The masterful use of empty space, with none of the displays overlapping, creates an overall sense of balance and refinement.

While the piece displays much of the Lange 1s classic styling, it distinguishes itself with a white gold case and jet-black dial.Exhibiting an aesthetic that is undeniablyLange, an oversized outer aperture is displayed at the top right corner of the dial, inspired by theatSemper Opera Housein Dresden. At 3 oclock, the power reserve is indicated in German, a reminder of the manufactures origins.

Produced between 2003 and 2007,this reference 101.029 is also distinguished by luminous filled, dauphine-shaped hands which are rendered in white gold. Thesepairalongsidethe additional luminous detailing found across the dial. The jet-black dialcontrasts against the white gold case, hands, index markers, and with the same white metal framing, which surrounds thedate aperture. The styling is very reminiscent of its sister reference, the 101.035 "Darth", which was in production between 1999 to 2006. The luminous material is carried over from the hands, in addition to the Roman numerals and power reserve indicators, bringing further usability to the reference.

The two lightly recessed subsidiary dials are a similar jet-black to the rest of the dial, with the indication for the hours, minutes and seconds. These are decorated with the samesatin-brushed finishing, allowing for a soft sheen when light is angled towards the face. On this reference, stark white outlining is used to surround both subsidiary dials, with the brushed centre portions also highlighted in white. These white borders bring a chapter-ring like quality to the dial, further enhancing the balance and geometry of the design.

The Movement

This Ref. 101.029 is powered by the calibre L901.0, based on a Jaeger-LeCoultre caliber 822 gear train that Gnter Blmlein brought over. The movement is comprised of 398 components, of which 54 are jewels and five screwed gold chatons the latter of which is a mark ofLanges traditionally Germanmovement. The watch has a lever escapement and the balance beats at 21,600 A/h.

The aesthetics of the movement are just as impressive as the mechanics, with chamfering and interior angles superbly hand-finished. Moreover, it features an artistic flourish, a balance-cock engraved by one ofLangesmaster engravers. In fact, it is said that each individual watchmaker's unique engraving style can be identified as a result. One of the many things that helped to cement this movement as a German, and not a Swiss one, was the use of untreated German silver. This metal not only gave the movements a unique shine, but over time they can start to develop a much richer hue that is distinct to the brand when viewed through the sapphire caseback, we see that the movement of this Ref.101.029 is beginning to age very attractively.

The Set

This Lange 1 Ref. 101.029 comes in an outer and inner box and is accompanied by a Guarantee and Service booklet, a Lange 1 instructional booklet, and a small card detailing the movement number and where it was sold. An additional A. Lange & Shne black strapis also included, with thecorresponding white gold buckle.

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