ThisLange 1 ref. 101.030features the striking combination of a white gold case and a restrained grey dial, creatinga distinctive monochromatic appearance which has deservedly given it a cult status among collectors. Believed to have been produced between 2003 and 2007, it represents one of the most versatile and rare executions of the early Lange 1 design.

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 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^thOctober 1994.The brand released four innovative models, all of the with their own distinctive visuallanguage, theArkade,Saxonia,Tourbillon Pour le Mriteand theLange 1.

The "Grey" Lange 1

For many, theLange 1is the quintessentialA. Lange & Shnewatch, and by extension the purest form of German design in watchmaking.Believed tohave been produced between2003 and 2007,thereference 101.030combines a white gold case with a restrained grey dial, made out of solid silver. Few of these pieces were ever made, as it is believed thatA. Lange & Shne clients tended to prefer lighter dials at the time.It is understood that this variant was made in fewer examples thanthe so-called , another unusual Lange 1 from the period.

The decentralised arrangement of the displays on the dial is characteristic, with the centers 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. In keeping with this classic styling, the watch features a crisp grey dial and faceted hands.The oversized date disc, a signature designfrom the brand,is displayed at the top right corner of the dial, inspired from the at Semper Opera Housein Dresden. At 3 oclock, the power reserve is indicated in German, a reminder of the manufactures origins.

Thedial features adark, mattefinish, providing a subtle contrast with the lightly recessed subdials. With a change of light, the anthracite colour can turn to a lighter mid-gray, with thevery fine texture softly catching the light. Being an earlier piece from the German watchmaker, it is housed in a classically sized 38.5mm white gold case, similar tothe original Lange 1.

The Movement

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. The bridges and plates are made fromGermansilver, an alloy of copper, nickel and zinc, with a warm silver tone that will develop a subtle patina over time. The use of this metal, along with the hand-engraved balance cock is a signature ofA. Lange & Shne.

TheA. Lange & Shne Lange 1houses a manual-winding calibre L901.0, with a 72-hour power reserve. The movement is comprised of 398 components, of which 54 are jewels and five screwed gold chatons the latter of which are a mark ofLanges traditionally Germanmovement. The watch has a lever escapement and the balance beats at 21,600 A/h.

The Set

ThisA. Lange & Shne Lange 1ref. 101.030 comes withits outer box, leather box, leather document folder, instruction manual, International Guarantee(stampedand dated by the retailer, confirming it was sold in September 2013) and a"History of your watch" booklet.It is also accompanied by two A. Lange & Shne Lange dust cloths,a bespokegrey saffiano strap, as well as itsoriginal white gold tangbuckle.

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