ThisLange 1 "Stealth",features the striking combination of a platinum case anddistinctive monochromatic silver dial, which has deservedly given it a cult status among collectors. Introduced in 2015, the191.025is the latest iteration of the pared back 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 "Stealth" Lange1

One of the first watches released bythe manufacturerfollowing the resuscitation of the brand, theLange 1has become a modern icon in its own right. For many, theLange 1is the quintessentialA. Lange & Shnewatch, and by extension the purest form of German design in watchmaking.

As part of theoriginalLange 1collection from 1994, the German brand released a variant combining a platinum case, silver dial and closed caseback. Collectors quickly gravitated towards this piece andnicknamed it the "Stealth", on account of itsmonochromatic, discrete appearance. Since then, the watch has remained a staple of the collection, with the 191.025 being latest iteration of thedesign.

A Classic Design

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. Housed ina classically sized 38.5mm platinum case, similar tothe originalLange 1, the watch keeps with this classic styling, featuring a silver dial and faceted platinum hands to match.

Exhibiting an aesthetic that is undeniablyLange, an oversized "outside" aperture is displayed at the top right corner of the dial, inspired from theatSemper Opera Housein Dresden. At 3 oclock, the power reserve is indicated in German, a reminder of the manufactures origins.

Much attention is given toA. Lange & Shnesmore technically-complicated watches, like theor, but looking at thisLange 1, it is evident that their uncomplicated approach to form and design is equally noteworthy.More frequently produced with a white dial, this silvervariant housed in platinum remains as elusive, as it is attractive.

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, 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 L121.1, with a 72-hour power reserve. The movement is comprised of 368 components, of which 43 arerubies and 8 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 1191.025was serviced the by the brand in February 2021, and is accompanied by its servicing paperwork. It is accompanied by an A. Lange & Shnegrey alligator strap and platinum tang buckle.

Closer look