Richard Lange was F. A. Lange’s eldest son who joined his father’s firm in 1868 as factory director, and like his father, he was a passionate watchmaker who sought to advance precision timing with mechanical finesse. During his tenure, the firm patented complications from split-seconds chronographs to dead-beat seconds timepieces, as well as patent number 9349 for an up/down power reserve indicator. In 1994 the firm was re-established by Walter Lange, great-grandson of the founder, with a collection of four wristwatches representing the company’s principles of craftsmanship, technical innovation and modern design. As a tribute to Richard Lange, the firm in 2006 released a collection with his name featuring a time only wristwatch with center seconds, made in the four precious metals. The 40.5mm diameter case was robust with a clean engineered appeal, and angular lugs. The dial was easily readable, and the overall refined appearance honoured Richard Lange and his work to produce technical masterpieces with a pure design.

In 2009, A. Lange and Söhne introduced their new model the reference 260.025 Richard Lange Pour le Mérite wristwatch with fusée-and-chain mechanism and white enamel dial. In 2016, the brand updated the model with the limited edition reference 260.028, which was produced in 218 examples numbering the total of their world-wide authorised dealers.

The present model, number 17, sports a black dial with red dots at the quarter hours, and has a more contemporary 21st century appeal when compared to the earlier white enamel edition. Turning the wristwatch over, the sapphire crystal displays the technical mastery of A. Lange & Söhne with their traditional three-quarter plate movement, gold chatons, and engraved balance cock, as well as the 636-piece, hand assembled fusée-and-chain mechanism, which counteracts a decrease in torque as the mainspring unwinds. The present example is in excellent condition, and complete with accessories. The modernity of the Richard Lange collection, like all A. Lange & Söhne models is inspired by their past, and this is an opportunity for a savvy collector to own a prestigious limited timepiece by one of the most respected watch manufacturers today.