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114Σ

A. Lange & Söhne

Ref. 101.027

Lange 1

An elusive and attractive white gold wristwatch with oversized date, blued hands, guarantee, and presentation box

Estimate
$30,000 - 60,000
$44,450
Lot Details
Manufacturer
A. Lange & Söhne
Year
2006
Reference No
101.027
Movement No
39’765
Case No
155’296
Model Name
Lange 1
Material
18K white gold
Calibre
Manual, cal. L901.0, 53 jewels
Bracelet/Strap
Crocodile
Clasp/Buckle
18K white gold A. Lange & Söhne buckle
Dimensions
38.5mm Diameter
Signed
Case, dial, movement, and buckle signed.
Accessories
Accompanied by A. Lange & Söhne international guarantee booklet dated August 2006, service receipt dated 2022, microfiber cleaning cloth, small leather binder, fitted presentation box, and outer box and packaging.
Catalogue Essay
Consigned by the original owner, the present Lange 1 reference 101.027X bears a distinct and extremely rare silvered dial with blued hands, a variant known as the “secret reference”. This variant of the 101.027 was never featured in catalogues or officially introduced by the brand. Though we cannot be sure as to why this dial variation was never brought into production, very few were produced and even fewer have appeared on the public market. Researchers hypothesize that the correct case number range for this “secret” iteration from 13X’XXX to 173’XXX.

In other metals, the blued steel and printed dial combination is seldom seen: on the fabled stainless steel reference 101.026, early yellow gold examples, and the platinum 101.025 (nicknamed the “Stealth” and part of a limited series made for Cellini Jewelers). It is an elegant and subtle choice for a watch that was never meant to be “on the radar”, but rather a “clin d’oeil” amongst Lange collectors. A recent revival of interest in early Lange 1 models and the brand in general has brought new enthusiasm among collectors for such interesting references.

Recently factory serviced and offered from the collection of the original owner with its full suite of original accessories, this Lange 1 “Secret Reference” 101.027X is a stunning and versatile timepiece enhanced by the mystique of its origins.

PROPERTY OF THE ORIGINAL OWNER

A. Lange & Söhne

German | 1845
Originally founded in 1845 by Ferdinand Adolph Lange in Glashütte, Dresden, Germany, the firm established an entire watchmaking culture and industry in Glashütte. The brand quickly became Germany's finest watchmaker, first creating dependable, easy-to-repair watches before going on to produce some of the world's finest complicated pocket watches, including Grande Sonnerie watches, tourbillon watches and Grande Complications.
On the final day of World War II, their factories were destroyed by Russian bombers, and in 1948 the brand was confiscated by the Soviet Union. Following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1990, Ferdinand's great grandson Walter Lange re-established the brand with the objective to once again produce top-quality luxury watches. Now part of the Richemont Group, its original vintage and modern creations are highly coveted by collectors. Key models from the modern era include the Lange 1, Pour Le Mérite Tourbillon and the Zeitwerk.
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