The Lange 1 is a true cornerstone of A. Lange & Söhne’s production. One of the “original 4” - the four models unveiled at the re-opening of the company in 1994 - the reference has seen many variations of case and dial, both in terms of material and in terms of decor as well.

The present example, however, is not only one of the most elusive iteration of the model, but arguably also one of the most refined, poetic and elegantly striking: the Lange 1 Soirée.
Launched in 2001, the Soirée collection was intended - as the name indicates - as the most elegant and dressy iteration of the model. As such, it was granted an incredibly appealing mother-of-pear dial. Offered in both leather strap and integrated bracelet version, it was available in five different configurations: white gold with plain dial (the present version), white gold with engraved dial, white gold with bluish plain dial (a version made for Dubai), pink gold with engraved dial, and platinum with plain dark dial.

While nearly identical in construction to the standard Lange 1, it intriguingly features a slightly thicker case (10.4 mm vs the standard 9.8 mm). This is to accommodate the additional layer of mother-of-pearl applied to the silver dial plate. Additionally, as the pinions for the hands have to be longer - always due to the extra space required by the mother-of-pear dial - the movement has been modified accordingly. In an undisputed example of German precision, the name of the calibre has been modified as well, this is why the machine powering these pieces is the obscure L901.4 instead of the L901.0 usually found in the Lange 1.

Offered in unpolished condition and with a flawless dial, the present piece represents one of the most elegant timepieces produced by the German watchmaker: an unmissable opportunity for the knowledgeable collector.