A. Lange & Söhne - The Geneva Watch Auction: XVII Geneva Saturday, May 13, 2023 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: A. Lange & Söhne
    Year: Circa 1995
    Reference No: 101.005
    Movement No: 3008
    Case No: 111'512
    Model Name: Lange 1
    Material: Platinum
    Calibre: Manual, cal. L901.0, 53 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: Platinum A. Lange & Söhne pin buckle
    Dimensions: 38.5mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by A. Lange & Söhne undated guarantee stamped Sincere Watch Kuala Lumpur, instruction manual and pamphlet, fitted presentation box and outer packaging.

  • Catalogue Essay

    Early A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1s can be considered to be as collectable as first edition Porsches. Unconventional and virtually unchanged in terms of design for more than 25 years, its aura perfectly encapsulates Bauhaus artistic movement of the early 1930's with elegance and tradition.

    First generation models, like the present example, were cased at 38.5mm in diameter, rendering them extremely comfortable and pleasant on the wrist. Furthermore, pre 1996 models can be easily identifiable by a closed solid caseback, as one can notice from this timepiece. Exceptionally, the present example comes with an additional sapphire crystal caseback which was requested by the original owner to be able to witness the beautify of the in-house manual winding caliber L901.0. Visually striking and superbly finished, the movement features blued screws, gold chatons, Glashütte ribbing and A. Lange & Söhne's signature hand-engraved balance cock.

    The present Lange 1 reference 101.005 in platinum, is part of the original historical series featuring a solid caseback however, is exceptionally accompanied by an additional sapphire caseback requested by the original owner. In excellent overall condition, with its sleek design, superb craftsmanship, the present Lange 1 takes us back to a time where horological history was made.

  • Artist Biography

    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.

    View More Works

92

Ref. 101.005
An incredibly rare, important and early platinum wristwatch with large date, power reserve indicator, solid caseback and special request sapphire crystal caseback, guarantee and presentation box

Circa 1995
38.5mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and buckle signed

Estimate
CHF30,000 - 60,000 
€31,200-62,500
$34,300-68,500

Sold for CHF88,900

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Watches, Continental Europe and the Middle East

+41 79 637 17 24
AGhotbi@phillips.com

Tiffany To
Head of Sale, Geneva

+41 79 460 55 88
TiffanyTo@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: XVII

Geneva Auction 13 - 14 May 2023