A. Lange & Söhne - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XVI Hong Kong Wednesday, May 24, 2023 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: A. Lange & Söhne
    Year: Circa 2000s
    Reference No: 813.031
    Movement No: 45’670
    Case No: 158’508
    Model Name: Little Lange 1 Soirée
    Material: 18K pink gold, mother-of-pearl and pink sapphire
    Calibre: Manual, cal. L901.4, 53 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: 18K pink gold A. Lange & Söhne pin buckle
    Dimensions: 36.1mm diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
    Accessories: Delivered with an A. Lange & Söhne Extract from the Archives confirming the production of the present timepiece with its corresponding case and movement numbers with 48 baguette-cut sapphires set on the bezel.

  • Catalogue Essay

    A flagship model for the firm, A. Lange & Söhne first released the coveted Lange 1 model in 1994 being one of the very first models to be serially produced after the revitalization of the brand by Walter Lange. It immediately captivated the attention of connoisseurs by its handsome proportions that is also distinctive due to its asymmetrical dial design and its oversized date display inspired from the five-minute clock in the Semper Opera House. In 1997, the firm released a downsized version of the Lange 1 via the introduction of the Little Lange 1 with a reduced case size of 36.1mm.

    Throughout the years, the Little Lange 1 continued to flourish with various case metals and dial materials, mostly paired with a diamond-set bezel. While various dial designs were featured including one that mimics that original, guilloche examples as well as mother of pearl dials. While it was not the most well-received model during its initial launch due to collectors preferring the regular Lange 1, the Little Lange 1 started gaining traction with the growth of lady collectors in recent times.

    The present example Little Lange 1 Soirée in pink gold is one of the rarest examples to ever surface the market as it features a beautiful mother-of-pearl dial paired with a seldomly seen pink sapphire bezel giving the present timepiece a totally refreshed appeal separating it from the rest due to its unusual choice of gem-setting and its extreme rarity. Through our research, it is believed that only 5 examples of the present timepiece were ever produced.

  • 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.

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976

Ref. 813.031
A lady’s extravagant, unusual and very are pink gold wristwatch with small seconds, oversized date, power reserve indication, mother-of-pearl dial and pink baguette sapphire-set bezel

Circa 2000s
36.1mm diameter
Case, dial, movement and buckle signed

Estimate
HK$400,000 - 650,000 
€46,700-75,900
$51,300-83,300

Sold for HK$571,500

Contact Specialist

Thomas Perazzi
Head of Watches, Asia
+852 2318 2001
WatchesHK@phillips.com

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XVI

Hong Kong Auction 24 - 25 May 2023