Manufacturer: A. Lange & Söhne Year: 1999 Reference No: 101.026 Case No: 117’955 Model Name: Lange 1 Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Manual, cal. L901.0, 53 jewels Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel A. Lange & Söhne buckle Dimensions: 38.5mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement, and buckle signed. Accessories: Accompanied by copy of original invoice #18351 indicating purchase from A. Lange & Söhne dating from 29 November 1999 for 8,831.00 EUR or 17,271.93 Deutsche Marks, a copy of the inventory ledger for Cellini Jewelers for the entry of the watch, and a provenance letter from the President and Owner of Cellini Jewelers.
Catalogue Essay
Following the demise of the Soviet Union in 1989, Walter Lange re-established the brand founded by his great- grandfather in Glashütte in 1990. The first collection, comprised of four watches, was launched in 1994 and immediately rose again to the forefront of haute horology. One of these four watches was the timeless and now iconic Lange One, which this year celebrates its 25th anniversary. We are proud to honor the birth of this iconic model by presenting this fresh-to-the-market, absolutely “New Old Stock”, untouched, Lange One in stainless steel, dating from 1999.
On the brink of Y2K, Cellini Jewelers President Leon Adams received an invoice from A. Lange & Söhne, wherein he accepted delivery of three A. Lange & Söhne watches, including a stainless steel Lange 1 reference 101.026 bearing the case number 117’955, for the price of 8,831 EUR. The year 1999, incidentally, was the first year of the Euro, explaining why the ledger also lists the price in Deutsche marks. For the next 20 years it sat – untouched, undisturbed – in a Cellini inventory drawer. The Lange One in stainless steel was never offered in a catalogue and the manufacture has never confirmed the exact number of stainless steel examples produced. Experts’ estimate that approximately 30 were made in total. Of those thirty, about eight have appeared publicly at auction. Of those appearing at public auction, our research shows that they all bear unique case numbers – they were never re-sold or traded publicly after showing up at auction. The history of this watch is a testament to their long-lasting appeal and Spartan beauty.
A remarkable opportunity for the connoisseur with superb provenance, the watch was never worn or used, nor has a strap ever been fitted to the case.
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.
