Manufacturer: A. Lange & Söhne Year: 2003 Reference No: 119.032 Movement No: White gold: 39’276 Pink gold: 39’087 Case No: White gold: 152’573 Pink gold: 152’373 Both engraved 73/101 Model Name: Grand Lange 1 Luna Mundi Material: 18K white gold and 18K pink gold Calibre: Manual, cal. L901.8 and L901.7. 54 jewels each Bracelet/Strap: Both Leather Clasp/Buckle: 18K white gold and 18K pink gold A. Lange & Söhne pin buckles Dimensions: 41mm Diameter each Signed: Cases, dials, movements and buckles signed Accessories: Accompanied by A. Lange & Söhne International Guarantees, wooden fitted Luna Mundi presentation box, numbered 73/101, hang tags, two setting pins, two travel boxes, leather envelopes, product literature and outer packaging
Catalogue Essay
The Grande Lange 1 collection was introduced in 2003 as a larger 41mm diameter version of the original Lange 1 model introduced in 1994 featuring a 38.5mm diameter case. The Lange 1 had nearly perfect proportions and was well-balanced with an offset time display and oversized calendar that was easy to read. In the same year as the launch of the Grande Lange 1, A. Lange & Söhne also released the limited-edition Grande Lange 1 Luna Mundi, their first two watch set.
Each one of these timepieces correctly and accurately indicates the moon’s position as seen from different hemispheres. The white gold model features the Ursa Major constellation on the dial and depicts the phases of the moon as seen in the Northern Hemisphere whereas the pink gold model features the Southern Cross and depicts the phases of the moon in the Southern Hemisphere. The watchmakers and engineers at Lange devised a very accurate system for the indication of the moonphase that moves continuously (as opposed to most common versions found where the moon jumps an increment once or twice a day) and are so accurate that they need to be set once every 122 years.
The present set, number 73 of 101 timepieces, houses the caliber L901.8 in the white gold model with 398 components, while the 18K pink gold watch is fitted with the caliber L 901.7, which requires four more components including an additional wheel to reverse the rotation of the moon disc. The watches are offered for the first time at auction by the original owner, and are complete with their warranty and presentation box.
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.
Ref. 119.032 A rare and very fine set of two limited-edition gold wristwatches with large date, power reserve and moon phase with international guarantees, hang tags and presentation boxes, both numbered 73 of 101 examples
2003 41mm Diameter each Cases, dials, movements and buckles signed
