A. Lange & Söhne Grand Lange 1 Watch Review
Angus Davies reviews the newly updated A. Lange & Söhne Grand Lange 1 which reminds him that time flies and, sadly, he is getting older.
When discussing matters of Haute Horlogerie, it seems somewhat of a paradox to talk about timeless watches, however, when it comes to the A. Lange & Söhne Grand Lange 1, the words seem most apt. Allow me to explain.
The renaissance of the A. Lange & Söhne (1994)
After the fall of the Berlin Wall, A. Lange & Söhne returned to its ancestral home of Glashütte. In 1994, the luxury marque unveiled its inaugural collection, a refined quartet of über-sophisticated timepieces, including the now-iconic Lange 1.
The first version of the Lange 1 featured an off-centre hour and minutes display, small seconds, power-reserve indicator and, most notably of all, the ‘patented Lange outsize date’. This latter complication employs two date discs to impart meaning, one for tens and the other for the units. Interestingly, the date is displayed via two metal-framed apertures, a feature inspired by the unusual ‘Five-Minute Clock in the Dresden Semper Opera’.
The birth of the A. Lange & Söhne Grand Lange 1 (2003)
In 2003, the German marque chose to offer a larger version of the Lange 1 and christened it the Grand Lange 1. The new model looked virtually identical, save for its greater case diameter. The Lange 1 and the Grand Lange 1 have co-existed happily ever since. The original design language of the 1994 watch has seemingly remained the same with both models continuing to proffer much eye-appeal, an attribute that has never diminished despite the passage of time.
Now, it may sound like a bit of a cliché but time does fly. It seems like only yesterday that I would look in a mirror and see the reflection of blemish-free skin and a face brimming with optimism. Now, wrinkles and liver spots are two annoying flaws afflicting my well-worn face and my eyes are now filled with a worrying degree of scepticism. Although I look older than the 1994 version of myself, the inaugural Lange 1 hasn’t suffered the same indignity of physical decline or become an ill-tempered middle-aged cynic.
It’s this timeless quality that differentiates the Lange 1/Grand Lange 1 from fashionable watches that appear trendy at the time of purchase only to inevitably look passé soon thereafter.
The evolution of the A. Lange & Söhne Grand Lange 1 (2012)
In January 2012, I attended a presentation by A. Lange & Söhne at the Salon International de Haute Horlogerie, SIHH. I remember a representative from the German company opened proceedings with a quote from Voltaire. The French writer once famously said, “perfect is the enemy of good”. Voltaire was expressing the inherent danger when meddling with a good item in the pursuit of improvement and inadvertently producing something worse. The brand was shrewd in expressing this sentiment, after all why meddle with perfection? Why release a new Grand Lange 1?
Well, in my opinion, the Lange 1 of 1994 always looked just a smidgen prettier than the Grand Lange 1 of 2003. The architecture of the movement meant that on the Grand Lange 1 the subsidiary seconds corrupted the lines of the adjacent off-centre hours and minutes display. A small detail, but given A. Lange & Söhne’s quest for perfection it was perhaps inevitable they would have to rectify the issue at some point.
A. Lange & Söhne Grand Lange 1 – Calibre L095.1
Initially, the Lange 1 and Grand Lange 1 were both fitted with the same movement, the Calibre L901.0. However, with the release of the 2012 version of the Grand Lange 1, the Manufactory produced a new movement, the Calibre L095.1. This granted the Grand Lange 1 of 2012 with the same perfect lines as the Lange 1. Furthermore, as part of the changes, the diameter of the Grand Lange 1 was reduced by 1 mm to 40.9 mm.
Since 2012, the Grand Lange 1 has remained the same with little or no evidence of meddling. In my eyes, the 2012 model was perfect in every way. However, this year whilst attending Watches & Wonders 2022, I attended a presentation hosted by Anthony de Haas, the Director of Product Development at Lange. During his presentation, he proudly presented a brand-new version of the Grand Lange 1.
A brand new A. Lange & Söhne Grand Lange 1 (2022)
The new 2022 Grand Lange 1 is equally beautiful, sporting a grey dial formed of solid silver and has the same indications, presented in the same way and located in the same places. While listening to his presentation, I couldn’t help wondering what Mr de Haas and his team actually been doing for the last few years. Perhaps a new movement? No, it’s the same Calibre L095.1 fitted to the previous model. It seemed like déjà vu.
Apparently, the case is thinner. It was 8.8 mm in height and now it is a mere 8.2 mm. The bezel seems a tad slimmer, but then again, is that just my perception? According to the technical specification, the diameter has increased by 0.1 mm to 41 mm. I confess, I’ve scratched my head and thought about what I could say about the watch that had not already been said.
Lange and the pursuit of perfection
Now I have had a chance to pause and reflect on the updated model, suddenly everything makes sense. The Lange 1 of 1994 wasn’t broken. The Grand Lange 1 of 2003 and 2012 also appeared perfect. And, now the new Grand Lange 1 of 2022 appears more perfect than perfect, if that’s possible. I suspect any future changes will be minuscule, barely visible to the untrained layperson’s eye. It would seem Voltaire’s words are clearly piped into Mr de Haas’s office.
A. Lange & Söhne respect longstanding clients. If you own a Lange 1 of 1994 it will continue to exude extraordinary eye appeal and it will go on showing no trace of ageing. The movement is crafted to the highest order, free of compromise. Therefore, providing you send it for a service every five years, there will be no need for blood pressure tablets when it’s in its fifties.
Handsome, with a youthful appearance, a full head of hair and a well-developed mechanical intellect, the Grand Lange 1 has clearly quaffed the elixir of life. The brand will continue in its pursuit of perfection, but don’t worry this horological partner will never look old and won’t suffer from aches or pains. If only A. Lange & Söhne could impart these qualities to this weary fiftysomething……
Further reading
https://www.alange-soehne.com/
Technical specification
- Model: A. Lange & Söhne Grand Lange 1
- Reference: 137.038 (18-carat white gold) / 137.033 (18-carat pink gold)
- Case: Diameter 41 mm; height 8.2 mm; sapphire crystal to the front and exhibition caseback
- Functions: Hours; minutes; small seconds display with stop seconds; power-reserve indicator; Lange outsize date
- Movement: Calibre L095.1; hand-wound movement; frequency 21,600 vph (3 Hz); contains 42 jewels; power reserve = 72 hours (when fully wound)
- Price on application