A. Lange & Sohne

The Lange 1 Tourbillon will always have a special place in the history of A. Lange & Söhne, as it is the second tourbillon from the Saxon brand to mark its centenary. The first is the historic pocket watch No. 41000, called Jahrhunderttourbillon, or Tourbillon of the Century, which was made in 1900 to mark the beginning of the 20th century. The Lange 1 Tourbillon, which was launched in 2000, therefore refers to the century twice: firstly to the beginning of the 21st century and secondly to the centenary of pocket watch No. 41000. And, of course, to the millennium.

Before the Lange 1 Tourbillon, there were no watches in the Lange 1 collection, the brand’s flagship, with additional complications beyond the original outsize date and power reserve. Of course, integrating a tourbillon into a movement with the characteristic arrangement of the indications at the vertices of an equilateral triangle, one of the most important design features of the Lange 1, was a major technical challenge. However, the brand successfully overcame this challenge by using the L901.0 caliber as the basis for incorporating a tourbillon, retaining the 38.5 mm case diameter of the original Lange 1 from 1994 and allowing only a slight increase in case thickness from 9.8 to 10.2 mm. This is what makes the Lange 1 Tourbillon so special – it conveys the same overall impression as the original Lange 1, not only when you look at the dial, but also when you feel it on your wrist.

In the year 2000, A. Lange & Söhne offered the Lange 1 Tourbillon in platinum (Ref. 704.025; limited to 150 pieces) and in rose gold (Ref. 704.032; limited to 250 pieces). Ten years later, in 2010, the brand reissued the Lange 1 Tourbillon “Homage to F. A. Lange” in honey gold (Ref. 722.050; 150 pieces – this watch). The story continues with the Lange 1 Tourbillon Handwerkskunst in 2014 (Ref. 704.048F; 20 pieces in platinum), issued to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Lange 1, followed by the 25th anniversary edition in 2019 (Ref. 722.066F; 25 pieces in white gold). This timeline is complemented by some special editions that were not included in the catalogs, but their number is very small. The Lange 1 Tourbillon also underwent a technical modernization of the caliber during its timeline, which concerned two aspects: the introduction of a tourbillon stop mechanism and the adaptation of the large date mechanism to further open the tourbillon window. While the 2000 editions in platinum and rose gold are equipped with the original caliber L961.1, the models from 2010 onwards feature an updated movement with a tourbillon stop mechanism, and all editions from 2010 onwards, with the exception of the Lange 1 Tourbillon Handwerkskunst, are equipped with a transparent large date disc and the tourbillon has a larger opening.

In 2010, to honour its founder, Ferdinand Adolph Lange, and to mark the 165th anniversary of its establishment, A. Lange & Söhne released an exclusive trilogy of limited-edition watches in honey gold: the Tourbograph, Lange 1 Tourbillon, and 1815 Moon Phase. This Lange 1 Tourbillon “Homage to F. A. Lange” is number 076 in a limited edition of 150 pieces, housed in a case made of honey gold – an exclusive, patented alloy with an exceptionally attractive, slightly cool golden hue. In addition to its distinctive colour, honey gold is more durable and scratch-resistant than other types of 18k gold. This material is also used for other components of the watch, including the hands and, importantly, both tourbillon cocks and the intermediate wheel cock. Another notable feature of this limited edition is the exquisitely guilloché dial crafted from solid gold, a feature that is extremely rare in Lange watches.

This Lange 1 Tourbillon “Homage to F. A. Lange” Ref. 722.050 in honey gold, released in 2010 as a limited edition of 150 pieces, offers collectors an excellent opportunity to acquire an outstanding, very rare, and attractive Lange 1 Tourbillon wristwatch, produced in only five limited editions and a few extremely rare private custom versions. This watch is among the most remarkable releases from the Saxon manufacture, combining the distinctive and now iconic asymmetrical design of the Lange 1 with the tourbillon – the king of complications – in an exclusive honey gold version. From a collector's perspective, this watch offers several highly valuable features, including a unique combination of decorative techniques, from black polishing to hand-engraved scrolls and inscriptions. Owning such a watch is a rare pleasure.