Watches and Wonders 2022: A. Lange & Sohne Grand Lange 1 Boasts Increased Comfort And More Refined Design
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Svelte and captivating, the Grand Lange 1 (2022) is an elegant upgrade to the 2003 Grand Lange 1 which saw the Lange 1 take on a more emphatic presence on the wrist. The redesigned dress watch boasts an interesting design while retaining many of its trademark characteristics. In 1994, A. Lange & Sohne launched the Lange 1, which instantly became a sought-after timepiece and grew into the brand’s most coveted watch family. From its asymmetrical dial to the new movement introduced in 2015 with the Lange balance spring crafted in-house—a range of aspects contribute to the timepiece’s wide acclaim.
Structured asymmetry enhances the dial’s appeal
The dial features the classic asymmetrical design, with an off-center time display and recessed subsidiary seconds dial with concentric lines and flat appliques. The diameters of these dials abide by the Golden Section ratio of 1 is to 1.6. A large gold-framed double aperture outsize date display is placed at the top right of the dial with the power reserve indicator—with its UP/DOWN indicator—to its right.
Though the dial bears an asymmetric design, it boasts a sense of balance and structure by following design rules, such as having the different displays placed in accordance with the triangular corner points.
Thanks to the bevelled chamfers, the dial features seamless transitions between dials and textures. Each component—including the hands, roman numerals and lozenge-shaped markers—receives due attention.
Maintaining the tried and tested movement
The classic manual-winding calibre L095.1 (first introduced in 2012) continues to power the timepiece. While the Lange 1 has a double barrel with two mainsprings, Grand Lange 1 has a single mainspring barrel. But due to the large case diameter, the watch is able to maintain the power reserve of 72 hours when fully wound. Through the sapphire crystal caseback, the wearer can witness the technique behind the timepiece. Comprising 397 hand-finished parts, the mechanism is concealed by a three-quarter plate made with untreated German silver. When the components interact, they produce a range of stunning colours, adding to the watch’s overall aesthetic. The timepiece also features an oscillating system movement with the Lange balance spring, fashioned in-house in 2015.
No compromise on style
For over 25 years, Lange 1 has been the most coveted timepiece by A. Lange & Sohne. It’s a classic that offers a range of sizes and designs, from the smaller format Lange 1 of 1998 to the larger Grand Lange 1 of 2003 and its moon-phase iteration. It’s no wonder then that the 2022 Grand Lange 1 stands out while enhancing the collection’s legacy.
The Grand Lange 1 comes in two variations, with each being accompanied by a matching strap. For the white gold version, there’s a black leather strap, and for the pink gold iteration, there’s a red-brown leather strap. Each features a polished prong buckle in matching gold.
With a larger dial (41mm) than the standard Lange 1 and lowered case height than the Grand Lange 1 timepieces that preceded it, this new Grande Lange 1 sits beautifully on the wrist while turning heads.
