What you’re looking at is an example of the most important wristwatches of the last 30 years.

The Lange 1 is without question the manufacturer’s flagship model, and the big date function is its hallmark. Though found in watches like the Zeitwerk or the Langematik Sax-O-Mat, it’s in the Lange 1 that it’s shown to the greatest effect. Alongside other details such as asymmetrical sub-dials depicting the hours and sub-seconds, and the A. Lange & Söhne signature with its famous ampersand, it shows a clarity of vision that is wholly Lange. And while the Lange 1 has seen many versions, from a tourbillon to the Timezone, it’s the original that has become the symbol of the maison — and perhaps even the symbol of modern watchmaking itself. 

This particular example from circa the 2010s is housed in a 39.5 18K rose gold case with a sapphire crystal and sapphire case back and features a matching 18K polished bezel, a satin silver dial with subsidiary hours and minutes at 3:00, a seconds register at 7:00, a day indicator at 9:00, a framed date window at 11:00, applied rose gold indices and a matching handset. In outstanding, lightly worn condition throughout, it’s fitted to a brown alligator leather strap with a signed 18K rose gold pin buckle. 

Powering this masterpiece is the Lange & Söhne Caliber L021.1, an automatic-winding movement that’s stunning to behold — and which can thankfully easily be viewed via the exhibition case back

There are complicated watches, and then there are works of art. This is the latter.