New Limited Editions to Celebrate the 30th-Anniversary of the A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1

Here’s a refined, more fluid rewrite with a polished editorial tone:

Exactly 30 years ago, on 24 October 1994, at the Dresden Royal Palace, Günter Blümlein, Walter Lange and Hartmut Knothe unveiled the first collection of the reborn A. Lange & Söhne. The historic lineup comprised the Saxonia, Arkade, Tourbillon “Pour le Mérite” and, most notably, the Lange 1. Instrumental to the revival of the brand, the renaissance of German watchmaking, and the modern definition of high-end horology, the Lange 1 now marks its 30th anniversary. To commemorate this milestone, A. Lange & Söhne introduces four new limited editions: crafted in platinum with a black onyx dial or in pink gold with a blue dial, each offered as either the classic Lange 1 or the Little Lange 1

The Lange 1 is a watch of such significance—not only for the brand, but for the luxury watch industry as a whole—that it truly warrants an article entirely dedicated to its history, especially as it marks its 30th anniversary. Fortunately, we’ve already done just that. In this comprehensive in-depth feature, we retrace the complete lineage of the Lange 1, exploring both the iconic 38.5mm original and the evolution of the collection as a whole, including every major variant, along with one of our detailed films. So if you have an hour to spare (and trust us, you won’t regret it), make yourself a coffee, get comfortable, and immerse yourself in the remarkable story of the Lange 1.

Now, for those already familiar with the history of the A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 collection, or if you want to know what the brand has cooked for the 30th Anniversary of the Lange 1, let’s go straight to the point. 4 new limited editions, two different sizes, two different and unprecedented combinations of colours and materials. Classic 38.5mm Lange 1 or smaller 36.8mm Little Lange 1, platinum case with a solid black onyx dial, or 18k rose gold case with a solid silver dial in blue. And both sharing the same in-house calibre. So, the celebration of 30 years of existence is done by new colours and materials, with limited edition models.

Looking at these new models, we can see the classic architecture of both the Lange 1 and the Little Lange 1, as available in multiple variations in the current collection. On one side, we have the Lange 1 with its 38.5mm diameter, a below-10 thickness and all the signature traits of this watch since its introduction in 1994 – of course, these new limited editions are based on the updated Lange 1 released in 2015. On the other hand, we have the Little Lange 1, a downsized edition first seen in 1998, revised in 2018 in the same vein and with the same movement as the classic Lange 1. This edition measures 36.8mm in diameter, shares most of the visual and technical attributes with the aforementioned model and keeps the same pleasant thinness – again below 10mm.

One of the hallmarks of the Lange 1 (and the Little Lange 1) was its perfectly balanced asymmetry, with a dial designed according to the golden ratio, with an off-centred hours-minutes sub-dial at 9 o’clock, a sub-seconds at 4 o’clock, a power reserve indicator at 3 o’clock and the all-important outsize date inspired by the five-minute digital display clock found above the stage of the Dresden Opera House. Well, all of that has been respected in these new limited editions, with the Little Lange 1 being just a slightly downsized edition keeping all of the display intact.

Now to make these 30th anniversary Lange 1 limited editions special, A. Lange & Söhne has created two unprecedented colour/material combinations. The first pair is housed in a noble 950 platinum case with an elegant, glossy solid silver dial covered with black onyx – a jet-black shimmering gemstone that somehow reminds me of the black enamel Lange 1 Tourbillon Handwerkskunst 20th anniversary. These black onyx models are worn on a glossy black alligator leather strap. The other pair introduces a new combination of 18k rose gold for the case and dark blue for the dial – two elements previously available separately but never merged. These are worn on a blue alligator leather strap. In all versions, the straps are closed by prong buckles matching the case’s material.

Housed within both the 38.5 mm Lange 1 and the 36.8 mm Little Lange 1 is the same movement: the manufacture calibre L121.1. Introduced in 2015 as part of the Lange 1’s comprehensive update, this calibre was entirely new despite preserving the model’s iconic display. The traditional three-quarter plate was rotated by 180 degrees, accompanied by a newly developed in-house balance wheel beating at 3 Hz, twin mainspring barrels delivering a stable 72-hour power reserve, and a redesigned date mechanism with instantaneously jumping discs. Additional technical refinements include a stop-seconds function and a zero-reset mechanism that returns the seconds hand to zero when the power reserve is fully depleted. Viewed through the sapphire caseback, the movement showcases Lange’s signature haute horlogerie finishing, featuring untreated German silver plates adorned with Glashütte ribbing, eight screwed gold chatons secured by blued screws, polished bevels, and a hand-engraved balance cock.

In terms of availability, the larger Lange 1 models—offered in either platinum with an onyx dial or rose gold with a blue dial—are each limited to 300 pieces. The smaller Little Lange 1 editions are limited to 150 pieces each.

On a personal note, without taking anything away from the undeniable beauty of these limited editions (the platinum/onyx version is, without question, a truly handsome watch), I had expected something more ambitious from A. Lange & Söhne to mark the 30th anniversary of the Lange 1. A new complication, a revised movement or case, a Handwerkskunst execution, or even a more substantial sub-collection—along the lines of what was presented for the 25th anniversary—would have felt more fitting. Something that added a meaningful chapter to the model’s lineage. As it stands, the celebration feels somewhat underwhelming.

The 38.5mm models are priced at SGD 90,000 in platinum and SGD 75,300 in gold. The 36.8mm models are priced at SGD 84,600 in platinum and SGD 70,000 in gold.