In our Icons of Watchmaking series, expert Gisbert L. Brunner presents timepieces with such cult status they literally 'stand the test of time'. This week, we take a look at the Lange & Söhne Lange 1.

The watches from A. Lange & sons are among the most elegant and technically advanced in the world. The Saxon factory has a legacy of more than 165 years' production of precision timepieces, but things have not always run smoothly for the watchmakers from Glashütte.

In 1948, the company was expropriated by the post-War Soviet administration and it would be almost 50 years before it recommenced its old traditions, producing a small collection of fine watches in 1994. The award-winning Lange 1 struck the balance between tradition and innovation in a unique way.



The classic three-quarter centre-board, hand-engraved balance wheel and nine stones encased in gold chatons embody tradition... while innovation can be seen in the double mainspring barrels and a power reserve of 72 hours complete with indicator. In addition, the patented oversize date-window and asymmetrical dial marks the Lange 1 as a unique piece in the horological world.

Icons of watchmaking history -

No. 1: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak

No. 2: Breitling Navitimer

No. 3: Bvlgari-Bvlgari by Bvlgari

No. 4: Cartier Santos

No. 5: Chronoswiss Regulator

No. 6: Heuer Carrera

No. 7: Hublot Classique

No. 8: IWC Portuguese

No. 9: Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso


Text: Gisbert L. Brunner
Photo: Lange & Söhne