On the grounds of Hampton Court Palace, Saxon precision watchmaking meets the world’s most stunning classic cars on the first weekend of September. A. Lange & Söhne will seize the exclusive event to present the penultimate model in the ten-piece “25th Anniversary” series: A hand-engraved lunar disc in white gold distinguishes the LITTLE LANGE 1 MOON PHASE from the standard version. It has a diameter of 36.8 millimetres and debuts in a limited edition of 25 watches. The recommended German retail price (including VAT) for this watch is 42,300 Euro.
LITTLE LANGE 1 MOON PHASE “25th Anniversary”
A hand-engraved lunar disc in white gold distinguishes the LITTLE LANGE 1 MOON PHASE – presented on the occasion of the 25th birthday of the LANGE 1 – from the standard version. It has a diameter of 36.8 millimetres and debuts in a limited edition of only 25 watches.
As the ninth of a total of ten special models, the LITTLE LANGE 1 MOON PHASE “25th Anniversary” recalls the spectacular presentation of the LANGE 1 on 24 October 1994. The hallmarks of the two-toned anniversary edition include a white-gold case, an argenté-coloured dial in solid silver with blue-printed elements and blued steel hands. The colour concept is echoed in a characteristic movement detail: The blue-filled engraving of the balance cock in German silver features a reliefed depiction of the outsize date with the number “25” to match the anniversary. The watch is worn on a dark blue alligator leather strap with a white-gold buckle.
Like all manually wound timepieces of the LANGE 1 family, the LITTLE LANGE 1 MOON PHASE – first introduced in 2017 – has an off-centre dial with an outsize date and an UP/DOWN power-reserve indicator. The moon-phase display is so precise that it only has to be corrected by one day every 122.6 years. As was already the case with the GRAND LANGE 1 MOON PHASE “25th Anniversary”, this special edition also features a hand-engraved lunar disc. Six stars and numerous little dots depict the starry sky and together with the golden moons form a three-dimensional heavenly canopy.
The manufacture calibre L121.2, painstakingly finished, polished and decorated by hand, runs at a frequency of 21,600 semi-oscillations an hour and thanks to its twin mainspring barrel only needs to be wound every three days.
LITTLE LANGE 1 MOON PHASE “25th Anniversary” Ref. 182.066 Technical Specifications
Movement
Lange manufacture calibre L121.2, manually wound, crafted to the most exacting Lange quality standards, decorated and assembled by hand; precision-adjusted in five positions; plates made of untreated German silver; balance cock engraved by hand and filled with blue; engraving of the Lange outsize date on the balance cock
Movement parts
411
Jewels
44
Screwed gold chatons
8
Escapement
Lever escapement
Oscillation system
Shock-resistant screw balance with eccentric poising weights; balance spring manufactured in-house with a frequency of 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour; precision beat adjustment system with lateral setscrew and whiplash spring
Power reserve
72 hours when fully wound
Functions
Time indicated in hours, minutes and subsidiary seconds with stop seconds; power-reserve indicator; Lange outsize date; moon-phase display
Operating elements
Crown for winding the watch and setting the time; button for rapid correction of the outsize date; recessed push piece for correcting the moon-phase display
Case dimensions
Diameter: 36.8 millimetres; height: 9.5 millimetres
Movement dimensions
Diameter: 30.6 millimetres; height: 5.7 millimetres
Case
White gold
Dial
Solid silver, argenté
Hands
Blued steel
Glass and caseback
Sapphire crystal (Mohs hardness 9)
Strap
Hand-stitched alligator leather, blue, grey seam
Buckle
White-gold prong buckle
Limited edition
25 watches, engraved 01/25…25/25
A. Lange & Söhne x Concours of Elegance 2019
On the grounds of Hampton Court Palace, Saxon precision watchmaking meets the world’s most stunning classic cars and inspires also the collectors of tomorrow.
From 6 to 8 September 2019, connoisseurs of exclusive classic cars will come together at the Concours of Elegance on the manicured driveways of Henry VIII’s old stamping ground of Hampton Court Palace near London. A selection of 60 of the world’s rarest and most beautiful classic cars bridges the gap between motorsport pioneers from the early 20th century to the latest super sports cars.
Main sponsor A. Lange & Söhne will present its own experiential space, bringing together the finest craftsmanship, classic design and contemporary luxury. In the “House of Lange”, attendees can discover the highlights of the current watch collection, see first-hand how a manufacture calibre is made and put their own artistry skills to the test.
At a gala dinner on opening night, A. Lange & Söhne will present the penultimate model in the ten-piece “25th Anniversary” series, celebrating 25 years of the LANGE 1 this year.
A. Lange & Söhne has been the Concours of Elegance’s main sponsor since 2018. The company is also involved with the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on Lake Como in Italy and the Classic Days at Schloss Dyck near Dusseldorf, and Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, as well as the Royal Automobile Club’s Historic Awards. For Lange CEO Wilhelm Schmid, the Concours of Elegance has special significance: “Among the visitors and competition entrants, we’re meeting more and more young people who are working to preserve cultural values. Katie Forrest, who does not just drive her family’s over-a-century-old Rolls-Royce, but maintains it too, and Evan Zema, who curates the outstanding collections of Bruce McCaw, exemplify the next generation of idealistic collectors and preservers. They know that mechanical masterpieces – whether they are cars or watches – are turned into timeless works of art by their history and the passion of the people who made them. That’s why they’re doing all they can to preserve them for eternity.”
