A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 "Soirée" - Ref. 110.030

 

The Watch

In a word, magical. The Lange 1 Soirée is an unorthodox riff on the unorthodox, and its execution underscores beauty twice. Seen here today is the Lange 1 Soirée reference 110.030, a 38.5mm fanciful creation that unites the mystery of mother of pearl with the sophistication of guilloché. Despite the individuality of its dial, the 110.030 starts like any good A.Lange & Söhne watch, with a well-defined, strong case structure. From the notched lugs in a polished finish with a gentle downturn, a contrasting brushed case body, the rounded bezel, and its subtly squared-off date advancer pusher are all unmistakably Lange. It's a sight dominated by masterful craft, forming a confident yet straightforward presence, as if hand sculptured in 18ct white gold by an artist's hands.

But we're all here for the dial, and due to the very nature of the Lange 1's appeal residing in its core foundational elements, this Soirée comprises enduring elements. A dial material often taken for granted, the use of mother of pearl may feel commonplace in the jewellery world, but it's a material fraught with challenges. It's problematic to work with and requires careful selection, cutting, finishing and assembly. The smooth, silky, almost cloud-like surface provides flourishes of beautiful radiance. It's a mesmerising sea of unrivalled natural elegance that ironically feels very un-German, and that juxtaposition is why its existence is extraordinary. Successfully executing a mother-of-pearl dial is noteworthy in of itself, but ALS – surprise, surprise – delivers multi-layered levels of allure with the inclusion of a barley guilloché pattern for the base with a sunburst guilloché present in the time-telling dials. 

To emphasise the mystical elegance of its dial, the unmistakable geometric orientation and white gold furniture are loaded with personality. Beneath its date is a vertical power reserve indicator labelled 'AUF' to 'AB' before the subsidiary seconds dial is revealed with a purposefully stripped-back design to allow its needle seconds hand with a long pointed counterbalance to take command. Just kissing the ten o'clock placement of the seconds sub-dial is the bulk of the time-telling functionality, with the current hours and minutes readings displayed through alpha hands. Offering the clearest view of its jewel-like dial, its dial furniture need not be elaborate with petite diamond-shaped markers and Roman numerals once more reflecting the modest restraint of the Lange 1. Tastefully brilliant with a bespoke connection to its naturally occurring dial, the Lange 1 is the dream canvas for the mother of pearl as its spacious dial allows for a striking view of its nuance, a view that shimmers and shifts with even the lightest of wrist movements. There's special, and then there's the Lange 1 Soirée.

The Movement

Powering this Lange 1 is the pioneering L901.0. First sketched in 1990, this calibre is the first Lange 1 movement created for the model series. Characterised by its ¾ plate produced in German silver, it features gold chatons, blued screws, 53 jewels, 72 hours of autonomy via its twin mainspring barrels, and a highly decorated, hand-engraved balance cock with a swan neck regulator. This movement played an enormous role in establishing the reputation of A. Lange & Söhne. It ensured the brand's dual focus on Germanic design and technically wonderful movements was met from day one.

How It Wears

Lange & Söhne watches have an aura in person. It's almost on the cusp of being unexplainable, but pieces that have left the Glashütte workshop inherently feel important and meaningful. That feeling is only intensified with this incredible Lange 1, as its whimsical, dreamy dial is utterly sophisticated. A complete unisex piece, the iridescence of its dial is subtle as it constantly shifts and dances with light and shade. Depending on the light levels, tones of pink, red, blues, greys, and muted silvers appear. Every time you glance down at your wrist, there's a strong likelihood of a different appearance, colour or texture; that is perhaps the ultimate desire of this notable Lange. 

Condition

This A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Soirée 110.030 dates from 2010 and is available today as a full complete set. The watch is presented in good condition with small signs of wear and has recently been serviced. The piece is fitted to a Mr Watchley Grained Anthracite leather strap.

Origin

If you haven't heard the news, the Lange 1 is special for many reasons. The Dresden Semper Opera House clock inspires the double-digit date execution, the dial layout is satisfyingly logical albeit curious, and it embodies A.Lange & Söhne's approach to design and craftsmanship. The charm of this unconventional watch starts so deeply at the core of its foundation that the reliance on additional adornment, nuance, or even complications doesn't need to be a concern. But Lange being Lange, they've embraced the challenge of evolution. While other variations may exemplify technicality proficiency, the Soirée broaches the topic of significance in a more visually enchanting manner.

While the Tourbillon Pour le Mérite was technical, and both the Saxonia and Arkade were uniquely classic, it was the Lange 1 with its nonconformist personality and memorable visual language that sparked the most inquisitiveness of the initial four models of '94. Its golden ratio abiding dial layout challenged how the time and date could be displayed on the wrist, swiftly becoming a celebrated trailblazer. Although the Soirée collection wasn't the first striking evolution of the Lange 1, it's arguably one of the most visually intriguing. First introduced in 2001, this divergence from the solid silver dials typically synonymous with Lange to slices of delicate mother of pearl was an exercise in exploring whimsicality. This material is just as fragile and taxing to work with as you might assume, making their existence – albeit in low numbers – all the more poignant. Better yet, due to their natural character, each Soirée is entirely individual. Of the earlier six Soirée references at 38.5mm, only two references fuse mother of pearl with the intricacy of fine guilloché. 

A.Lange & Söhne is one of the most successful haute teutonic watchmakers, personifying the key principles of German watch manufacture throughout their collection. But the Soirée's penchant for romance doesn't directly fall under Germanic lore of performance and specificity, which is precisely why this alluring variation is a darling.

If you desire to take a closer look at this precious timepiece, don't hesitate to contact us and make an appointment. We are based in Ghent, Belgium

No stock kept on site

* Every watch is delivered in a Mr WATCHLEY Membrane Protection Box for a safe transportation in addition to its original set *

Reference	110.030
Movement	Manual Wound
Caliber	Calibre L901.0
Dial	MOP Guilloché Soirée dial
Size (Case)	38.5 mm
Material (Case)	White gold
Strap	Mr Watchley Grained Anthracite
Glass	Sapphire
Condition	Very good
Year	2010
Papers	Yes
Box	Yes
Warranty	2 years