A. Lange & Söhne Little Lange 1 "Soirée" - Ref. 113.029

The Watch

Due to its nonconformist form, the Lange 1 doesn't rely on adornment to command attention, but on occasions when special editions do occur, the unusual nature of its configuration truly shines. This is an exemplary example of precisely that, the A. Lange & Söhne Little Lange 1 "Soirée" 113.029. Only produced for three years with a confirmed production volume of fewer than 75 pieces, this significant Little Lange 1 is a rare sight. Crafted from 18k white gold, the 36.1 mm wide case is compact yet substantial, akin to its signature notched lugs that command this mid-sized timepiece's exterior. Its central caseband is brushed, while the bezel and lugs are in high polish, producing subtle contrast when worn on the wrist.

Despite the scaled-down proportions offering a bespoke level of intrigue, it won't be surprising to hear that the dial is the main talking point for the 113.029. A dial material that's often taken for granted, mother of pearl may feel commonplace in the world of jewellery, but it's a material fraught with challenges. The natural material is challenging to work with and requires careful selection, cutting, finishing and assembly. Its smooth, silky, almost cloud-like surface supplies flourishes of sparkle, unlike any other material. To emphasise the mystical elegance of its dial, the unmistakable geometric orientation and white gold dial furniture of this piece is loaded with defining character to propel its romance. Beneath its particular 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 10:30 placement of the seconds sub-dial is the bulk of the time-telling functionality, with the current hours and minutes readings displayed through multi-faceted 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. The A. Lange & Söhne signature is printed in black to match the rest of the typeface.

Tastefully brilliant with a natural and bespoke connection to its naturally occurring dial, this exceedingly rare Little Lange 1 "Soirée" 113.029 underscores the lasting fantasy of its asymmetrical design with a stunning romantic dial.

The Movement

Powering this Lange 1 is the manual wind L901.4 A.Lange & Söhne calibre. This handmade, hand-engraved movement boasts 72 hours of power reserve beating at 21,600 vph with no less than 53 jewels. This .4 variation of the movement is close to identical to the .0 calibre, only with longer pinions due to the thicker dial thanks to the mother-of-pearl. This movement has all the hallmarks of a Lange creation, including the bridges and plate being made from German silver, a hand-engraved balance cock, refined interior angles and chamfering with a level of hand finishing that puts many of the Swiss to shame.

How It Wears

Watches by A. Lange & Söhne 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 noteworthy. That feeling is only intensified with this incredible Little Lange 1, as its whimsical, dreamy dial and smaller proportions are sophisticated and beautifully compact. The charm of this Little Lange 1 Soirée is how the dial constantly shifts and dances with the light. Depending on the light levels, tones of pink, red, blues, greys, and muted silvers appear. Every time you glance down to your wrist, there's a strong likelihood of a different appearance, colour or texture. Due to it being a natural material, no two Soirée's are the same. That is perhaps the ultimate desire of this truly notable Lange.

Condition

This A. Lange & Söhne Little Lange 1 "Soirée" 113.029 was initially sold in 2003 and is presented in mint condition. This offering includes the original Lange leather watch strap, white gold buckle, and A. Lange & Söhne service box. In addition, the watch is presented on a Mr Watchley Saffiano leather strap.

Origin

Despite the Lange name being present in horology since 1845, the Lange 1 was born during A. Lange & Söhne's very first foray into modern watchmaking. Walter Lange, alongside Günter Blümlein, revived the name in the mid-1990s with colossal success. Initially just measuring 38.5mm, the Lange 1 became the watchmaker's crown jewel. It successfully caught the attention of connoisseurs of horology and industry figures alike. This was not only due to its unorthodox dial abiding by the mathematics of the golden ratio or its Dresden Semper Opera House-inspired double date aperture, but fundamentally its meticulous construction and build quality. It is believed that the Little Lange 1 came to be due to numerous requests from Japanese watch collectors seeking a more conservatively sized expression of the model. Introduced in 1998, the Little Lange 1 was a seldom-seen collection, only offered through Lange boutiques until 2006.

During that time, Lange released a special collection of watches which strayed away from typical solid silver dials and applied delicately worked examples of mother of pearl. Available with plain dials and guilloché examples, this became known as the Soirée collection. First only available in the 38.5mm sized models, these remarkably charming dials elevate the allure of an already unique and very collectable timepiece. The Little Lange 1 entered the Soirée collection later and undoubtedly remains noteworthy. In many cases, they represent an even rarer occurrence than the Darth models.

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 *