A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 "Stealth" 101.025 - Full set

Origin

It is a daring task to challenge the Swiss when it comes to fine watchmaking and mechanical perfection, but if there’s one brand able to take on the contest it is the German watchmaker that turned Glashütte into a fine watchmaking destination, A. Lange & Söhne. Founded by Ferdinand Adolph Lange in 1845, the brand combines Saxon precision with aesthetic impeccability, resulting in hand-crafted timepieces of the highest standards.

The A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 embodies this legendary and bold spirit, introduced not long after great-grandson Walter Lange revived the avant-garde family brand from Glashütte together with his friend Günter Blümlein.

Years earlier, the company’s main manufacture was destroyed during a bombing on the last night of war in 1945. A few years later, in 1948, the brand disappeared during the occupation by the Soviet Union. But Walter Lange proved the legendary watchmaker’s spirit did not pass on and the platinum Lange 1, first introduced in 1994, became the epitome of its renaissance with its modest yet idiosyncratic and recognisable design, giving it an instant cult status among collectors.

The traditional 38,5 mm model here at hand has been coined ‘Stealth’ by collectors, attributed to its distinct platinum case and monochromatic silver dial. Following the Lange 1 101.005, a Stealth with closed caseback, the 101.025 with open caseback quickly followed.

Widely considered a modern icon, it is one of the rare first-generation A. Lange & Söhne timepieces of the moment, manufactured around the turn of the century.

The Watch

This A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 ‘Stealth’ – Ref. 101.025 – watch distinguishes itself with a platinum case and a peculiar monochromatic appearance, by its silver dial.

the watch face honours its heritage style with the decentralized arrangement of non-overlapping displays (their centers are designed to form the corners of an isosceles triangle), resulting in the iconic, harmonious asymmetrical dial (sparked by the golden section for its artistic balance) – in traditional proportions.

The platinum watch case measures a classic 38,5 mm with a stunning dial in pronounced silver with a matte finish, masterfully contrasting in all subtility with the two sub dials – indicating hours, minutes and seconds – that have a slightly lighter hue of silver and an opalescent finish. The monochromatic appearance is completed by the brand’s distinctive ‘outside’ aperture at the top right corner of the dial, reflecting a panorama date and hinting to the brand’s heritage as inspired from the Five-Minute Clock (1841) at Dresden’s Semper Opera House.

The clock’s revolutionary design was the effort of clockmaker Johann Christian Friedrich Gutkaes, the mentor of A. Lange & Söhne founder Ferdinand A. Lange. Together they crafted one of the world’s first digital clocks, involving two counter-rotating drums indicating hours and minutes. The success of the design contributed to the opening of the A. Lange & Söhne (pocket) watch manufacture and lead to the first patent granted for the top-right outside date aperture to the Lange Uhren GmbH in the new epoch in the 1990s.

The dial is further embellished with faceted hands, featuring appliqué Roman numerals, a German power reserve indicator at 3 o’clock and the eminent arc brand signature referring to its cradle underneath: Glashütte i/SA (‘in Saxony’).

The watch with delightfully open caseback spots a matching platinum pin buckle.

The Movement

The A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 ‘Stealth’ Ref. 101.025 houses the L901.0 double spring caliber, historically based on the gear train from Jaeger-LeCoultre’s caliber 822. This hand-wound movement consists of 398 components (including 54 jewels and 5 signature-style screwed gold chatons) with a 72-hour power reserve, a lever escapement, beating at 21,600 A/h.

The extraordinary hand-finishing of the watch can be observed through the open sapphire caseback, with outstanding chamfering, interior angles and an engraved balance cock from the hand of one of Lange’s master engravers. Plates and bridges are made of German silver, giving the movement a warm silver tone.

Condition & set

The first-generation A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 ‘Stealth’ with reference 101.025 is in mint condition and has perfect mechanical functioning. The piece was manufactured around 2000 with a serial number of 1 3 X X X X. It comes as a full set, including original box, (undated) papers and manual . The watch is fitted with a Mr Watchley grey Epsom strap. The original A. Lange & Söhne crocodile strap is included in the set as well. 

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

Reference	101.025
Movement	Manual Wound
Caliber	Calibre L901.0
Dial	Silver/Stealth
Size (Case)	38,5 mm
Material (Case)	Platinum
Bracelet	Grey Epsom
Glass	Sapphire
Condition	mint
Year	1999-2000
Papers	Yes
Box	Yes
Warranty	2 years