A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar

What you’re looking at is a variation of perhaps the most important wristwatch of the last 30 years. The Lange 1 is without question the manufacturer’s flagship model, and the big date function is its hallmark. Though found in watches like the Zeitwerk or the Langematik Sax-O-Mat, it’s in the Lange 1 that it’s shown to the greatest effect. Alongside other details such as asymmetrical sub-dials depicting the hours and sub-seconds, and the A. Lange & Söhne signature with its famous ampersand, it shows a clarity of vision that is wholly Lange. The Lange 1 has seen many variations, and this is perhaps the most impressive. At first glance, instantly recognizable as a Lange 1, this piece also flaunts a perpetual calendar display neatly incorporated to the existing design DNA. Sized 42mm in rose, this example is a representation of just how excellent Lange is at working complications into their existing Lange 1 format. Lange has tucked the month on the outside of the dial, the leap year indication at 6, day of the week at nine in place of the conventional power reserve, moonphase coaxial with the subsidiary seconds, and the date in its prime location at 10-11 o'clock. Trying to get these complications to work not just on the dial but also on the movement is a difficult task, and Lange has done it so elegantly. It's a brilliantly complicated and beautiful piece, and showcases the success of Lange's movement design to preserve the aesthetic of their collections. If you're looking for one of the most complicated Lange 1 watches on the market but want to maintain a discreet low profile, this is the perfect watch for you. A masterpiece of the highest order, this watch is truly something special in all its Teutonic splendor.