29th Luxury Watch Trends 2025 | 10 Recommended Models by A. Lange & Söhne AI

The History of A. Lange & Söhne, Germany's Leading Luxury Watch Brand

A. Lange & Söhne was founded in 1845 in Glashütte, Saxony, Germany. Its founder was the genius watchmaker Ferdinand Adolph Lange, and the company name "Söhne" (German for "sons") comes from the workshop he and his sons built. In the second half of the 19th century, the company supplied watches to royalty and aristocrats, including the German emperor and Russian czar, and established a reputation as a prestigious pocket watch brand.

However, after World War II, A. Lange & Söhne was nationalized under the East German regime in 1948, bringing the curtain down on its history. The brand was dormant for a long time, but in 1990, after the end of the Cold War, it was miraculously revived by Walter Lange, the great-grandson of founder Lange. After its revival, the brand was rebuilt with the support of the prestigious Swiss watchmaker IWC, and surprised the world with its first collection released in 1994. The birth of the flagship model, the Lange 1, left a strong impression on the luxury watch world of the revival of this prestigious German brand.

A. Lange & Söhne is currently managed under the Richemont Group, and production is extremely limited at only about 5,000 pieces per year. Despite being a small company with only about 770 employees, the company is committed to a completely in-house manufacturing process, from movement development to assembly. The traditional "three-quarter plate" rooted in Glashütte and the hand-carved balance cock (the part with the regulator needle) are the company's distinctive features, and the intricate and heavy "German-style" design and finish set it apart from Swiss luxury watches.

The appeal of the current collection and discontinued models

A. Lange & Söhne currently offers a limited lineup of current models. The main collections are the following six series:

On the other hand, discontinued models that are no longer in production are also attracting a lot of attention. Since the company produces only a small number of models, once a model is discontinued it becomes difficult to obtain, and due to their rarity, they are often traded at high prices on the second-hand market. For example, early Lange 1s, original Datographs, and limited edition complicated models are coveted items for collectors. When buying and selling such rare models, it is important to have them properly appraised by a specialist dealer.

Top 10 A. Lange & Söhne masterpieces

From here on, we will introduce 10 particularly noteworthy masterpieces from A. Lange & Söhne, both current and discontinued models, from the perspective of both beginners and collectors.

1. Lange 1, Ref. 191.032

When talking about A. Lange & Söhne, the first name that comes to mind is the Lange 1. This model, which was released in 1994 when the brand was reborn, features off-center (asymmetrical) hour and minute displays, small seconds, and a large double-digit date display called the "outsize date," making it an icon that is instantly recognizable as an A. Lange & Söhne watch. With its simple functions and elegant, harmonious and original design, it is a classic model that is attractive to beginners to luxury watches, and many people say, "Start with the Lange 1." On the other hand, there are many variations, from early models to limited edition models, making it a worthwhile collection for collectors. The Roman numeral indexes and hands are elegantly arranged on the asymmetrically arranged dial, and the large outsize date, a symbol of A. Lange & Söhne, can be seen at the 12 o'clock position. The intricate guilloched decoration and polished hands and indexes sparkle in the light, making this a masterpiece that allows you to experience the outstanding craftsmanship unique to German luxury watches.

②Saxonia Thin Ref.380.032

The Saxonia Thin is the simplest and thinnest dress watch from A. Lange & Söhne. "Thin" means "thin" in German. As its name suggests, it is equipped with an extremely thin hand-wound movement with a case thickness of only about 6mm (depending on the model), making it a light and comfortable watch to wear. The clean design with only two hands is elegant and modern, and it can be used in a wide range of situations, from business to formal occasions. Since it does not have a complicated mechanism, it is relatively inexpensive, making it a popular entry-level model for those new to luxury watches who are aiming to own a Lange someday. Of course, like other models, the finish and quality are uncompromising, and every corner of the movement is polished to perfection. Although it is not flashy for collectors, it is a model that connoisseurs will enjoy for its pure design beauty and technical skill.

③Odysseus Ref.363.179

Odysseus is A. Lange & Söhne's first sports luxury watch, which was released in 2019. It has a stainless steel case and bracelet, is water resistant to 120m, and is equipped with an automatic movement that features a day-date display. It is an unusual work from the company, which has mainly used precious metal cases until now, and it has attracted a lot of attention since its release. Although it is sporty, the details are meticulously finished and the luxury is not lost, appealing to a new generation of Lange fans and young beginners. On the other hand, it is difficult to obtain because the number of production is small, so it has been popular and has a premium price since its release, and it is a model that collectors cannot miss. In recent years, a titanium model and the first model equipped with a mechanical chronograph (limited to 100 pieces) have also been announced, and it will attract further attention as one to watch in 2025.

④Zeitwerk Ref.140.029

The Zeitwerk is a groundbreaking model released by A. Lange & Söhne in 2009, a wristwatch that realizes a digital display in a mechanical way. The hours are displayed on the left side of the dial and the minutes on the right side, and it has an ingenious mechanism that instantly jumps to the next minute every 60 seconds. The avant-garde design, which overturns the concept of traditional mechanical watches, was greeted with great surprise at the time, and even beginners will be intrigued by the idea that it is mechanical but digital. The watch is also equipped with a constant force escapement mechanism (constant force) to support the high torque required for this jump, making it technically very complex. Derivative models such as the "Zeitwerk Lumen" with a skeletonized dial and the "Striking Time" that plays a chime sound were also born, and they have received enthusiastic support from collectors. In 2022, a Zeitwerk equipped with a new generation movement with an extended power reserve was released, and the first model was discontinued, but some enthusiasts dare to search for the first model because of its originality.

⑤Datograph Up/Down Ref.405.035

The Datograph was released in 1999 and became a new benchmark for mechanical chronographs. The beauty of the mechanism and layout of the watch, which combined an in-house chronograph movement with a flyback function and a large date display (from which the name Datograph comes), impressed watch enthusiasts. At the time, it was a sensational event that Germany had produced an advanced chronograph that rivaled the Swiss, and it has been praised as "the best chronograph of the modern era" since its release. Although it is a high hurdle for beginners because it is a highly complicated watch, as watch enthusiasts deepen, it is a watch that everyone aspires to own. The early platinum model (Ref. 403.035) is now out of production and is popular in the used market, and has been passed down to the current model "Datograph Up/Down", which has a brushed up dial design and added a power reserve display. The finish and structure of each generation are outstanding, and it has established an immovable position as a collector's item.

⑥1815 Chronograph Ref.414.028

The 1815 Chronograph is a popular model in A. Lange & Söhne's chronograph collection, with its classical design and luxurious finish. Like the Datograph, it is based on an in-house hand-wound chronograph movement, but it achieves a classical balance by deliberately omitting a large date display and arranging a simple two-counter chronograph. The early models, equipped with a tachymeter scale and pulse meter scale, have a particularly strong classical feel and a traditional appearance. The dial design is simple, so even beginners can easily read the time and measured seconds, despite the complex chronograph. In addition, the beauty of the movement that can be viewed from the case back is overwhelming, and the hand-engraved balance cock and carefully chamfered parts are captivating collectors.

⑦ Lange 1 Time Zone Ref.116.032

The Lange 1 Time Zone is a model that adds the ability to simultaneously display the time around the world to the Lange 1, which is the brand's signature model. It first appeared in 2005, and displays a second time zone on an off-center subdial, and any time zone can be set by rotating the ring with the city name on it. The dial also features an indicator to distinguish day and night, making it practical for business people who travel abroad frequently. It is often mentioned as a Lange that is recommended for beginners who love to travel, as it has improved functionality while retaining the elegant design unique to the Lange 1. The new generation model released in 2020 has been improved with improvements such as improved visibility and the addition of a daylight saving time display. Both the first and new generations are attractive, and the limited edition model commemorating the 25th anniversary is a collector's item. The Time Zone, which combines tradition and practicality, is loved as a unique presence in the Lange collection.

⑧Tourbillon Pour Le Mérite Ref.702.025

The Tourbillon Pour le Mérite is a super complication that can be said to be a symbol of the revival of A. Lange & Söhne. It is one of the four models released when the brand was revived in 1994, and is a luxurious design that combines a tourbillon that corrects accuracy errors caused by gravity with a chain transmission (fuse chain) mechanism to improve accuracy. "Pour le Mérite" is a name likened to the German Order of Honor, and it is a work that brings together the best of the company's technology, as befits its name. Only a very small number were produced, and the platinum model in particular is a rare model, with only about 50 pieces in the world. Although it is a distant presence due to its high price, it is worth knowing about as a legendary masterpiece that has left its mark in watch history. It is the "ultimate Lange" that any collector would want to get their hands on, and its existence can be said to be a special one that enhances the reputation of the entire brand.

⑨Double Split Ref.404.035

The Double Split is the world's first "Double Split Chronograph (Double Rattrapante)" that was released in 2004. In addition to a normal chronograph, it has an amazing mechanism that has two second hands and two minute hands, each of which can be controlled independently. As a result, it has achieved the feat of being able to simultaneously compare intermediate measurements (lap times) of up to 30 minutes mechanically. This innovative complex mechanism was unparalleled at the time, and it is a model that clearly demonstrated A. Lange & Söhne's technical capabilities. The movement, which fits tightly into a large case with a diameter of over 43 mm and a thickness of over 15 mm, has a very large number of parts, and the view from the back is truly impressive. The successor, the "Triple Split," which extends the stopwatch function to the hour hand, was released in 2018, but the original Double Split has already been discontinued, and it is still very popular today due to its historical significance.

10. Lange 31, Ref. 130.032

The Lange 31 was released in 2007 and is the world's first wristwatch with a 31-day power reserve (approximately one month of winding). While a normal wristwatch has a power reserve of about 2 to 3 days, the Lange 31 has two extra-long barrels that allow it to run for an amazing 720 hours. Naturally, a great deal of force is required to wind it manually, so a unique method is used in which the watch is wound using the principle of leverage with the included torque key. In addition, to maintain long-term accuracy, a constant torque mechanism (constant force) is built into the movement, which drives the balance with a uniform force from start to finish. For beginners, it is surprising that a watch runs for one month after being wound once, but if you think about the steady technological development behind it, you will feel the depth of the watch. The case is very large and has a presence, with a diameter of 45.9 mm and a thickness of 15.8 mm, but this is necessary to accommodate the long mainspring and control mechanism. The number of units produced is very small, and it is a rare model that is not currently listed in the official catalog. For collectors, the Lange 31 is highly regarded as an ambitious work that pursues performance, and its unique mechanism is unmatched and one of a kind.

Summary: Tradition and innovation reflected by A. Lange & Söhne

We have introduced the history of A. Lange & Söhne, one of Germany's leading luxury watch brands, and a selection of 10 classic models. The company's history is a story that combines the traditions of its founding in the 19th century with the constant innovation that has continued since its revival in the 1990s. In 2025, the company will reach a major milestone of its 180th anniversary, and it is the traditions cultivated over its long history and the innovative spirit that constantly takes on new challenges that make A. Lange & Söhne watches unique.

Even beginners who are new to luxury watches will find that the company's philosophy and aesthetics are encapsulated in simple models such as the Lange 1 and Saxonia Thin. Meanwhile, the company's complex mechanisms and limited edition models continue to stimulate the curiosity of experienced collectors. All of these models are highly valued due to their meticulous finishing and honest craftsmanship, and because of their value, they are a hot topic on the second-hand market.

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