Text by Takeshi Matsuyama

After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the reunification of East and West Germany, I heard the news in 1994 that A. Lange & Söhne of Glashütte in the former East Germany, a prestigious pre-war German watch maker, would be making a comeback.

The revival of a prestigious brand that has been tossed about by history

The LANGE1 was created to celebrate the revival of A. Lange & Söhne as a banner for a unified Germany, when Walter Lange, a descendant of Lange who lived in West Germany after the war, and Günter Blumlein, who had been active in the Swiss watch industry, finally made their home here.

I had heard from people in the Swiss watch industry that these plans were underway, and I was very excited to see what kind of watch would be created.

Then, one day while I was reporting in Switzerland, I saw a Lange watch displayed in the window of the Zurich watch shop Beyer, and I immediately asked the shop assistant for a catalogue, and wrote an article about it immediately after returning home.

The catalog was only in German, which suggested that the watch was a patriotic celebration of German unification, and was initially only available in German and Austrian watch shops.

On display in the window were a Tourbillon with a diamond hole-stone as its center stone and a LANGE1 with another large date window.

I later learned that this large date window was inspired by the time display at the Semper Theater in the Saxon city of Dresden, and that the system was created by Adolf Lange himself, the founder of the Lange family.

LANGE1 has the hour and minute hands shifted to the left of the center, the second hand is placed to the lower right, and the power reserve indicator is placed above the second hand, making it an impressive watch with an asymmetrical design.

Its large date window, known as a big date display, created such a craze that it quickly gained followers.

If you love watches, you'll want to get your hands on the LANGE1

Eventually, boutiques specializing in this watch opened in Japan, and I was fortunate enough to eventually be able to get my hands on one of these wonderful watches, which I still wear today.

It is a model with a pink gold case and a black dial that gives it a bold look, and it still retains its appeal even after nearly 30 years.

Another highlight of this watch is the beautifully finished movement, which can be seen through the sapphire crystal caseback.

One of the attractions of this timepiece is the traditional three-quarter style bridge that follows the tradition of German watches from the pocket watch era, the screw balance that precisely controls the balance wheel, known as chiraneshi in Japan, and the balance bridge that supports that balance, all of which are hand-carved with traditional arabesque patterns.

It is packed with details that will delight those who appreciate classic watches, such as a regulator system called a swan neck.

Since the first LANGE1, many variations have been created, including models with moon phase displays, perpetual calendar displays, and even world time displays.

The two models created to commemorate the 30th anniversary are one with a platinum case and an onyx dial, and one with a pink gold case and a blue dial, and four different sizes have also been released.

Created as a symbol of a unified Germany, the LANGE1 has many fans, and when it is put up for auction at Antiquorum, Phillips, Sotheby's, etc., it often sells for higher than the estimate.

This is entirely due to the precision of craftsmanship and bold appearance of German watches.

Since its shocking debut 30 years ago, this watch has become more and more attractive, and there are sure to be many people who are fascinated by it.

What is "Takeshi Matsuyama: What connects people and time"?

A series in which Takeshi Matsuyama, a pioneering Japanese watch journalist, introduces the stories behind watches, people, and brands that he is drawn to from his own unique perspective.

Author profile

Japanese lyricist, writer, and editor. Born in Kyoto in 1946. In 1968, he wrote "Yopparai Returns" with his friends Kazuhiko Kato and Osamu Kitayama of The Folk Crusaders, which became a million-seller. In the 1970s, he was involved in the launch of magazines such as "Popeye" and "Brutus" published by Heibonsha (now Magazine House). Since the 70s, he has been fascinated by the world of mechanical watches, and has been promoting the appeal of watches. His many books include "Porridge of Wisdom and Tea of ​​Thought," "Great Japan Doraku Travelogue," and the play series "Chaai" and "Ororoji."