Measuring 38.5mm wide this rose gold encased watch is a proportional masterclass with a thin brushed case body fitted with straight lugs which hug the wrist from behind. From a top-down view, the watch is polished from bezel to lugs with the addition of tapering chamfers gently blending into the brushing seen from a profile view.

Let’s be honest though, the Lange 1 is all about two things, the dial and the movement. Right away it starts with the simplistic black dial is made from solid silver. Working around the dial clockwise the first novel feature is the double-digit date window which occupies the one o’clock position. Date windows are often less than favourable to many as their position and integration can feel like a bit of an afterthought, potentially included to boost the appeal of the watch rather than to boost the strength of the design. On the Lange 1 though it’s a different story as its inclusion is an incredibly logical and considered one. Stylistically taking inspiration from the Five-Minute Clock at Semper Opera House in Dresden, the date is adjusted through the pusher on the right-hand side of the case.

Moving further down the dial a neat vertical power reserve indicator label ‘AUF’ to ‘AB’ features gracefully displaying how long remains before it needs to be wound again. Taking a small step further down the dial even further reveals a subsidiary seconds dial with a purposefully stripped-back design to allow its elongated seconds hand with a long pointed counterbalance to take control. Just kissing the 10:30 placement of the seconds sub-dial is the ‘conventional’ dial that tells the current hours and minutes through multi-faceted alpha hands. Nothing here is overly elaborate as the 12, 3, 6, and 9 hour markers are applied Roman numerals with petite diamond-shaped markers to match. Wrapping back to the top of the dial is the A. Lange & Söhne branding printed in white to match the rest of the text found throughout the dial.

Lange’s understanding of the golden ratio enables the Lange 1 to confidently embrace the decentralisation of its features with the end result being a trailblazer of a timepiece that has set the modern watch collecting world on fire.