With a reduced case diameter of 36mm, this "Little" Lange 1 was introduced shortly after the release of the original design, targeted at collectors seeking a more modest case size. Believed to only have been produced for a handful of years, the watch invokes a distinctly vintage feel thanks to its size and styling.
Shortly after the inception of the Lange 1, the brand introduced the "Little" Lange 1, with a reduced case diameter of 36mm, down from the 38.5mm of the original. This was done following requests understood to have originally come from Japanese collectors, who appreciated the pared back asymmetrical design, but were after a more conservative case size. Considering just how influential the Asian market was at the time, A. Lange & Söhne decided to entertain this unusual request, adapting their design to a smaller size.
Introduced in 1998, it is believed that the "Little" Lange 1 was only produced for a small handful of years. The size was then entirely discontinued, until A. Lange & Söhne brought it back a few years later, though this time with designs clearly aimed at female collectors. The watch possesses an extremely classical style, combining a yellow-gold case and silvered dial to produce a more traditional look. Each of the accents, including the index markers and the frame of the date window, are also rendered in yellow gold.
Overall, the decentralised design of the Lange 1 has been subtly adapted to the smaller size of the “Little” Lange 1. In order to keep the design as slender as possible, we see that the pusher to adjust the date – which is usually found on the left-hand side – has been replaced with a small corrector which sits flush against the case. Turning the watch over, we also see that the movement occupies more space relative to the larger Lange 1 designs.
Closer look
| Brand: |
A. Lange & Söhne |
| Model: |
“Little” Lange 1, Ref. 111.021 |
| Movement: |
Manual-winding calibre L.901.0 |
| Functions: |
Date, hours, minutes, sub-seconds, power reserve indicator |
| Case material: |
Yellow gold |
| Case diameter: |
36mm |
| Crystal: |
Sapphire front and back |
| Strap: |
Grey nubuck calf strap from our own collection, yellow gold A Lange & Söhne buckle |
| Lug width: |
19mm |
| Year: |
2002 (sold) |
| Box & papers: |
Box, well documented service history, original purchase receipt at Wempe, Certificate and Guarantee, Lange 1 booklet |
This A Lange & Söhne Little Lange 1 is in very good condition overall, having been serviced by the manufacture in July 2022. The case was sensitively refurbished, with the hallmarks and engravings remaining crisp and well defined. The watch has remained unworn since.
The watch comes with a two-year warranty from A. Lange & Söhne.
