A. Lange & Söhne’s storied history dates back to 1845, when Ferdinand A. Lange established his workshop in the German town of Glashütte. One of Lange’s early innovations was the three-quarter plate, a superlatively stable structure that remains a fixture of the brand’s movements today. He was the first watchmaker to adopt the metric system and an early advocate for dividing labor, so that specialists could hone their skills on individual components. The manufacture’s exceptional pocket-watches were prized by Europe’s elite, including Emperor Wilhelm II and the Russian imperial family. Lange’s sons continued to maintain the brand’s excellence until World War II unleashed chaos. On the very last day of the war, A. Lange & Söhne’s workshops were destroyed in a bomb raid. In the following years, the Lange family were expropriated and the company was possessed by the East German state. 100 years after it was founded, the brand ostensibly vanished. It was not until 1990 that, after the fall of the Iron Curtain, that Ferdinand Lange’s great-grandson was able to return to Glashütte and revive the legendary family business. The newly invigorated A. Lange & Söhne debuted its first creations in 1994, beginning with the now-iconic Lange 1. Drawing inspiration from the brand’s historic pocket-watches, the Lange 1 exemplifies an A. Lange & Söhne signature: superior legibility. Thanks to the decentralized displays on the dial and an oversized date inspired by Dresden’s Semper Opera House (which Ferdinand Lange worked on as a watchmaking apprentice), the watch is elegantly efficient. Other coveted models include the Zeitwerk, the first mechanical timepiece with a jumping numeric time display, and the Grand Complication, which boasts chronograph, perpetual calendar, moon phase and minute-repeater functions.

A. Lange & Söhne

Important Watches

Dial: silvered Calibre: cal. L043.2 manual winding, 78 jewels Movement number: 110'090 Case: 18k pink gold, sapphire crystal display case back secured by 6 screws Case number: 226'999 Closure: 18k pink gold A. Lange & Söhne buckle Size: 44 mm diameter Signed: case, dial and movement Accessories: A. Lange & Söhne Guarantee, instruction manual, leather bifold, polishing cloth, pouch and presentation box with outer packaging

View 1 of Lot 155: Zeitwerk Striking Time, Reference 145.032 | A pink gold hour and quarter striking wristwatch with digital time display and power reserve indication | Circa 2017

zeitwerk striking time, reference 145.032 | a pink gold hour and quarter striking wristwatch with digital time display and power reserve indication | circa 2017

Dial: grey silver Calibre: cal. L043.8 manual winding, 70 jewels Movement number: 149'697 Case: 18k white gold, sapphire crystal display case back secured by 6 screws Case number: 258'798 Closure: 18k white gold A. Lange & Söhne double-folding clasp Size: 44.2 mm diameter Signed: case, dial and movement Accessories: A. Lange & Söhne Guarantee, original invoice, instruction manual, leather bifold, three polishing cloths including a numbered one and presentation box with outer packaging Please note the leather strap derived from endangered species is for display purposes only and is not sold with the watch. The watch will be shipped with a Sotheby’s branded calf leather strap.

View 1 of Lot 153: Zeitwerk Date, Reference 148.038 | A white gold wristwatch with digital time display, power reserve and date  | Circa  2022

zeitwerk date, reference 148.038 | a white gold wristwatch with digital time display, power reserve and date | circa 2022

The <a href="https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/luxury/watches/watch?creators=A.%2520Lange%2520%2526%2520S%25C3%25B6hne" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">A. Lange &amp; Söhne</a> Zeitwerk collection is a distinctive and innovative series of watches introduced in 2009. It stands out with its digital hour and minute display, resembling a mechanical interpretation of a digital clock. The design inspiration for the Zeitwerk collection comes from a historic "digital clock" located in the Dresden Semper Opera House. The brand's watchmakers and movement engineers took inspiration from this historic timekeeping device and translated its essence into a contemporary wristwatch. The watch also features a traditional analog subsidiary seconds dial and a power reserve indicator, blending modernity with traditional watchmaking elements. In 2011, A. Lange &amp; Söhne took the Zeitwerk into unexpected territory with the introduction of a chiming complication, ushering the collection into the world of musical timepieces. The present example, the Zeitwerk Striking Time Ref. 145.025, showcases this innovation with a mechanical striking mechanism that sounds every 15 minutes. A single high-pitched chime marks each quarter hour, while a deeper tone signals the top of the hour. This acoustic feature can be engaged or silenced at the wearer’s discretion, adding both charm and functionality. Notably, the Zeitwerk Striking Time holds the distinction of being the first mechanical watch to combine jumping numerals with a visible chiming mechanism. This particular version is limited to just 100 pieces. Includes A. Lange &amp; Söhne box and papers, offered on a bespoke Jean Rousseau green leather strap.

Zeitwerk Striking Time 'Acoustique' Limited Edition (Reference 145.025). A 44mm platinum manual wind wristwatch with power reserve and striking time chime.

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