The original cast

The first watch they released was the phenomenal Lange 1. This wonder had an incredulous (patented) outsized date (this feature is now also seen in the Ulysee Nardin Pepetual Ludwid released in 1996 (which incidentally also filed for patent at the same time as the LMH Group), and the Glashutte Original Senator automatic released in 1997/98), a double barrel mainspring (giving it a power reserve of more than 72 hours),and revived the old 3/4 plate for anchoring the movement and excellent workmanship.

The 3/4 plate can be seen through the sapphire glass back. (see below for picture of this beautiful movement in the Lange 1A) This technique uses a large, stable plate (accounting for about 3/4 of the area of the movement, hence its name) for anchoring the movement, leaving only a cock for the fifth wheel, and the balance cock. However, this method presents some difficulty as it requires extreme precision, so that when the 3/4 plate is screwed into place, all the little moving parts fit properly with the required clearances. Typically, 3/4 plate arrangements are commonly found in high quality pocket watches.

This precision is afforded by the use of CNC Spark Erosion technology in the Glashutte manufacture, a procedure possible only in small production houses, as the time it takes to cut a stack of 6 plates runs from half an hour to 2 hours, depending on the complexity of the shape. In almost all other watches, these plates are stamped, a process which can allow thousands to be manufactured an hour. Click here for a tour of the Glashutte Factory

The watch shown on the left is the 101.032, a color combination which became available only in 1998.

The watch is available in pink gold, white gold, yellow gold, and platinum. And in two sizes: regular 38.5mm case diameter, and the Little 1 in 36.5mm diameter.Click here for technical details

The Tourbillon by Lange Uhren is another example of the supreme quality of the workmanship. The Pour La Merite (for the Merit) features a one minute tourbillon, and a fusee in chain. The latter is the first such occurance in a wristwatch. Fusees are usually found in pocket watches, where the case allows more space for the watchmaker to work on.

The planetery gear system which allows for the fusee to maintain power to the movement when the mainspring barrel is being wound is a work of art.Click here for a link to Walt Odet's illuminating article in Timezone where a description of how a fusee works is presented.

In the Lange Tourbillon, the fusee, which allows the mainspring to release its power uniformly throughout its length, is miniaturised within. The complexity is in the calculation of the exact size of the cone of the fusee, and the maintaining power mechanism which allows the watch to run while being wound.

In keeping with its high status, the balance endstones are diamond.

In my visit to the factory, it was revealed to me that all the Pour La Merites were assembled from start to finish by one master watchmaker, instead of assembly by specialist groups applicable to the other Langes.

The only ladies model in the collection, the Arkade is stunning with the outsized date, which seem to be quite impossible. If one uses a conventional date ring to present a date of the same size, the date ring would be at least double the size of the Arkade case. Available in various combinations, with or without subsidiary seconds hand, and with or without VVS diamonds encrusting the bezel.

This is also one of the few ladies watches to house a fine mechanical movement. Many watchmaking houses have felt that ladies watches need only to look good, be encased in jewellery, and often overlook the movement. For e.g. in Audemars Piguet's Royal Oak, all ladies versions of the famous watch hold quartz movements. Even for Patek Phillipe, only 2 watches from the Calatrava range and one from the Golden Elipse, the new (in 1997) moonphase, and the travel time (new in 1997) are found with a mechanical movement, all others feature quartz movements.