Lange 1 - Solid caseback

Greatpa · Sep 12, 2020

This thread is merely created to gather information and to keep track of the early A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 fitted with closed caseback.
Information will be primarily be focused on reference 101.001 and 101.002 found in a yellow gold case.

Other references with solid caseback are 101.005, 101.007, 101.011.(*)

The Lange 1 was introduced in 1994 together with three other family of watches. The first Lange 1 watch was equipped with solid caseback. Soon after in 1995 the company of Lange also introduced a transparent caseback (ref. 101.021 and 101.022.)(**)

Solid caseback models were produced for roughly three years 1994-1997. How many watches did actually leave the factory of Glashütte? Maybe 200-300, but here your guess is as good as mine.(***)

(*) source 1: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...AkR_pfAPEjNTD7zo2FK7r0W8ZI/edit#gid=775839619)
(**) source 2: https://100percentpassion.net/2015/05/06/lange-1-die-referenzen/)
(***) source 3: https://forums.timezone.com/index.php?t=tree&goto=7094990&rid=12189)

Greatpa · Sep 12, 2020

In October 2019 the online magazine of Hodinkee writes an article highlighting that "Three of the best Lange 1s ever made are up for sale..."(*)
Among the three Lange 1 is the reference 101.001 with solid caseback. The German based auction house Dr. Crott is offering an example with box and papers estimated to sell between €10-15.000. The auction takes place in November 2019 and the watch hammers at €40.000.(**).

(*) source 1: https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/lange-1-honey-gold-steel-closed-back
(**) source 2: https://www.uhren-muser.de/en/img.h...&tmfilter=&mfilter=Lange &txtfilter=#startlot

Greatpa · Sep 12, 2020

Again on June 29th 2020 Dr. Crott is offering an example of the A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 reference 101.001. The watch is sold with both box and papers, but this time has an estimate of €20-25.000. The hammer goes down and the Lange 1 sells for €37.500.(*)
This auction presumably received less media coverage prior to the auction date compared to Dr. Crott last auction back in November 2019. This could explain the small difference in auction results.

(*) source 1: https://www.uhren-muser.de/en/51392/lange-soehne-lange-1-wristwatch#startlot

Marsimaxam · Sep 12, 2020

Both beautiful watches, and the difference of 2.5 Euro is not that significant in my opinion in an auction where so many variables come in to play. The on going pandemic also could have had influence on the bidders. Both sold for substantially over the auction house's estimate.

Greatpa · Sep 20, 2020

September 20th 2020:

Available from a German based dealer is an used example of the A. Lange & Söhne reference 101.005. It comes with neither box or papers, and is priced at €49.890. (*)
Including the solid case back, this is the the first Lange 1 with a case made out of platinum. Compared to its siblings 101.001 and 101.002 introduced in 1994, the price of the platinum version was 44% higher. The price for gold vs. platinum translates into $19,800 versus $28.600.(**)

(*) source 1: https://www.colognewatch.de/kd4692
(**) source 2: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...AkR_pfAPEjNTD7zo2FK7r0W8ZI/edit#gid=775839619

chichi · Sep 24, 2020

25000 to 30000 USD is a fair price for a normal Lange One Platinum with see through case back.

Greatpa · Nov 16, 2020

6th - 7th Novemeber 2020

At Phillips' Geneva Watch Auction a Lange 1 reference 101.001 with box and papers hammered for CHF50.400 (≈€46.000) including buyer's premium.
Apart from the original solid gold caseback this set included a transparent caseback. The additional transparent caseback had engraved matching serial number on it, indicating that the owner had it fitted to the watch at a later point. Considering the level of quality and detail of a Lange movement you can understand the urge to mount a display caseback. (*)

(*) source 1: https://www.phillips.com/detail/a-lange-sohne/CH080220/83/

spin_transistor · Nov 16, 2020

Lange 1’s are really lovely in all configurations. Crazy some models can still be had for just under $17k (not the closed back versions certainly), which is a quite the bargain given what other vintage watches can trade for.

Greatpa · Dec 20, 2020

20th December 2020
European Watch Company offers an A. Lange & Söhne reference 101.001 accompanied by the original box and certificate. The solid gold case of this example seems to be in original shape and left unpolished prior to the sale. The set demands a price of $69.500 (≈€56.000).(*)

(*) source 1: https://www.europeanwatch.com/watch...T-SERIES-EARLY-Lange-1-101.001-18K-36454.html

spin_transistor · Dec 20, 2020

Another 101.001 with the solid case back sold in auction over the weekend for 24.5k euro before buyer’s premium (and import duties, if sending to US/outside of Germany).

rough conversion:
24.5k x 1.29 for BP = 31,605 x 1.226 = $38,740

Duties at no less than 3% brings it all to 39,902 / I’m sure there are % I’m missing in the total.

When compared with EWC’s offering, there is certainly some upside for buying at auction and handling the logistics yourself.

justcruisin · Mar 4, 2021

My AD had a unique piece with a solid case back and an incredibly complex dragon etched into the caseback by Lange. Screwed down, no access to see the movement inside. Lange 1 Moonphase.

smoothsecondscom · Mar 4, 2021

Perhaps a bit off topic, but i'm curious. Is it normal for lange's to keep their value as well as this? Didn't know this was common apart from AP, VC, PP and Rolex.

justcruisin · Mar 4, 2021

EDIT - my comments below were on the non-solid caseback versions. The solid caseback versions do appear like they appreciated quite a bit 😀.

As a person that has been obsessively looking at pre-owned vs. new prices...apparently as of 2 years ago, pre-owned box and papers were ~50% of retail for Lange 1 at least. The piece I was looking at - 1998 Lange 1 rose was ~22k-24k pre-owned no box and papers from a very trusted reseller. Seems like prices have creeped up even over the last few months. I would have pulled the trigger on that had it not been for some new features on the moonphase in the 2017-current production.

It appears that 1815 line may hold its value better. The SS steel odysseus and some of the other more complicated (and more $$) watches seen to be appreciating.

Larry S · Mar 4, 2021

Lange does such pretty movements. Shame to cover them.

rcs914 · Mar 4, 2021

Greatpa
September 20th 2020:

Available from a German based dealer is an used example of the A. Lange & Söhne reference 101.005. It comes with neither box or papers, and is priced at €49.890. (*)
Including the solid case back, this is the the first Lange 1 with a case made out of platinum. Compared to its siblings 101.001 and 101.002 introduced in 1994, the price of the platinum version was 44% higher. The price for gold vs. platinum translates into $19,800 versus $28.600.(**)

(*) source 1: https://www.colognewatch.de/kd4692
(**) source 2: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...AkR_pfAPEjNTD7zo2FK7r0W8ZI/edit#gid=775839619

And yet today platinum is what? $600 an ounce less than gold? And yet a platinum watch is always FAR more expensive. I realize that there is a difference in the amount of gold at 18k and platinum that is contained, but not enough to explain the cost difference.

eugeneandresson · Mar 4, 2021

I don’t have much to contribute to this thread @Greatpa , but I dig your avatar which happens to be the album cover of one of my favorite albums 👍

KnoP · Mar 5, 2021

My father has a lange 01 with glass bottom... love it! Good luck with tracking the solid one!

spin_transistor · Mar 9, 2021

rcs914
And yet today platinum is what? $600 an ounce less than gold? And yet a platinum watch is always FAR more expensive. I realize that there is a difference in the amount of gold at 18k and platinum that is contained, but not enough to explain the cost difference.

More time and effort is required to manufacture platinum cases that may contribute to the overall watch cost.

Hodinkee posted an article on platinum cases ac while back: https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/the-pros-cons-cost-and-convoluted-history-of-platinum

Greatpa · Mar 19, 2021

18th March 2021
The company Chrono.dk offers an example of the reference 100.001 fra A. Lange & Söhne through site; chrono24.com. The watch is accompanied by boxes, original receipt, service papers (Wempe, 2018) and proof of origin documents.

No original certificate is offered with the watch.
Priced at roughly €80.000.*

(*) source 1: https://www.chrono24.com/alangesoehne/a-lange--soehne-lange-1---first-generation--id18828873.htm

Aludic · Mar 20, 2021

eugeneandresson
I don’t have much to contribute to this thread @Greatpa , but I dig your avatar which happens to be the album cover of one of my favorite albums 👍

Risking we’re going off topic here; that’s exactly what I’ve complemented @Greatpa on earlier! Good stuff and looking forward to the days when it can be enjoyed in good company, again. 😀