A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Moonphase
A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Moonphase
2017 GPHG Men's Category Finalist
Winning through to the final six contenders in the fiercely contested 2017 GPHG Men's category could almost be considered a victory in its own right, but the Lange 1 Moonphase by A. Lange & Söhne will be hoping to progress one step further.
In terms of sheer standards of watchmaking, and the respect their name commands, the German company A. Lange & Söhne have very few equals, and so the very presence of one of their watches in the GPHG awards sends an ominous message to the competing brands. That the Lange 1 Moonphase is a masterpiece of complexity and technical endeavour is already a given, yet it is the realisation of an innovation which derives from a concept of almost childlike simplicity which brings something new and wonderful to the moonphase display.
Almost without exception, the classic moonphase has been portrayed against a starry night sky on a dark blue disc, which would complete a rotation once every second lunar cycle, so be it day or night, the background was always nighttime. In combining the moonphase with another indication, Lange have devised a day and night background disc which rotates every 24 hours, so as the day breaks the stars disappear, replaced by a clear blue sky, until returning into view as night falls again. Above, and independent of the disc, the orbiting moons pass above a changing sky in a stunning visual display.
Yes, the moonphase has been interpreted in a thousand different ways, and yes technically it's not quite on the same plinth as say the perpetual calendar or tourbillon, but in this new arrangement by A. Lange & Söhne it has been reimagined and enhanced, and, coupled to the fact that elsewhere the Lange 1 Moonphase features all of the brand's uncompromising quality signatures, including the recent L.121.3 calibre with its double mainspring and mesmerising large balance, it has to be a strong contender for the Men's Aiguille award, just as its little sister is in the Ladies category for the Little Lange 1.
So will it win the cherished award at the gala event? Well, for certain it has a lot of competition here, and each rival has its own highly notable merits, but Lange & Söhne are no strangers to success here in the GPHG, and rarely leave empty handed.
The Watch Press prediction
Strong contender for category honours.
The pertinents
REFERENCE: 192029
CASE: White gold
BRACELET/STRAP: Leather
BUCKLE: Pin buckle
MOVEMENT: Manual winding mechanical. Power reserve: 72 h, 21'600 vph
FUNCTIONS: Hours, Minutes, Seconds, Date, Moonphase, Power Reserve
SIZE: ø 38.5 mm
THICKNESS: 10.2 mm
WATERPROOFNESS: 30 m
PRICE EXCL.VAT: CHF 48'500
Returning to the scene of previous glories, Kari Voutilainen and his remarkable 28ISO watch will be a cause for concern for the rival contestants in the 2017 GPHG Men's category. Requiring a degree of cerebral juggling to understand its subtle but unconventional nuances, it's as fascinating as it is beautiful.