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. This reference 111.032 has a more traditional look, with a rose gold case and silvered dial. Each of the accents, including the index markers and the date window frame are rendered in rose 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.
The watch still makes use of the classic Lange 1 movement, the calibre L901.0, which is finished to the same high standards that can be found on all A. Lange & Söhne watches. The aesthetics of the movement are just as impressive as the mechanics, with chamfering and interior angles superbly hand-finished.
If sold within the United Kingdom, this A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 will be subject to 20% VAT