A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 "Floral" 112.046
History became legend, legend became myth..
With thanks to a dear friend for the watch and @scatteringphotos for the incredible captures.
There was a period of A. Lange & Söhne… A dear friend who lent this piece for our pleasure often refers to it as the “independent” era. I believe we can mark the period from 1994 to about 2008–2009. This is the window in which an A. Lange & Söhne collector can find the most obscure, most daring, most “non–A. Lange & Söhne” watches the brand has ever created—just because they felt like it. And no, not only at the Handwerkskunst level—these gems were accessible, featured right on the front pages of the catalogues.
I’m talking about the 1815 Side Step Wempe Edition… or the Emil Lange Moonphase. Or the Richard Lange “ReferenzUhr”… Even the basic Lange 1 models, but with those brushed, incredibly contrasting dials of the Darth or the 101.027. I connect this to none other than Günter Blümlein and his team’s free, daring spirit at the time. He knew that A. Lange & Söhne had to try and expand its boundaries. And he and the team just played—with the dials, the movement decorations, even making some movement parts of solid gold for a piece or two. When clients visited the manufacture, he was ready to entertain ideas for alternate dials, unique pieces, etc.
Among all those editions though, a few stand out even further, and the “Japanese Special Edition” phenomenon speaks even louder. To touch on it briefly, the JSE phenomenon simply means that the special edition pieces made for the Japanese market are often better at what they are trying to be—be it simplicity or, in this case, austerity. There are countless examples of this, from Breguet to Ulysse Nardin to Lange; and from within A. Lange & Söhne’s catalogue, the Lange 1 Floral set seems to be the most definitive of that claim.
So, what is this?
This is an A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 “Floral,” reference 112.046, made for the Japanese market in 2007 as part of a limited edition of 25 sets—each comprising a Lange 1 (112.046) and its counterpart in the Little Lange 1 size (111.046). The photographed piece here is the classic Lange 1 size, and before diving into the watch itself, I must say this: I am desperately looking for the Little Lange 1 pair of this gem—so if you have one, please do reach out!
From the top or in profile, one would think that the Lange 1 Floral features a standard Lange 1 case—with a rounded and rather wide bezel, a brushed mid-band, and sharply notched, angular lugs. Yet when you take this watch in your hands, you’ll immediately feel a curious additional weight. Even more so when it’s strapped to your wrist—something gently bumps against your skin. Smooth, yes, but… not like glass. And then you turn it over, only to witness one of the finest examples of engraving and handcraft ever to leave the modern A. Lange & Söhne manufacture.
The random hammering and rich patterns. All the craft from the Saxon.
The coat of arms of Glashütte, Saxony.
Glashütte’s city origins trace back to 1506, when Duke George the Bearded of Saxony granted it city rights following the discovery of silver in the nearby Ore Mountains. The two hammers on the crest date back to the 15th century, symbolizing the town’s early prosperity through iron mining. Alas, the mineral veins were shallow compared to the rest of the Erzgebirge region, and Glashütte remained a modest, sparsely populated town.
That all changed in 1845, when Ferdinand Adolph Lange arrived with a state grant from the Saxon court, determined to transform the town’s future. With him began the story of German precision watchmaking. As a nod to this new identity, the sundial motif was added to the Glashütte coat of arms in 1912, positioned beneath the hammers—symbolizing the town’s transition from mining to timekeeping.
What we see here is a work reminiscent of the Handwerkskunst pieces. On the outermost circle of the caseback, we find the logo, engraved directly onto the solid gold cover—much like on the first-generation Lange 1 models. Just below the logo, the caseback number identifies the series. Moving inward, instead of relying on simple stamping, A. Lange & Söhne’s craftsmen went to some of the most extreme lengths I’ve ever seen in the brand’s modern era. The entire Glashütte coat of arms is relief-engraved: the sundial and iron hammers are brightly polished, while the remaining elements are decorated with contrasting textures and engraving patterns. All of this is framed by a deep, hand-hammered finish.
See, this is exactly what I’d love to see carried into the standard collections as well. Another case where the brand truly unleashed what’s possible can be found in the movement engraving of the 1815 “Side Step” Wempe Edition. Sadly, such adventurous executions have all but disappeared—apart from the occasional Handwerkskunst model. And that’s a bit unfortunate, because works like this bring immeasurable joy not just to Lange collectors, but to anyone who loves watches.
A delightful pattern we’ve seen in early Lange 1 models… Starting in 1998 with the Lange 1A, reference 112.021, A. Lange & Söhne was never shy about using unconventional patterns on the already audacious Lange 1 canvas. From the guilloché of 1998, to the Lange 1 Sincere Edition with its pinstripe finish over white gold in 2003, and perhaps one of the most interesting of them all—the hobnail dial of the Lange 1 made for Oeding Erdel in 2005.
112.047
112.021
112.049
Lange 1 "Floral" - The Dial
The Lange 1 Floral is, dare I say, the most charming of them all.
Lange connoisseurs will immediately recognize the pattern. Indeed, it is the same base motif used on the balance cocks since 1994. And just like those individualized balance engravings, you’ll never see two Lange 1 Florals with identical dials. While the floral pattern forms the foundation, a curve here, a flourish there, a deeper notch or a slightly larger flower always appears—making each and every piece truly unique.
The sub-dials are decorated with concentric circles, further contrasting against the deep floral engravings, and are framed with thin golden borders. The logo and inscriptions sit atop a flat gold surface. The big date is bordered by a slightly thicker golden rectangle. Along the outer edges of the inscriptions, you’ll notice single-strike engravings—a fantastic sight that reveals the precise cut of the burin tool. Some strikes are just a notch shorter, others a touch deeper… The entire engraving feels like one continuous pattern, seamlessly merging with the surrounding gold borders and flowing as a single, cohesive piece. Just exquisite design and craftsmanship all around.
Albeit I never spoke to a Lange executive from that era on the choice of floral engravings on the dial, I wanted to consult with a Japanese friend of mine, who is surely one of the greatest A. Lange & Söhne collectors in the world. He gracefully responded, why Lange might have opted for such design, and what this watch means to him and his culture.
I paraphrased and edited for the clarity:
“To a Western eye, the dial may appear as nothing more than ornate floral engraving of exquisite hand craft—but to a Japanese collector, it speaks in a deeper, more symbolic language. In Japan, flowers are not mere decoration; each bloom carries meaning through the tradition of Hanakotoba, and even abstract motifs—like those reminiscent of the chrysanthemum—convey grace, longevity, and nobility. Beyond this, there is an even older belief that resonates through the soul of this watch: the Japanese view that everything, even inanimate objects, possesses a spirit—a concept known as tsukumogami. When an object is crafted with care, imbued with character, and treasured over time, it gains a soul of its own. When I look at this set, it reminds me of the soul it has with each stroke of the burin and the meaning that I deem it conveys.”
Well then, what to pay for such a beauty—assuming one ever finds one?
There are only a few reference points from which we can draw some conclusions. We can look at references with a similar livery and/or comparable rarity, which still carry that same exotic, elevated package.
One is the Lange 1A – reference 112.021. Limited to 100 pieces, it features a guilloché solid gold dial and solid gold balance and escape wheel cocks, giving the piece an incredible flair. The buzz around this reference really began in 2022, when A. Lange & Söhne reached peak popularity in the pre-owned market. While it had mostly been trading around $50k in the late 2010s, things shifted dramatically when a piece sold at Dr. Crott’s auction in 2022 for €116,000 (including premium)—an unprecedented figure for a Lange 1, excluding steel or unique variants. In the two years that followed, a few more examples changed hands, likely encouraged by that strong result. Christie’s and Phillips each sold examples around CHF 75k, and then again in 2025, Christie’s achieved a very strong CHF 113k.
Another important benchmark is the very recent Lange 1 made for Oeding Erdel, pictured above as part of the trio. Limited to just 10 pieces, and featuring surely one of the most interesting Lange 1 dials ever made, Phillips sold one example in November 2024 at CHF 114k. That might sound high—but what are the chances you’ll ever see another one?
In this context, the Lange 1 Floral—with its absolutely exquisite dial, unique caseback engraving, and incredible elusiveness—is simply a matter of paying or selling at a number that makes sense to you. The benchmarks above should provide some guidance. And lastly, of course—the steel ones. I think the steel Lange 1s are the ultimate Lange 1s for the insider, the most experienced A. Lange & Söhne collector. These exotic gems, however, speak not just to the seasoned Lange connoisseur, but to anyone who searches beauty in context, an official rarity and a soul in craftsmanship.
Thanks for reading.
I hope this was a valuable guide for whomever is looking for Lange 1 “Floral” or just want to learn the details and history of these gems. If you’d like to chat, sell or buy a Lange 1 “Floral” , please kindly reach out to me via alp@langepedia.com
Please feel free to contact:
Follow Langepedia on Instagram:
Watch “A. Lange Story” Documentary, in partnership with The 1916 Company:
STAY IN TOUCH
Sign up for the newsletter to get to know first about rare pieces at Marketplace and in-depth articles added to the encyclopedia, for you to make the most informed choice, and first access!