A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Chronograph 414.028

1815 Chronograph — 414.028

The 1815 Chronograph holds a special place for me, as it was the very first article I wrote for Langepedia.com. Years on, my love for this collection has only grown.

The story starts in 2004, when Lange answered collectors who wanted a purer, thinner chronograph than the Datograph. The first generation had a vintage charm, a deeply layered dial and a sloped pulsometer scale, but it was a busy design and ran on the L951.0 with 36 hours of reserve. In 2010 the second generation cleaned everything up. The pulsometer disappeared, the sub-dials grew, and the new L951.5 brought 60 hours and an in-house free-sprung balance. It was beautiful, but some of the original character went missing. The third generation, launched with the Boutique Edition in 2015, finally combined the best of both worlds. The pulsometer and the depth returned, the larger sub-dials stayed, and the L951.5 kept ticking inside.

The 414.028 arrived in 2017 and quickly became the icon of the family. It was the first 1815 Chronograph to pair a white metal case with a black dial, a combination previously reserved for the Datograph. White gold with black is a rare occurrence in the Lange universe, and here it gives the watch a stealthy, almost aggressive look that no other 1815 has.

On the wrist, it is the sweet spot. At 39.5 x 11.1mm, the size is just right, slim enough to slide under a cuff and substantial enough to feel serious. It is sporty thanks to the black dial and the pulsometer, yet elegant thanks to the notched, polished lugs and the layered dial. The flyback and the jumping minute counter are a joy to operate, and flipping it over reveals one of the finest chronograph movements ever made. For this level of craft, it remains one of the best value propositions in the Lange catalogue.

This example is in like-new condition and comes with its original box and papers. Sold at The Selection, at Langepedia.com in October 2026.