A. Lange & Söhne Grand Lange 1 "Dubail" Edition 117.040

Grand Lange 1 "Dubail" Edition — 117.040

It is tough to create something on the Lange 1 base. No matter what comes, it will always be compared to that watch's absolute perfection of design and proportion. From the complications to the differently sized alternatives, almost all editions have had to contend with such a behemoth of an inspiration. Arguably, some elevated it, while others departed to become something else entirely, and some simply did their best with limited possibilities. The latter was the case for the first generation of the Grand Lange 1. Housed in a 41.9 mm case but still built around the caliber L901.0 — originally crafted for the 38.5 mm Lange 1 — the first generation carried overlapping sub-dials and a date window positioned perhaps too close to the center for comfort, completely overturning the signature "no-overlap" ideal of the original Lange 1.

It was wound down after a few years, and in the early 2010s, the second and current generation of the Grand Lange 1 arrived with a proprietary movement. It became the enlarged Lange 1, with slight tweaks to its proportions and a flatter case. There have been some adventurous, exotic, or tasteful editions released over these two decades, but in my opinion, few — if any — come close to the Grand Lange 1 Dubail Edition.

Dubail is one of the most storied names in French luxury — a house founded in Paris in 1893 that has remained independent and uncompromisingly selective across more than a century. Their collaboration with A. Lange & Söhne produced one of the most quietly extraordinary Grand Lange 1 variants in the model's history: white gold case, blue mother of pearl dial, a continuation of the famous 110.049. The pale iridescence of mother of pearl plays differently against white gold than it would against yellow or rose — cooler, more formal. The blue hue deepens the effect further, giving the dial an almost atmospheric quality that shifts with the angle of light. On paper, it reads as a colour combination. On the wrist, it becomes an entirely different watch with every tilt of the wrist.

At just 25 pieces total, the Grand Lange 1 "Dubail" Edition 117.040 is among the most restricted boutique references A. Lange & Söhne has ever produced. This example, sourced from its original owner with box and papers intact, sold at Langepedia.com in August 2026.