'Small MiG' 111.021 A. Lange & Söhne Little Lange 1

The start of the Little Lange 1 has not been as widely studied as the classic 38.5mm case, but it is quite fascinating. This is the first generation model, a ref. 111.021, the yellow and gold champagne dialed start of Little Lange 1. Introduced in 1998, it aimed to bring harmony of a Lange to a 36mm case largely to meet pent-up demand in Japan and Singapore. The date pusher was axed in favor of a pin pusher, in order to keep proportions symmetrical. Production ceased just a couple years later (most believe 2001). If a Lange 1 could become even more classical, this is the result.

The header photo is supplemental, courtesy of a prior sale by A Collected Man. Other photography is of the example on market today from Perpetual

The early Little Lange 1 collection mirrored the classic-sized catalogue, but with the 111 in place of 101 prefix. However, they didn’t sell nearly as well. This is why many productions were made for just a couple years, as is the case here. Lange trusted the influence of the Asian market, and it importance was paramount particularly at the time. Yet, once saturated, the demand flattened. This led to a quick introduction of exotic materials with mother of pearl dials, gem-set cases, and limited editions like the 182.066.

The design of the Lange 1 itself was originally conceived in the early 1990s under Günter Blümlein, with execution by the A. Lange & Söhne team as the brand re-emerged after German reunification. The Little Lange 1 was therefore not a reinterpretation by a later generation, but a direct downsizing of one of modern watchmaking’s most deliberate designs. In fact, Because the Little Lange 1 shared nearly all of its finishing and machining processes with the full-size Lange 1 while selling in far lower volumes, its production cost relative to retail was reportedly higher—making it one of the least commercially efficient watches Lange produced in the late 1990s.

Yet, the initial models such as the 111.021 or 111.035 ‘Darth’ are amongst some of the rarest and loveliest Langes made. There are also unusual aesthetics like a 111.031 pink gold with black dial. Little Lange 1 collecting hasn’t really taken off yet, and it’s a fascinating category to consider. Particularly first generation and origins.

This example looks strong overall, with good lugs and a perfectly clean dial. It comes with its complete set from a well-regarded UK retailer.