In White Gold with a Grey dial, the Grand Lange 1 137.038 is the cooler of the two references that introduced the third generation of A. Lange & Söhne's larger Lange 1 at Watches and Wonders 2022. The Grand Lange 1 first appeared in 2003 for collectors who loved the Lange 1 of 1994 but wanted its design on a more generous scale, and it has been refined twice since. In 2012 it received a movement of its own, which placed its displays so they no longer overlapped, and in 2022 the manufacture reduced the height of its case by 0.6 mm, to 8.2 mm, while keeping that movement, an achievement made possible by reworking the dial and case construction. At the same time Lange gave the watch a Grey dial with a sandy, granular surface, a texture unusual in the collection. Interestingly, the same grey dial is used for both the White Gold and Rose Gold versions, yet the different metals of the markers and hands make them appear quite distinct: in White Gold, the grey reads as cool and technical, giving this reference a crisp, understated modernity that suits the architectural character of the Lange 1 design.
The White Gold case is 41 mm in diameter and 8.2 mm high, a combination of size and slimness that gives the watch a strong presence on the wrist without bulk. The case alternates polished and brushed surfaces, and a narrow rectangular pusher on the flank advances the date. The solid silver dial is treated in grey with a fine-grained matte texture that softens reflections and makes the applied elements stand out. Its recessed subdials, decorated with concentric grooves, are joined to the main surface by gently bevelled edges. The off-centre hour and minute display on the left carries White Gold Roman numerals and lozenge-shaped markers, applied at about half the usual height to save space, and on the right the outsize date, the power-reserve indicator and the small seconds follow a vertical line. Viewed together with the hour and minute display, they form an isosceles triangle, the geometric principle behind the Lange 1's balanced asymmetry. White Gold hands complete the cool palette. Black alligator, fastened with a White Gold prong buckle, reinforces its monochrome, modern character and gives it a formal edge.
Inside is the hand-wound movement introduced for the Grand Lange 1 in 2012. Its hand arbors are positioned slightly further apart than those of the Lange 1 movement, which allows the displays to be spread proportionately across the larger dial. The movement consists of 397 parts and uses two mainspring barrels to run for 72 hours, three full days, with the AUF/AB indicator showing how much energy remains. The outsize date is displayed by a cross for the tens and a disc for the units, sitting side by side so both numerals can be unusually large. Pulling the crown halts the balance and the small seconds for exact setting. Through the sapphire caseback, the movement displays traditional Glashütte construction and finishing: plates and bridges of untreated German silver decorated with Glashütte ribbing, screwed gold chatons, and a freehand-engraved balance cock carrying a swan-neck spring for fine regulation. It is assembled twice, in accordance with Lange's long-standing practice, before it is cased and tested again.
The Lange 1 was one of the four watches that relaunched A. Lange & Söhne in Dresden in 1994, and its design has since inspired an entire family. The Grand Lange 1, introduced in 2003, was the family's answer to the growing appetite for larger watches, and its development shows how carefully Lange refines its designs over time. The first version used the Lange 1 movement in a larger case, causing the displays to overlap; the 2012 version introduced a dedicated movement to restore the classic separation; and the 2022 version pared back the case to make the watch slimmer than ever while giving it a contemporary textured dial. This third generation replaced the previous models, and it was launched in White Gold and Rose Gold with the same grey dial. The White Gold 137.038 offers the most modern and restrained interpretation of the Grand Lange 1, its cool tones emphasising the geometry of the design rather than the warmth of the metal. Each refinement has been subtle, but together they have made the larger model as harmonious as the original.
The 137.038 appeals to collectors who want the Lange 1's distinctive design with a larger dial and a remarkably slim profile. Its White Gold case and textured grey dial give it a contemporary, understated elegance that works with a suit as well as with more relaxed clothing, and its 41 mm size provides presence without excess. The outsize date and indicator of remaining running time are genuinely useful, and the hand-wound movement offers the pleasure of daily winding. It will interest collectors who follow Lange's design evolution, those who appreciate modern dial finishes, and those seeking a Lange 1 that differs from the classic silver-dialled models. For a Lange collection, it offers the family's defining design in its most contemporary form; for a single watch, it combines a strong identity, refined proportions and outstanding craftsmanship. Its understated palette also makes it an easy companion to other watches, never competing for attention yet always recognisable at a glance.
