Mythos and inspiration

The new LANGE 1 in white gold is just around the corner

The LANGE 1 in a white-gold case

Family member from the early days and historic catalyst: the LANGE 1 on a drawing of the five-minute clock

Glashütte, February 2016

The LANGE 1 owes its recognition to the asymmetric dial design and the prominent Lange outsize date. It was inspired by the five-minute clock in the Dresden Semper Opera House, which, for 175 years, has been a hallmark of the world-famous operatic venue.

Some ideas are so persuasive that they can survive catastrophes and retain their fascination even 175 years after they premiered. One of them is the five-minute clock in the Semper Opera House that displays the time digitally. Aloft over the stage, it indicates the time in an artistically framed double aperture: the hours in Roman numerals on the left, the minutes – in intervals of five – in Arabic numerals on the right. Every evening, the operagoers wait patiently for the minute display to switch from 55 to the blank white field, because the performances always begin at the top of the hour.