help needed on a very special Lange1

Dear Purists & Lange-lovers,

I am being offered a very early Lange 1 in YG, with quite unique caracteristics:

1- the watch is Ref. 101.001, which i understand is the very first model of the Lange 1

2- this reference is supposed to be solid caseback, but this watch has a saphire caseback (probably been changed)

3- the hands are YG

4- the serial number apparently shows that it is one of the first 1300 Lange 1 produced

5- the caliber number apparently shows that it is one of the first 1500 new-era Lange produced

6- the papers show that it was purchased in early 1996

7- finally, what most surprises me is that i thought this reference (the very first Lange 1, with the solid caseback) had champagne or argenté dials, but this watch has a black / dark blue dial...

Characteristic number 7 seems very strange to me... Does any one have any idea of how a 101.001 can have a black / dark blue dial? If yes, any idea on the number of units produced in this combination?

Many thanks to all who can help!

FRED

💰439 Marketplace Listings for A. Lange and Söhne›

Interesting topic.

By: marcelo : December 11th, 2011-05:03

Got no info to help but will follow it up.

Dear Fred....

By: foversta : December 11th, 2011-07:45

I use your message to answer you. I found the watch you are talking about. Dear Purists & Lange-lovers, I am being offered a very early Lange 1 in YG, with quite unique caracteristics: 1- the watch is Ref. 101.001, which i understand is the very first mod...

Merci François-Xavier!

By: passetemps : December 11th, 2011-08:21

This is very interesting and extremely helpful. Thank you so much, Fred

The only L1 in YG ...

By: small-luxury-world : December 11th, 2011-10:01

with blue dial, which I know looks like this: Any pictures to share? Oliver...

This one is the 101.028

By: foversta : December 11th, 2011-11:06

I send you a MP to make you see the watch we are talking about. So we have two options: the guy is selling a 101.028 and the watch was not bought in 1996 or he is selling a 101.001 which faced big changes (caseback and dial). So this is a strange situatio...

This is exactly what i thought...

By: passetemps : December 11th, 2011-14:24

But the caseback number matches the number on the certificate. And the certificate indicates that it is a ref. 101.001. Yet the dial looks pretty much like the 101.028. I don't see anyone changing both the dial and the caseback of a watch. Better flip the...

Contact the factory

By: le_chef : December 11th, 2011-14:48

Give them the serial number and ask them whether the watch was changed by the factory as a specific request or when it as serviced. their records should show if this was "official" work or not.

You know...

By: foversta : December 11th, 2011-14:50

As we thought with Oliver, changes of dial were less rare during the first years than today. And Oliver and I also agree together than if you don't get clear information about the story of this watch, it is better to forget it and to have a walk on a safe...

Danke for the imagery! [nt]

By: BluNotte : December 11th, 2011-16:38

No message body

Many helpful info already...

By: KIH : December 11th, 2011-22:12

... unlike today, it was OK for the official servicer by the request of the owner to change the dial color, hands color, from solid case back to display back, were all permitted without consent from Germany, until several years ago (2004 or 5?). Today, it...