A.Lange & Sohne 38MM Saxonia Outsize Date 381.029 | 2019

• A. Lange & Söhne has captivated watch enthusiasts for over 170 years. The brand’s legacy began in 1845 when Ferdinand Adolph Lange established the company in Glashütte, a small town in Saxony, Germany. Lange’s vision was to create timepieces that would set a new standard in precision and artistry, and over the years, his company grew into a symbol of the finest watchmaking. Despite political and economic challenges throughout history, including World War II and the subsequent division of Germany, A. Lange & Söhne remained resolute in its commitment to exceptional craftsmanship. After reunification in the early 1990s, the brand was revitalised under the leadership of Walter Lange, who brought it back to life in 1994 with the introduction of iconic models like the Lange 1, which featured the brand’s signature off-centre dial. The A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Outsize 381.029 exemplifies the brand’s commitment to traditional craftsmanship. 

The Saxonia Outsize brings a surprising amount of innovation to its 38.5mm case. For starters, the Saxonia collection didn’t offer a big date version (without a moonphase) for several years before this watch, and this model reintroduces that style, along with a new movement, the L086.8. This new calibre is based on the L086.1, which has powered the Saxonia Automatic since 2011. The Calibre L086.8 movement has a 72 hour power reserve, 21.6k bph frequency, 40 jewels and a big date complication visible at the 12 o’clock.The Saxonia produced in two versions: one in white gold (029) and one in pink gold (31), both featuring dark black dials and matching black date discs. As a time-and-date automatic, this watch makes for a solid everyday piece, and the dark colour scheme only adds to its versatility.

A single A. Lange & Söhne watch, such as the 381.029, takes around a year to complete. From the design stage to assembly, each component is crafted with the utmost attention to detail. The movement is assembled by hand, often requiring hundreds of hours of painstaking labour. The craftsmanship extends to the finishing of the movement, where every surface is decorated to perfection with techniques like hand-engraving and polishing. The watch’s case, made from platinum, is polished to a mirror-like sheen, and the dial is delicately crafted and finished with the utmost care. 

The process is not just about technical skill but also about a commitment to the highest standards of quality. A. Lange & Söhne’s watches are not produced in vast quantities, which allows the brand to focus on perfection rather than mass production. For enthusiasts, this is part of what makes the 381.029 so appealing. It’s not just a watch—it’s a rare and highly refined piece of art that exemplifies the best in German watchmaking.

Why do we love this watch? It’s a combination of the brand’s heritage, the technical excellence of its movements, and the sheer beauty of the design. 

The allure of A. Lange & Söhne, and specifically the Saxonia Outsize Date, lies in the fact that it represents the pinnacle of a long tradition of watchmaking. It’s a watch that speaks to those who appreciate not just fine timekeeping but the artistry, history, and technical brilliance that go into creating such an exceptional timepiece. It’s a watch you don’t just wear; it’s a watch you savour, knowing that it is the product of hundreds of years of refinement in an art form that is as much about the hands that make it as it is about the time it measures.

Near mint condition with minimal wear.

The dial and hands are in flawless condition.