5 Entry-Level A. Lange & Söhne Watches
There’s a reason watch nerds on the internet can’t shut up about A. Lange & Söhne watches–the finishing is that good. If someone called them “better than Patek Philippe” they probably wouldn’t even get any funny looks, so the phrase “entry-level A. Lange & Söhne watch” is a bit of an oxymoron. But although Lange’s cheapest new watch starts at $23,500, and their most complicated offerings cost several hundred thousand dollars, it is possible to find some simple, classic A. Lange & Söhne models in the $15,000-$20,000 range secondhand. In this article we’ll show you five of our picks for the best entry-level A. Lange & Söhne watches.
How Good is A. Lange & Söhne?
It’s not hyperbolic to put Lange watches in the discussion for finest watches in the world, period. Generally, they are anything but entry-level luxury watches. The movements are so well-decorated that on watch forums, Lange owners are frequently encouraged to “pay the Lange tax”–an enthusiast term for sharing a photograph of a Lange movement through its exhibition caseback. To get a watch with “better” finishing than A. Lange & Söhne, you would have to be talking about something personally handmade by one of the best watchmakers on the planet, like Philippe Dufour. Nothing less can top the finishing of a Lange. Mr. Dufour himself has even been known to wear an ALS and has remarked about the self-evident superiority of their quality.
Take ten movements out of the current range of any contemporary brand, put them next to a Lange movement and comment honestly on what you see. That is the best way to judge–by examining the truth.
Philippe Dufour to Forbes
And the truth is, every A. Lange & Söhne movement looks spectacular, even their most basic. If you peruse online watch forums, it’s rare to see buyer’s remorse from any Lange customer. But some models are available for less than you might think. So without further ado, here’s our list of entry-level A. Lange & Söhne references to consider:
Cabaret 107.021
The Cartier Tank, launched in 1919, became so successful and iconic that the lowercase spelling of “tank” now generically describes any watch with a similar rectangular case. And the A. Lange & Söhne Cabaret just might be the ultimate tank watch. It’s also one of the most overlooked Lange watches. If you’re looking for something other than a conventional circular dress watch, the Cabaret could be the entry-level A. Lange & Söhne for you.
A. Lange & Söhne Cabaret ref. 107.021 Specs
| Model | Cabaret |
| Reference | 107.021 |
| Case Diameter | 25.5 x 36.3mm |
| Case Thickness | 9.7mm |
| Case Material | 18k yellow gold |
| Movement | Caliber L931.3 (Manual-wind, 6 beats per second) |
| Power Reserve | 42 |
| Water Resistance | 30m |
| Bracelet/Strap | Black alligator strap with tang buckle |
| 2024 Market Price | $19,000 |
Langematik Sax-O-Mat 301.021
The Langematik line also often gets overlooked, as it isn’t particularly different from either the Saxonia or 1815 product lines. Maybe Lange fans tend to prefer manual-wind calibers with no rotor blocking the beautiful view, but the Sax-O-Mat movement still provides plenty of eye candy. The Langematik’s lumed hands, slightly larger lugs, and long minute markers give it a hint of sportiness, whereas most of Lange’s offerings fall rather squarely in the dressy category.
With a market price around $20,000, the time-only Langematik ref. 301.021 is an excellent choice for an entry-level A. Lange & Söhne. The big-date version (308.021) is also a solid value in the Lange world, costing only a few thousand more. The Langematik is all but gone from Lange’s current lineup; only the Langematik Perpetual remains.
A. Lange & Söhne Langematik Sax-O-Mat ref. 301.021 Specs
| Model | Langematik Sax-O-Mat |
| Reference | 301.021 |
| Case Diameter | 37mm |
| Case Thickness | 9.7mm |
| Case Material | 18k yellow gold |
| Movement | Caliber L921.2 (Automatic, 6 beats per second) |
| Power Reserve | 46 hours |
| Water Resistance | 30m |
| Bracelet/Strap | Black alligator strap with tang buckle |
| 2024 Market Price | $20,000 |
Saxonia 219.026
With a modest 35mm diameter and time-only movement, the Saxonia ref. 219.026 is likely to be the very cheapest men’s A. Lange & Söhne watch you’ll find. But that doesn’t mean you’re getting a second-rate watch by any means. Lange finishes all their watches exquisitely, and you’ll get the same jaw-dropping movement decoration and beveled edges from this reference as any other Lange. A $15,000 watch might not seem like a great “value,” but considering the level of quality you get from even an entry-level A. Lange & Söhne, it really is. The regular Saxonia, which was already quite svelte with a case thickness of 7.3mm, has since been discontinued in favor of the even-slimmer Saxonia Thin.
A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia ref. 219.026 Specs
| Model | Saxonia |
| Reference | 219.026 |
| Case Diameter | 35mm |
| Case Thickness | 7.3mm |
| Case Material | 18k white gold |
| Movement | Caliber L941.1 (Manual-wind, 6 beats per second) |
| Power Reserve | 45 hours |
| Water Resistance | 30m |
| Bracelet/Strap | Black alligator strap with tang buckle |
| 2024 Market Price | $15,500 |
Saxonia Thin 201.027
Although the Saxonia Thin ref. 201.027 is currently listed in the Lange catalog at $23,500, this 37mm white gold dress watch can be found from a grey market dealer for about 20% off retail pretty easily. With no minute markers, no model name on the dial, no lume, no chronometer certification text, and no seconds hand, The Saxonia Thin is minimalism at its finest. A 40mm version is also available (ref. 211.026) for around the same price on the resale market, but for such an understated watch, the 37mm size seems appropriate for most wrist sizes.
A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin ref. 201.027 Specs
| Model | Saxonia Thin |
| Reference | 201.027 |
| Case Diameter | 37mm |
| Case Thickness | 5.9mm |
| Case Material | 18k white gold |
| Movement | Caliber L093.1 (Manual-wind, 6 beats per second) |
| Power Reserve | 72 hours |
| Water Resistance | 30m |
| Bracelet/Strap | Black alligator strap with tang buckle |
| 2024 Market Price | $18,800 |
Most-Forgotten Entry-Level A. Lange & Söhne–Grand Arkade 106.032
The Arkade, with an interesting case shape similar to many Daniel Roth watches, was one of the four “OG” models released upon A. Lange & Söhne’s revival in 1994. It was one of few Lange watches ever marketed specifically to women. Nine years later, a “Grand Arkade” was released in a unisex size. Although a 29.5mm diameter may not sound large, keep in mind that rectangular(ish) watches wear significantly larger than circular ones. The pink gold version of the Grand Arkade, ref. 106.032, can be found for around $20,000. It’s not easy to find, though, as the Grand Arkade was only made from 2003-2006.
A. Lange & Söhne Grand Arkade ref. 106.032 Specs
| Model | Grand Arkade |
| Reference | 106.032 |
| Case Diameter | 38 x 29.5mm |
| Case Thickness | 9mm |
| Case Material | 18k pink gold |
| Movement | Caliber L911.4 (Manual-wind, 6 beats per second) |
| Power Reserve | 42 hours |
| Water Resistance | 30m |
| Bracelet/Strap | Black alligator strap with tang buckle |
| 2024 Market Price | $19,000 |
Although this doesn’t represent every single Lange reference that sells for under $20,000, hopefully this has provided a coherent picture of the entry-level A. Lange & Söhne market. For most brands, “entry-level” means “stainless steel,” but Lange’s only steel watch–the Odysseus–sells for about $50,000 more than the gold models we’ve shown you here. For a relatively affordable Lange watch, you’ll have to stick to classic, clean dress watches without complications (aside from perhaps a big date). Fortunately for us watch nerds, though, A. Lange & Söhne does that as well as anyone.
More on Entry-Level Luxury Watches:
The Best Entry-Level Luxury Watches
Entry-Level Omega Watch Models – The Best of the Bunch
Entry-Level Patek Philippe Watches
The Best Entry-Level Vacheron Constantin Watches
The Best Entry-Level Blancpain Watches
The Best Entry Level Cartier Watches
What is the Best Entry-Level Rolex?
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