The LANGE 1 – the celebration of watchmaking artistry

Seldom were higher expectations placed in a watch than in the LANGE 1. It was the first A. Lange & Söhne timepiece to premiere in 1994, four years after the re-establishment of the manufacture. With traditional elements of Saxon precision watchmaking such as the three-quarter plate, screwed gold chatons and the screw balance on the one hand, and trailblazing innovations such as the off-centre dial configuration and novel outsize date on the other hand, it became the epitome of Lange watchmaking artistry.

The off-centre dial displays, characteristic of the multiple award-winning model, follow the harmonious rules of the golden ratio: no display overlaps another, thus assuring superb legibility at any given time. A further significant hallmark of the LANGE 1 is the outsize date, a typical A. Lange & Söhne complication, inspired by a historic masterpiece of Saxon watchmaking – the famous Five-Minute Clock in the Dresden Semper Opera.

Since 2015, the manufacture calibre L121.1. has been at the heart of the LANGE 1. The manually wound movement assures that the instantaneously advancing outsize date display switches promptly at midnight. The energy for the switching action is continuously built up over the course of several hours. The LANGE 1 is also equipped with a going train featuring a balance wheel with eccentric poising weights, and beneath the hand-engraved balance cock, a freely oscillating balance spring crafted in-house. The reliable twin mainspring barrel provides a power reserve of 72 hours.

The LANGE 1 is available in 950 platinum or 18-carat gold. The warm-hued model version in pink gold reflects the lustre and festive spirit that lives at the heart of the season.

The 1815 ANNUAL CALENDAR – a stylish companion throughout the year

Surrounded by friends and loved ones, it is our wish to fully enjoy the holiday season with its quiet, contemplative moments, yet at some point, we will undoubtedly find ourselves back in our everyday life with commitments and a busy schedule. The 1815 ANNUAL CALENDAR is the perfect, elegant companion to take us through the year in style. The hands make the displays for the date, day of the week and month easy to read – ensuring that we never lose track of important appointments. An elaborate calendar mechanism automatically recognises which months have 30 and 31 days. The display must be manually adjusted only once a year, at the transition from the last day of February to the first day of March. Accurate to 122.6 years, the moon-phase display tracks the orbit of the golden celestial body across the nocturnal star-studded sky.

Not only does the 1815 ANNUAL CALENDAR leave a lasting impression thanks to its technical intricacy but also because of its lucid arrangement of the displays on the argenté-coloured dial. With the traditional railway-track minute scale, Arabic numerals and the axially symmetric configuration of the three auxiliary dials, it represents a subtle tribute to Ferdinand Adolph Lange, whose birth year is part of the watch family’s name. This also holds true for the manually wound calibre L051.3: its particular highlights can be admired through the transparent sapphire-crystal caseback of the watch in resplendent pink gold. The pursuit of artisanal perfection pertaining to even the smallest details – once Ferdinand Adolph Lange’s driving force – comes to the fore in the elaborately finished, manually crafted movement that is assembled twice; it also confers the distinctive radiance upon the contemporary masterpieces of the Saxon manufacture.

“It is our manufacture’s aspiration to never stand still. But in order to proceed in the right direction, it is sometimes necessary to briefly pause and consider,” explains Lange-CEO Wilhelm Schmid. “During the holiday season, many people take the time to reflect and ask themselves: what are my origins and where am I heading? Both timepieces are an expression of these two concepts: whereas, in a unique way, the 1815 ANNUAL CALENDAR is emblematic of watchmaking traditions in which we are rooted, the LANGE 1 is a symbol of a new beginning that still sets our course today.”

With its launch in 2013, the 1815 RATTRAPANTE PERPETUAL CALENDAR marked a milestone in A. Lange & Söhne’s more recent history: no less than seven chronograph calibres had previously been crafted by the Saxon manufactory. Equipped with a specially developed movement, it united three of the most elaborate complications – very rare in this configuration – while maintaining the classic, elegant design of the 1815 watch family. The outstanding timepiece excels in the measurement of short and long distances: thanks to its eponymous complications, the 1815 RATTRAPANTE PERPETUAL CALENDAR sets standards in both short-time measurement and the display of calendar periods.

Comparative time measurements to a fraction of a second

The rattrapante function of the 1815 RATTRAPANTE PERPETUAL CALENDAR represents one of the greatest horological challenges. In addition to the conventional functions of a chronograph, this sophisticated complication is capable of measuring intermediate times and comparative times as well as determining minimum and maximum values in the course of one minute. Since the balance wheel of the manufacture calibre L101.1 beats with six semi-oscillations per second, the stopped times can be recorded with an accuracy of one sixth of a second. High-precision readings are assured thanks to the additional graduation on the peripheral minute scale. The precisely orchestrated proceedings within the movement can be observed through the sapphire-crystal caseback. The classic two-column wheel transmission is used to control the measurement of stopped and intermediate times. As is typical for A. Lange & Söhne, technical intricacy is coupled with a high degree of artisanship. The upper surfaces of all moving parts are decorated with straight graining while the peripheral chamfers are polished. Only an experienced finisseur has the skill to polish the bevels to sharp and flat perfection.

A calendar for perpetuity

While the rattrapante chronograph is capable of measuring different time intervals to a fraction of a second, the remarkable technical feat of the perpetual calendar lies in its “long-term memory”. As its name suggests, the complex and prescient mechanism ensures that the date, day of the week and month are correctly displayed ‒ every single day, during decades, even taking leap years into account. The calendar indications must only be corrected by one day but not until 1 March 2100; according to the rules of the Gregorian calendar, the leap year will then be skipped.

The high-precision moon-phase display has also been programmed with the long term in mind. It so closely emulates the duration of the synodic orbit of the earth’s satellite that it would take 122.6 years for the display to be corrected by one day.

Harmoniously arranged displays

Not only the technical details distinguish the 1815 RATTRAPANTE PERPETUAL CALENDAR but also the well-organised arrangement of its displays. Following the DATOGRAPH PERPETUAL TOURBILLON (2019) and the LANGE 1 PERPETUAL CALENDAR (2021), it is the third A. Lange & Söhne timepiece showcasing an 18-carat pink gold dial: the warm, golden hue contrasts elegantly with the cool white gold of the case. With a traditional railway-track minute scale, Arabic numerals and the harmonious arrangement of the four subsidiary dials, the dial embodies the essence of the watch family named after the birth year of Ferdinand Adolph Lange.

The manifold displays of the perpetual calendar and the rattrapante chronograph echo the classic aesthetics of earlier Lange pocket watches. The two pairs of combined calendar indications are arranged at 3 and 9 o’clock. The left subsidiary dial shows the date and day of the week, the right the month and leap year. Sharing an auxiliary dial with the subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock, the moon-phase display provides an expressive colourful accent. The minute counter and power-reserve indicator are located at 12 o’clock. The shorter gold hand in the inner circle reveals when it is time to deliver new power to the movement via the winding crown. The longer hand made of blued steel imparts information about the stopped minutes.

Manufacture calibre L101.1

Incorporating traditional design and engineering features, the manually wound movement L101.1 totals an impressive number of 631 individual parts. The mechanism of the perpetual calendar alone requires 211 components, a further 206 account for the rattrapante-chronograph mechanism. A screw balance, which is driven by the balance spring developed and manufactured in-house, ensures high rate stability. Lange-typical quality hallmarks such as screwed gold chatons, blued screws, an elaborate whiplash precision index adjuster and the hand-engraved balance cock are visible through the sapphire-crystal caseback. The finissage of the movement, which is assembled twice, reflects A. Lange & Söhne’s high standards in every single detail.

 “With three classic complications, the manufacture calibre L101.1 is one of our most complex movements. Each one in itself already constitutes a technical feat; when combined, they represent a far greater challenge. For our designers and our watchmakers in equal measure, since the tweaking and tuning process of all mechanisms requires an exceptionally high degree of dexterity and technical expertise,” explains Anthony de Haas, Director of Product Development at A. Lange & Söhne.

Three versions

The dimensions of the new 1815 RATTRAPANTE PERPETUAL CALENDAR remain unchanged: the case boasts a diameter of 41.9 millimetres and a height of 14.7 millimetres. In addition to the new 1815 RATTRAPANTE PERPETUAL CALENDAR in white gold with a pink-gold dial limited to 100 pieces, the model also comes in a platinum/argenté and pink- gold/argenté case/dial combination.

A. Lange & Söhne has been a partner of the Concours of Elegance since 2018. This year, it will take place from 2 to 4 September in the grounds of Hampton Court Palace on the outskirts of London. The high-calibre beauty pageant is a venue not only for rare automobiles but also for the exclusive mechanical timepieces crafted by A. Lange & Söhne. For the Glashütte manufactory, the Concours of Elegance provides the ideal backdrop for introducing a very special watch: the unique version of the 1815 CHRONOGRAPH with a hinged cuvette. This exclusive timepiece will be auctioned off on 6 November 2022 at the Geneva Watch Auction XVI for the benefit of The Prince’s Trust. The charitable organisation was founded by HRH The Prince of Wales in 1976 and supports young people aged 11 to 30 to develop essential life skills, get ready for work, and access job opportunities. “We are proud to have the opportunity to support the important work of The Prince’s Trust,” said Wilhelm Schmid. The Lange CEO is convinced that each child, regardless of their upbringing and social background, should have a fair chance of self-fulfilment and a happy future.

An exclusive combination

Since it was introduced in 2004, the 1815 CHRONOGRAPH has stood for the alliance between classic design and progressive technology. With artisanal perfection and refined details, its design is fully focused on optimised legibility. Thus, the dial with Arabic numerals, the railway-track minute scale, and the slightly shifted subsidiary dials are reminiscent of the of A. Lange & Söhne’s historic pocket watches.

Crafted explicitly for this year’s Concours of Elegance, the 1815 CHRONOGRAPH “Hampton Court Edition” stands out with a unique combination of features: For the first time, a white-gold case meets a black dial with sandstone-coloured numerals and scales. The tachometer scale on the peripheral – which enables the calculation of average speeds – emphasises the historic connection between motor sport and time measurement. 

The rhodié-coloured subsidiary dials for the small seconds and the minute counter contrast well with the black dial. Good legibility is also assured by the rhodiumed case-matched gold hands for the hours and minutes as well as by the rhodiumed steel hands for the chrono seconds, the subsidiary seconds, and the minute counter. The elegance of the concept is accentuated with a black hand-stitched alligator leather strap that is secured with a prong buckle in solid white gold.

The beauty of precision

The selection of one of the most beautiful flyback chronographs for the “Concours Edition” also builds a bridge between motor sport and time measurement. The hinged cuvette, hand-engraved with the logo of the Concours of Elegance, conceals the Lange calibre L951.5 movement launched in 2010. It is assembled twice and features a column-wheel control, a precisely jumping minute counter, and a flyback function. The manually wound calibre has a power reserve of 60 hours. A large cam-poised balance wheel driven by a freely oscillating hairspring crafted in-house assures excellent rate accuracy. With its frequency of 18,000 semi-oscillations per hour (2.5 hertz), the watch displays stopped times to an accuracy of one-fifth of a second.

The sapphire-crystal caseback reveals the lavishly hand-finished chronograph mechanism. A subtly composed choice of different materials and surface decorations emphasises the three-dimensionality of the open movement architecture. This highlights the details of the complex switching processes as well as the artistically hand-engraved balance cock with Lange’s iconic whiplash spring. Thanks to its floral motif, this small but magnificently decorated part of the movement makes every Lange timepiece recognisable – the engraver’s personal signature also makes the 1815 CHRONOGRAPH a unique piece.

For more information about the timepiece, please visit www.alange-soehne.com/auction.

The masterclass of short-time measurement

With the 1815 RATTRAPANTE, A. Lange & Söhne’s watchmakers yet again demonstrate their expertise in the field of short-time measurement. Its complex mechanism expands the functionality of a classic chronograph by allowing the measurement of a random number of lap times within a minute. For this purpose, the watch has two superposed chronograph hands, the centre chronograph hand and the centre rattrapante hand. Both hands start together when the pusher at 2 o’clock is actuated. The centre rattrapante hand can now be stopped independently of the centre chronograph hand and then resynchronised with it. This procedure, used for instance to measure lap times, can be repeated infinitely.

Functional elegance

The 1815 RATTRAPANTE comes in a noble platinum case. The bright argenté-coloured dial and the dark blued hands contrast well and assure perfect legibility. The traditional style elements of the watch include the peripheral railway-track minute scale and the prominent Arabic numerals. They clearly reflect the genre that already characterised the historic Lange pocket watches and the model family that is still named after Ferdinand Adolph Lange’s birth year.

The development of their own movement makes it possible for the watchmakers to freely choose the positions of the subsidiary dials. Instead of the ordinary positions at 3 and 9 o’clock, the 30-minute counter and the subsidiary seconds dial are at 12 and 6 o’clock, respectively, on the vertical centre axis. This symmetric arrangement gives the 1815 RATTRAPANTE a balanced and expressive personality. Additionally, the peripheral tachometer scale allows average speeds to be determined.

Manufacture calibre L101.2

The 1815 RATTRAPANTE is powered by the manufacture movement L101.2. The entire rattrapante chronograph mechanism is configured such that it is visible through the sapphire-crystal caseback. This allows the complex switching processes to be observed in detail. The control of elapsed and lap-time measurements is handled highly precisely in the classic manner with two column wheels. When fully wound, the mainspring barrel delivers a power reserve of 58 hours. In connection with the screw balance, also manufactured in-house, the freely oscillating Lange balance spring guarantees excellent rate accuracy at a frequency of 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour (3 hertz).

It is already the seventh calibre with this complication developed and crafted by Lange. With a special finissage, the movement was already integrated in the 1815 RATTRAPANTE HONEYGOLD “Homage to F. A. Lange”. With this 100-watch limited edition featuring Lange’s exclusive honey-gold alloy, the manufactory celebrated the 175th anniversary of Saxon precision watchmaking in 2020.

The signature of the grand masters

The finissage of the calibre, that was manually assembled twice, reflects the tradition of Ferdinand Adolph Lange: His movements always stood out with prominent design elements as well as inimitable aesthetic details. As befits the 1A quality attribute – the highest quality category of his pocket watches – the calibre L101.2 movement features bridges and cocks made of untreated German silver, a screw balance, screwed gold chatons that secure the jewels and a hand-engraved balance cock. Paired with the latest-generation watchmaking skills, these traditional elements unite to form a micromechanical fusion of the arts.

All upper sides of the moving parts of the rattrapante chronograph, such as levers, springs and jumpers, are decorated with straight graining while the peripheral chamfers are polished. Bevel-polishing re-entrant angles is a particular challenge for the finishing specialists. Only experienced artisans will succeed in polishing the corners acutely and so they are truly sharp.

A class of its own

The conceptualisation and production of top-flight chronographs, especially of split-seconds chronographs, is regarded as one of the most difficult challenges in precision watchmaking. It takes considerable skill, experience and patience to assure the precision and reliability of the complex mechanism.

Since the relaunch of A. Lange & Söhne, several timepieces defined new standards in this field. In 2004, for the first time in the history of precision watchmaking, A. Lange & Söhne created a double rattrapante chronograph that extended the range of intermediate time measurements from 60 seconds to 30 minutes: the DOUBLE SPLIT. Presented in 2018, the TRIPLE SPLIT benchmarked the current state of the art in rattrapante function developments. With the addition of a third, separately stoppable hand pair, the chronograph and rattrapante functions can be used for measurements that last up to 12 hours. To this very day, both timepieces are unique in precision watchmaking. Now, the new 1815 RATTRAPANTE comes into the focus as a classic interpretation of the split-seconds mechanism, indeed as a singular complication. It makes its appearance in a platinum case with a diameter of 41.2 millimetres. Lange’s engineers succeeded in limiting the height of the case to 12.6 millimetres despite the technical complexity of its 365-part manually wound calibre. Given its horological intricacy, this masterpiece is limited to a global 200-piece edition.

Since 2012, A. Lange & Söhne has been a partner of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, which this year will be held on Lake Como from 1 to 3 October. Every year, Lange CEO Wilhelm Schmid has presented the owner of the competition’s most elegant vehicle with a LANGE 1 TIME ZONE “Como Edition”. Each of these watches is a unique piece, as the hand-engraved hinged cuvette refers to the event: The “CONCORSO D’ELEGANZA VILLA D’ESTE” signature frames the coat of arms as well as the founding year 1929 and the current event year. They bridge the span from the first Concorso d’Eleganza to the present. This exceptional watch is not for sale. It is reserved exclusively for the winner in the “Best of Show” category.

In 2021, for the first time, this timepiece is an 18-carat white-gold edition of the 1815 CHRONOGRAPH with a pink-gold dial and a hand-engraved hinged cuvette. The selection of this watch, one of the most beautiful column-wheel-controlled flyback chronographs, as the new trophy is a reminiscence of the historic link between motor sport and time measurement.

The 1815 CHRONOGRAPH in the 39.5-millimetre white-gold case melds classic design with mechanical ingenuity. With its Arabic numerals and the railway-track minute scale, the dial in pink gold recalls A. Lange & Söhne’s legendary pocket watches. The brown subsidiary dials for the seconds and the minute counter contrast well against the bright background. The black rhodiumed gold hands for the hours and minutes, that match the case, and the steel chronograph hand, the subsidiary seconds hand and the minute-counter hand, which are also rhodiumed, ensure good legibility as well. A dark-brown strap made of hand-stitched leather with a prong buckle in white gold rounds out the colour concept.

In use since 2010, the manually wound calibre L951.5 features column-wheel control, a snail for the precisely jumping minute counter, and a refined flyback function. It has a power reserve of 60 hours. A large cam-poised balance wheel driven by a freely oscillating hairspring crafted in-house assures superior rate accuracy. Because it beats at a frequency of 18,000 semi-oscillations per hour (2.5 hertz), the watch delivers readings of stopped times with the accuracy of one-fifth of a second. The sapphire-crystal caseback reveals the lavishly hand-finished chronograph mechanism. A subtly composed choice of different materials and surface decorations emphasises the three-dimensionality of the movement architecture. The open configuration allows the critical switching processes to be observed. The hand-engraved balance cock with the Lange-style whiplash spring is visible as well.

The seventh of December 1845 marks a turning point in the history of the town of Glashütte. The inauguration of the first pocket watch workshop in the former mining community south of Dresden by Ferdinand Adolph Lange, then 30 years old, laid the cornerstone for Saxon precision watchmaking. To commemorate the anniversary, A. Lange & Söhne is now presenting three limited-edition timepieces that share the epithet “Homage to F. A. Lange” – the 1815 RATTRAPANTE HONEYGOLD, the TOURBOGRAPH PERPETUAL HONEYGOLD and the 1815 THIN HONEYGOLD. All three models belong to the 1815 watch family that refers to Ferdinand Adolph Lange’s birth year with its name.

With its numerous traditional hallmarks, the 1815 THIN HONEYGOLD “Homage to F. A. Lange” is also reminiscent of his legendary pocket watches. At the same time, it unites two features that also characterise Ferdinand Adolph Lange’s designs and developments: perfection and clarity.

An elegantly simple design

The case is merely 6.3 millimetres high and has a diameter of 38 millimetres. Just like the hands and the buckle, it consists of honey gold, an alloy developed exclusively for and used only by A. Lange & Söhne. Thanks to special admixtures and special thermal treatment, the metal is harder and thus more scratch-resistant than other gold alloys with a fineness of 18 carats. It was used for the first time in 2010 for the three watches of the “165 Years – Homage to F. A. Lange” anniversary edition. So far, only eight limited editions of watches cased in this exceptional gold alloy with its warm glow have been launched.

The brilliant white, two-part enamel dial stands out prominently in this exclusive framework. The dark-grey printed Arabic numerals and the classic railway-track minute scale contrast well against the bright background.

A sublime creation

Simple and perfect: The L093.1 manufacture calibre of the 1815 THIN HONEYGOLD “Homage to F. A. Lange” is a modern interpretation of Lange’s product philosophy. With a power reserve of 72 hours, the 2.9-millimetre-high manually wound movement proves that compact dimensions and performance are not mutually exclusive. The freely oscillating Lange balance spring has a frequency of 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour. In combination with a classic screw balance, it assures optimised rate accuracy.

In all of its artisanal facets, the manually assembled 167-part movement pays tribute to the style introduced by Ferdinand Adolph Lange. Contrary to the Glashütte ribbing commonly used in other Lange models, the German-silver three-quarter plate has a granular surface texture often found in historic Lange pocket watches. The crown and ratchet wheels are visibly integrated in the train bridge and decorated with perfectly executed circular graining. Gold chatons secured by three thermally blued screws trace the path of the power transmitted from the mainspring barrel to the escapement. The invisible quality hallmarks include the two-fold assembly of the movement which guarantees technical and visual perfection.

The freehand engraving on the balance cock is the signature element of all Lange manufacture calibres. The fine lines of the floral pattern are black-rhodiumed, just like the inscription on the plate. The dark hue of the galvanic coating echoes the grey of the dial imprints and at the same time amplifies the three-dimensional effect of the engravings.

With the incorporation of his first pocket watch workshop on 7 December 1845, Ferdinand Adolph Lange launched a unique success story. For more than four generations, the watchmakers of the Lange family defined Saxon precision watchmaking – from modest beginnings and the first high points in the 19th century to the revival by Walter Lange, Ferdinand Adolph Lange’s great-grandson, after Germany was reunified.

To celebrate the 175th anniversary, A. Lange & Söhne has introduced a special set of three limited-edition models of the 1815 watch family in honey-gold cases – the 1815 RATTRAPANTE HONEYGOLD, the 1815 THIN HONEYGOLD and the TOURBOGRAPH PERPETUAL HONEYGOLD. All three models belong to the 1815 watch family that refers to Ferdinand Adolph Lange’s birth year in its name. In his honour, the anniversary collection is tagged with the epithet “Homage to F. A. Lange”.

Unique colour combination

The honey-gold case of the 1815 RATTRAPANTE HONEYGOLD “Homage to F. A. Lange” has a diameter of 41.2 millimetres. The rare case material developed explicitly for A. Lange & Söhne is characterised by exceptional hardness and a warm sheen. For the first time, it has now been combined with a black dial in solid silver that highlights its modern, captivating looks.

Elaborate complication

A. Lange & Söhne’s sixth split-seconds chronograph stands out with another premiere: for the first time, the complication is in the spotlight. The complex mechanism ranks among the most elaborate devices in precision watchmaking. The superposed chronograph and rattrapante sweep-seconds hands make it possible during a running time measurement to ascertain any number of lap times within the course of a minute. The chronograph sweep-seconds hand, the lower hand, consists of pink-gold-plated steel. It entrains the superposed rattrapante – also called split-seconds – hand made of rhodiumed steel. Both hands start together when the pusher at two o’clock is actuated. The rattrapante sweep-seconds hand can be stopped independently of the chronograph sweep-seconds hand and then resynchronised with it. The French word “rattrapante” describes this sequence. The verb “rattraper” means “to catch up again”. This function is controlled with the pusher at ten o’clock. If it is actuated during an ongoing measurement, the rattrapante sweep-seconds hand stops and displays the lap time while the chronograph sweep-seconds hand keeps running. A second actuation of the pusher causes the rattrapante sweep-seconds hand to catch up and then synchronise with the chronograph sweep-seconds hand. This lap-time measurement procedure can be repeated as many times as needed.

A new manufacture calibre

The complex chronograph/rattrapante mechanism is located on the movement side of the new L101.2 manually wound calibre. The control of elapsed or lap-time measurements is handled highly precisely in the classic manner with two column wheels. Like the rattrapante clamp that blocks the rattrapante hand in the lap-time display mode, it is visible through the sapphire-crystal caseback. This allows the precise switching processes to be observed in detail. When fully wound, the mainspring barrel delivers a power reserve of 58 hours. In connection with the screw balance, also manufactured in-house, the freely oscillating Lange balance spring guarantees excellent rate accuracy at a frequency of 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour (3 hertz).

Exquisite finissage

The artisanal finish of the manually assembled 365-part movement is inspired by the benchmarks developed by Ferdinand Adolph Lange to make his calibres inimitable. The raised German-silver frame parts are endowed with granular surfaces that are reminiscent of his historic pocket watches in the 1A quality category. Among other features, they had gold poising screws, screwed gold chatons to secure the bearing jewels and a hand-engraved balance cock. Today, these traditional quality hallmarks can again be found in many A. Lange & Söhne timepieces.

All upper sides of the moving parts of the rattrapante chronograph, such as levers, springs, and jumpers, are decorated with straight graining while the chamfers are polished. Chamfer polishing of acute interior angles presents a particular challenge. It is a clear indication of the immense manual work involved in such movements. The required degree of perfection is achievable only by experienced finishers with sharp special tools. Great caution is needed during the assembly of the granular frame parts since the sensitive surfaces do not tolerate even the most minute scratches.

All of the fine lines of the free-hand engravings on the balance cock and the chronograph bridge as well as the inscriptions on the bridges are black-rhodiumed. The dark hue of the galvanically applied coating adds plasticity to the engravings. The contemporary evolution of traditional finissage techniques reflects the manufactory’s ambition to never stand still.

Among the numerous extra functions that can be integrated in a wristwatch, the annual calendar is still fairly rare. But because it is so convenient, the popularity of the new-era mechanism is steadily growing. As far as its technical sophistication is concerned, it easily matches the traditional complications.

At first sight, with its numerous displays and functions, the annual calendar looks much like a perpetual calendar. However, it is considerably easier to adjust because it requires no leap-year indication. Once set, the calendar module correctly switches from the 30th to the 1st day at the end of the short months – April, June, September, and November. A manual correction to the 1st day of the month is only necessary at the transition from February to March. Thus, it closes the gap between the full calendar that requires five corrections per year and the perpetual calendar which consummately executes its four-year programme from one turn of the century to the next.

Since 2017, in addition to the Saxonia Annual Calendar, the 1815 Annual Calendar has been the second A. Lange & Söhne watch that only needs to be corrected once a year. With displays inspired by historic Lange pocket watches, it appeals to gentlemen with a predilection for classic elegance. The designers succeeded in not only creating a contemporary interpretation of traditional style elements such as the analogue date, Arabic numerals, and the railway-track minute scale but also in merging them with the three classic calendar indications – date, day of the week, and month. These indications are provided by two readily legible subsidiary dials harmoniously integrated in the argenté main dial at 9 and 3 o'clock.

The 40-millimetre case in pink or white gold accommodates the artisanally finished manually wound calibre L051.3 movement that consists of 345 parts. The power reserve of 72 hours is sufficient to set the watch aside for a weekend with time to spare.

Convenience that goes deep: If the 1815 Annual Calendar ever stops running off the wrist, it can be quickly and comfortably reset once rewound. Apart from three recessed correctors for separately adjusting the day, month, and moon phase, a main button adjacent to the crown allows all indications to be advanced at the same time.

As regards horological complications, the chronograph offers its owner the ultimate level of interaction. While the technical complexity of a perpetual calendar or tourbillon remains concealed, a chronograph is repeatedly started, stopped and reset. The uncompromising ambition of A. Lange & Söhne’s watchmakers is that after many years the switching sequences of their chronographs are executed as dependably and precisely as on the first day.

The 1815 Chronograph has been a cornerstone of the 1815 watch family since 2004. Since the 2018 Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in Geneva, the timepiece has been available in four versions: white or pink gold with a black or argenté dial. The model enjoys cult status among purists due to its quintessential immaculacy in function and design. Sophisticated technology lies beneath the clearly configured dial. The sapphire-crystal caseback allows the switching sequences to be observed. It exposes the column wheel that controls the stop functions, the flyback mechanism and the minute-counter lever for the precisely jumping minute counter. A patented construction advances the minute-counter hand of the 30-minute totaliser by exactly one graduation every 60 seconds, even if the time measurement happens to be stopped during the zero passage. This guarantees a precise minute-counter reading at all times.

The more complex a mechanism, the more rigorous the requirements imposed on the watchmakers assigned to the assembly process. One of the biggest challenges is building the chronograph mechanism, especially if the movement includes complications such as a flyback function. This is why, at A. Lange & Söhne, a team of seasoned experts is entrusted with this special discipline. One and the same watchmaker is responsible for the first and second assembly sequences, as is typically practised at Lange.

Assembly of the column wheel

In the mid 1990s, when A. Lange & Söhne began to develop a proprietary chronograph calibre, it did not take long to decide in favour of a classic column-wheel-control concept. Initially introduced in the 19th century, the use of a column wheel for executing the start, stop and reset functions is considered to be a manifestation of traditional watchmaking artistry. The complex eight-column wheel in the 1815 Chronograph requires top-tier craftsmanship as well as true virtuosity in the assembly phase.

Assembly of the flyback lever

The flyback function is one of the technical highlights of the L951.5 manufacture calibre. Originating from the early days of aviation, this mechanism makes it possible to perform instantly consecutive time measurements by combining three steps – stop, reset and restart – into one. Pressing the chronograph button at 4 o’clock stops an ongoing measurement instantaneously and causes the chronograph sweep-seconds hand to jump to the zero position at 12 o’clock. A new measurement begins as soon as the button is released. The biggest challenge in the assembly of the flyback lever involves the accurate adjustment of the clearly discernible pressure point.

Assembly of the chronograph wheel and the heart cam

The longest arbor in the movement connects the chronograph wheel at the bottom to the chronograph sweep-seconds hand. Firmly secured to the wheel, the heart cam returns the chronograph sweep-seconds hand to zero at the end of a measurement. When the contact surface of the heart lever presses against the heart cam, this instantaneously brings it back to the home position together with the chronograph sweep-seconds hand.

Assembly of the heart-lever spring

The heart-lever spring keeps the heart lever tensioned. Like all other components, this part is lavishly finished by hand before being delivered to the watchmaker’s table for chronograph assembly. To minimise friction, the interacting surfaces are painstakingly flat-polished. There, not even the smallest scratch is tolerated after the assembly process is completed. The peripheral chamfer is polished, the circumference grained and the top side decorated with a flat polish.

Assembly of the clutch rocker

Of the 306 parts of the L951.5 manufacture calibre, no fewer than 13 constitute the clutch rocker. It plays an essential role in starting and stopping a time measurement. When the button at 2 o’clock is pressed, the column wheel is advanced by one step. The clutch rocker falls into one of the gaps between the eight columns and then pivots the chrono clutch wheel towards the middle of the movement. The flow of power between the going train and the chronograph mechanism is established, and the chronograph sweep-seconds hand begins to run. The shape of the complex steel part is as elaborate as it is artisanally perfect: The peripheral chamfers and the acute re-entrant angles are always polished by hand, while the surface is straight-grained and integrates a mirror-polished gold chaton secured with three thermally blued screws.

Technical polishes and adjustments

Although all movement parts are crafted with manufacturing tolerances in the range of thousandths of a millimetre at A. Lange & Söhne, the chronograph assembly process requires the watchmaker to execute a series of individual adjustments until everything is perfectly harmonised. This also applies to the clutch rocker whose interacting surfaces are beautifully polished, which also keeps friction losses to a minimum.

Assembly of the oscillator

Developed and crafted by A. Lange & Söhne, the large balance wheel with its six precisely adjustable eccentric poising weights delivers outstanding rate accuracy. Turning the small weights shifts their centres of gravity and changes the rate of the watch. The freely oscillating balance spring, also made in-house, powers the balance. It is precisely paired with the characteristics of the movement and beats with a frequency of 18,000 semi-oscillations per hour. The watchmaker adds the escapement at the very end once the chronograph mechanism has already been integrated. He must therefore position it in the movement with extreme care.

Adjustments and button test under the microscope

After the second assembly pass, the watchmaker again performs a full check-up of the movement. This requires using a microscope to verify the mesh of all levers and wheels – for instance, between the clutch and the chronograph wheel – and making final adjustments. Additionally, the watchmaker tests all the switching processes to guarantee functional reliability and to ensure that the future owner will derive long-lasting pleasure from the watch.

Assembly of dial and hands

The watchmaker secures the five hands to their respective arbors shortly before the finished L951.5 chronograph calibre is placed inside its white- or pink-gold case. The filigreed chronograph sweep-seconds hand is the last of the hands to be mounted. Depending on the case material, it is made of either gold-plated or blued steel. Precisely aligning the extremely thin and long hand with the hour marker at 12 o’clock is a particularly challenging task.

Limited to 100 watches, the special variation of the 1815 Tourbillon melds traditional craftsmanship with modern micromechanics. At first sight, the lucidly designed watch with the white enamel dial is a case study of understatement. But the large aperture at 6 o’clock alone provides a modest impression of its complexity: it reveals the one-minute tourbillon, suspended beneath a black polished bridge, in action. However, this tourbillon doesn’t just offset the influence of gravity. Lange’s experts have engineered a logical refinement of the intricate filigreed complication by adding two patented mechanisms. First introduced in 1997 with the Langematik model, the Zero-Reset mechanism interacts with the stop-seconds mechanism for the tourbillon – patented in 2008 – to assure one-second accuracy when stopping and setting the timepiece.

The mechanical precision of the lavishly finished manufacture calibre L102.1 can be admired through the sapphire-crystal caseback. The exquisite movement decoration is crowned by a diamond endstone in a screwed gold chaton on the fourth-wheel bridge, which is adorned with a freehand engraving.

The 39.5-millimetre platinum cases are consecutively numbered from 001/100 to 100/100. They constitute an appealing frame for the perfectly crafted white enamel dial. Some 30 manual processes are required to craft each dial. The quest for historic authenticity stands out in details such as the red 12, which is separately printed and fired. Blued-steel hands, Arabic numerals and a railway-track minute scale represent the classic personality synonymous with legendary nineteenth- and twentieth-century pocket watches. The 1815 Tourbillon is equipped with a black hand-stitched alligator leather strap secured with a solid-platinum deployant buckle.

The 1815 Chronograph is the perfect choice for purists in search of a technically flawless stopwatch that is reduced to the quintessential functions. The slender chronograph sweep seconds hand is activated with a pusher at 2 o’clock. It indicates the time with a resolution of one-fifth of a second. The flyback function allows instant consecutive measurements: when the pusher at 4 o’clock is pressed, the chronograph’s seconds- and minute-counter hands jump to zero and then immediately restart to take a new measurement.

The peripheral pulsometer scale is reminiscent of a classic pocket watch function; it is used for heart rate measurements. This measures the time it takes to count 30 heartbeats. On the scale graduated from 40 to 200 beats, the chronograph sweep seconds hand indicates the heart rate in beats per minute.

Arabic numerals and the railway-track minute scale are hallmarks of the 1815 watch family that has combined classic design and mechanical ingenuity with optimised functionality since 1995. The symmetrically arranged subsidiary dials for the minute counter at 4 o’clock and the subsidiary seconds dial at 8 o’clock emphasise the balanced character of the timepiece. Two solid-gold push pieces with defined trigger points control the chronograph including the flyback function.

With the two new versions, watch connoisseurs are spoilt for choice: Featuring a black dial, hands that match the pink-gold case and a black alligator leather strap, the 1815 Chronograph has a harmoniously sculpted and distinctive silhouette. Thanks to the expressive combination of an argenté dial, blued-steel hands and a red-brown alligator strap, it is a functional understatement.

The manually wound calibre L951.5 movement has a power reserve of 60 hours and a freely oscillating balance spring paired with a cam-poised balance. The sapphire-crystal caseback reveals salient hallmarks of the lavishly finished chronograph movement. Among other things, it exposes the column wheel that controls the chronograph functions, the levers of the flyback mechanism and the snail of the precisely jumping minute counter. The hand-engraved balance cock also complements the typical quality features of this watch.

In general, mechanical timepieces can be recognised by their “creeping seconds” hand. Depending on the balance frequency, the hand advances from second to second in five to ten steps. In short-time measurements, however, where seconds count in the literal sense, constant progression sometimes makes it difficult to pinpoint the beginning and the end of an event. Conversely, there is a horological complication that allows the exact measurement of the smallest unit of time: the “jumping seconds”.

The 1815 “Homage to Walter Lange” masters both chronometric disciplines. The small seconds hand in the subsidiary dial at 6 o’clock maps the frequency of 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour by performing six small steps as it advances from marker to marker. However, the blued sweep seconds hand performs precise jumps from second to second. It can be allowed to run continuously or immobilised if needed. A pusher at 2 o’clock starts and stops it. This is useful for heart rate measurements, for instance.

The jumping sweep seconds hand with the start/stop function was especially significant for Walter Lange. This is because it dates back to an 1867 invention of his great-grandfather, Ferdinand Adolph Lange. It was first implemented in a masterpiece crafted by his grandfather, Emil Lange. One of Germany’s first patents was granted to A. Lange & Söhne in 1877 for the enhanced design of a mechanism mounted on the three-quarter plate, and was referred to as a “one-second movement with a jumping hand”.

In the 1815 “Homage to Walter Lange”, the seconds jump is controlled according to the flirt-and-star principle, as was originally the case in the historic mechanism. After each full second, one of the five tips of the star liberates the tensioned lever arm, which watchmakers refer to as the “flirt”. It then swiftly rotates by 360 degrees before it is stopped by the next tip. This motion sequence causes the seconds hand to advance by one marker. The ratchet wheel located above the three-quarter plate has a dual function: It stores the power needed for the seconds jump, and at the same time causes the sweep seconds hand to stop.

An 1815 with jumping seconds likely corresponds to what Walter Lange would have deemed the perfect watch. It is totally reduced to the essence while impressing the enthusiast with a puristic yet technically exciting complication. The blued steel hands contrast well against the argenté-coloured dial with the classic railway-track minute scale. The newly developed movement has a special calibre designation: L1924. It refers to Walter Lange’s birth year. Additionally, the first three digits of the reference number, 297, recall his date of birth, 29 July. With a case diameter of 40.5 millimetres, the 1815 “Homage to Walter Lange” comes in three editions: 145 watches in white gold, 90 in pink gold and 27 in yellow gold. These uncommon numbers are derived from important milestones of the Lange family’s history. From 7 December 1845, when Ferdinand Adolph Lange originally established the company, exactly 145 years elapsed until 7 December 1990, the date on which Walter Lange registered Lange Uhren GmbH. Precisely 27 years will have passed between this date and 7 December 2017, the day on which the new model that pays tribute to Walter Lange is being unveiled.

In its launch year, the 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar attracted considerable attention in two respects: in January 2013 at the Geneva Salon, it was enthusiastically received by the horological community as a technically and aesthetically convincing union of classic complications that rank among the most sophisticated mechanical ensembles in precision watchmaking. At the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève in that same year, the watch was not only the winner in the Grand Complications category but also won the Public’s Choice Award.

This remarkable timekeeping instrument was the ideal starting point for a limited 20-watch Handwerkskunst edition. It is the sixth A. Lange & Söhne model with this attribute that stands for the particularly artistic decoration of the movement, dial and case. The 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar Handwerkskunst confronted the finishers, engravers and enamel artists with an exciting challenge: to raise the decorative opulence for which the manufactory is known to the next level with rare and in some cases revived techniques as well as innovative ideas.

This is the first model to combine enamel art and engraving on its dial. Solid white gold is the substrate for the deep-blue enamel beneath which the sculpted contours of the relief-engraved stars appear to be a visual extension of the moon-phase display. The Arabic numerals are flush with the enamel and harmonise perfectly with the rhodiumed white-gold hands of the time and calendar indications as well as of the power-reserve indicator. The colour of the enamel is echoed by the lunar disc as well as the blued-steel minute-counter hand. These elements contrast exquisitely with the four recessed subsidiary dials in argenté-coloured white gold. The chronograph hand offers an especially distinctive colour accent: it is crafted from gold-plated steel. The dial is framed by an argenté-coloured flange ring with a traditional railway-track minute scale.

The moon theme recurs on the hinged cuvette that protects the sapphire-crystal caseback. It depicts the goddess Luna, the ancient mythological personification of the moon, executed in relief and tremblage engraving. The medallion shows her with her characteristic attributes: a billowing veil, a crescent moon diadem and a torch with which she lights up the darkness. The medallion is surrounded by a raised star and cloud relief in blue enamel.

Artistic movement decorations reflect the technically ambitious multiple-complication timepiece. The German-silver train bridge is finished with a granular texture often found in the movements of historic pocket watches. Relief and tremblage engravings on the operating-lever, cover and chronograph bridges as well as on the rattrapante and balance cocks reflect the stellar motif of the dial. In all other respects, the finissage of the 631-part manufacture calibre L101.1 complies with the strictest Lange standards.

The split-seconds chronograph allows the measurement of lap times and consecutive times. It is controlled by two column wheels – one for the chronograph and one for the readily visible rattrapante mechanism which is activated by a pusher at 10 o’clock. The perpetual calendar mechanism correctly displays the individual durations of each month in the course of a calendar year, including all leap years until 2100. Integrated in the subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o’clock, the moon-phase display is calibrated to remain accurate for 122.6 years. The manually wound movement has a maximum power reserve of 42 hours. A power-reserve indicator reminds the owner when it is time to rewind the watch.

The 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar Handwerkskunst comes in a 41.9 millimetre white-gold case with an edition engraving. It is worn on a blue-grey alligator leather strap secured with a white-gold deployant buckle.

The ability to measure times has always been one of the most useful and exciting functions of a mechanical watch. This applies in particular when the many levers and springs of the chronograph can be observed in action. A. Lange & Söhne has been crafting models with stopwatch functions since 1999 – fitted with sapphire-crystal casebacks like all other Lange watches.

The 1815 Chronograph was added to the 1815 family in 2004. It is a paragon of classic design combined with advanced technology. The traditional style elements reminiscent of the pocket-watch era include the railway-track minute scale and the symmetrically arranged subsidiary dials – the subsidiary seconds on the left and the 30-minute counter on the right. They emphasise the balanced proportions of the watch.

In 2010, the 1815 Chronograph was endowed with a new movement. It has a power reserve of 60 hours and features a manufactory-made free-sprung balance spring. Its carefully calibrated interaction with the large, cam-poised balance guarantees excellent rate accuracy. Because it beats at a frequency of 18,000 semi-oscillations per hour (2.5 hertz), the watch can measure times with an accuracy of one fifth of a second. The calibre L951.5 movement also powers the new 1815 Chronograph in the 39.5-millimetre white-gold case. The rhodiumed hands ensure superb legibility against the backdrop of a jet-black solid-silver dial. Heart rates can be determined with the pulsimeter scale on the outer ring of the dial. It is graduated from 40 to 200 beats. When the time for 30 beats is measured, the peripheral scale indicates the heart rate per minute. The personality of this new member of the 1815 family, characterised by contrasts between light and dark, is underscored with a black alligator leather strap and a solid white-gold Lange prong buckle.

A sapphire-crystal caseback reveals the sublime architecture and lavish finissage of the chronograph movement. It provides an enlightening glimpse of the complex switching sequences. Among others, it shows the column wheel that controls the chronograph functions, the levers of the flyback mechanism, and the snail of the precisely jumping minute counter. The escapement is readily visible as well. Hallmarks of the Lange style include the whiplash spring of the precision beat-adjustment system on the hand-engraved balance cock.

The 1815 Annual Calendar is the second A. Lange & Söhne timepiece endowed with the eponymous calendar function. But in contrast to the self-winding Saxonia Annual Calendar with an outsize date presented in 2010, the new model features a manually wound movement and an analogue date, following the classic design and style principles of the 1815 watch family. The manual winder is also a subtle homage to Ferdinand Adolph Lange. In 1866, he obtained a patent in the USA for his development of a crown winder that would replace the hitherto commonplace key-operated winding works, referring to it as “a useful mechanism for winding and setting watches”.

Hovering over the argenté-coloured background of the classic dial, blued-steel hands indicate the time, complemented by the contrast-rich black Arabic numerals and the peripheral railway-track minute scale. Calculated to remain accurate for 122.6 years, the moon-phase display is integrated into the subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o’clock. The calendar indications are easily legible thanks to the golden hands of the two subdials that are precisely aligned with the horizontal centre axis. On the left, they display the day and on the right the month. From March to January, all month durations are correctly indicated. Although it is shorter, the mechanism treats February as a 30-day month, so on 1 March, a manual correction must be performed. A button at 2 o’clock makes it possible to collectively advance all indications, for instance if the watch has stood still for a longer period of time. Additionally, three recessed push pieces allow separate corrections of the day, month and moon phase. For the first time in a Lange calendar model, the date can also be separately advanced with an additional recessed push piece.

Because the calendar module is only 1.4 millimetres high, the complete movement is very slender. Despite its compactness, the new manually wound calibre L051.3 has a maximum power reserve of 72 hours. One detail is instantly noticeable at a glance through the sapphire-crystal caseback: as a pointer to manual winding, the ratchet and crown wheels are visibly integrated into the German-silver three-quarter plate and decorated with solarisation. Screwed gold chatons, the screw balance, the whiplash spring and the hand-engraved balance cock harmoniously round out a movement finished to the ambitious standards of traditional Saxon watchmaking artistry.