New horizons in design and function

The A. Lange & Söhne watchmakers continue to break new ground. In 2019, they redefined the category of sporty-elegant watches with the launch of the ODYSSEUS. They ventured into uncharted territory in several respects. One of them was the development of an individual movement, customised for the novel applications ‒ the L155.1 DATOMATIC calibre.

Secondly, they struck a new and distinctive path when it came to designing the ODYSSEUS: its contemporary appearance is based on openness, lightness and the prominent features. Its narrow bezel allowed for a comparatively large dial. Together with the lancet-shaped hands and the typical Lange displays for the date and day of week, it assures excellent legibility.

The challenge of a manufacture movement

With the youngest member of the ODYSSEUS watch family, A. Lange & Söhne once again forayed into unknown territory, thus underscoring its expertise in the area of short-time measurement. To this day, designing and building a chronograph calibre is considered to be one of the greatest challenges in precision watchmaking. Only a few manufacturers possess the knowledge and ability to develop and craft a similarly complex movement. With a total of 13 manufacture movements, chronographs have been among the most coveted A. Lange & Söhne models since 1999.

“The ODYSSEUS CHRONOGRAPH transports the contemporary and one-of-a-kind design of the watch family to a new technical dimension. It meets all the requirements of a stopwatch suitable for many fields of application, without relinquishing the hallmarks of Lange precision watchmaking,” says Anthony de Haas, Director of Product Development.

To retain the characteristic dial design of the ODYSSEUS, the manufactory developed a customised movement that positions both chronograph hands in the centre, the minute counter with a lozenge-shaped tip as well as the red chrono seconds hand. As a consequence, the totalisers, which are conventionally arranged at 3 and 9 o’clock, could be dispensed with, and the style-defining positions of the outsize date and day of the week could be maintained. 

Owing to the expansion of the measuring range from 30 to 60 minutes, the Lange developers succeeded in introducing new fields of application for the chronograph. Additionally, it is endowed with an innovative, dynamic reset-to-zero function. When the reset-to-zero button at 4 o’clock is actuated after a time measurement, a short but impressive spectacle ensues: while the minute counter jumps back to its starting position in the conventional way, the red chrono seconds hand covers the entire distance travelled beforehand within a fraction of a second ‒ one full revolution for each measured minute. If the minute counter has not reached the 30-minute mark yet, the two hands move anti-clockwise. If the minute counter has passed the 30-minute mark, both hands will advance to zero clockwise. At high speed, the chrono seconds hand performs a full revolution for every minute required to reach the full hour.

Dual-function button

To assure safe and easy operation of the chronograph, the Lange product developers equipped the specially sealed, tapered buttons with a novel dual function. In the normal position of the screw-down crown, the buttons at 2 and 4 o’clock are used to operate the chronograph functions: start, stop and reset to zero. When the crown is pulled, the date and day of the week can be corrected with a newly developed mechanism.

A distinctive design

The ODYSSEUS CHRONOGRAPH takes centre stage in a three-part stainless-steel case with a diameter of 42.5 millimetres that withstands a test pressure of 12 bar and is robust enough to accompany its wearer even during sports and leisure activities. As with the other members of the watch family, the surfaces are matted and the edges are accentuated with a chamfer: the combination of brushed surfaces and chamfered edges creates an impressive play of light and is echoed on the lugs and links of the solid stainless-steel bracelet.

The chronograph, which is limited to 100 watches, is equipped with a dial whose special architecture creates an illusion of depth ‒ a feature shared by the previous ODYSSEUS models. The inner surface of the black main dial boasts a textured surface, the notched baton appliques made of white gold and the subsidiary seconds scale are underlaid with concentric circles. A palladium-coloured flange ring with a printed two-part minute scale frames the dial. The scale for the fractions of a second is positioned on the outer circumference, while the scale for minutes and seconds is arranged further inside. Printed in red, the number 60 at 12 o’clock and the red chrono seconds hand accentuate the equally elegant and dynamic appearance of the ODYSSEUS CHRONOGRAPH. The typical Lange lancet-shaped hour and minute hands, which are slightly more prominent in the watches of the ODYSSEUS family, contrast well against the background. They are luminous as well as the inner surfaces of the baton appliques.

The large displays for the date and the day of week also contribute to the timepiece’s distinctive appearance. The modern, digital aesthetics are inspired by a masterpiece of historic Saxon watchmaking artistry that is closely connected with the A. Lange & Söhne history: the Five-Minute Clock in the Dresden Semper Opera. To mark the opening of the Opera House in 1841, the famous stage clock ‒ uncommon for that period, it displayed the time digitally ‒ was created by Court Clockmaker Johann Christian Friedrich Gutkaes. He was both apprentice master and father-in-law to Ferdinand Adolph Lange, the founding father of Glashütte precision watchmaking.

The proprietary path to perfection

The L156.1 DATOMATIC calibre ‒ the manufactory’s first self-winding chronograph movement ‒ powers the ODYSSEUS CHRONOGRAPH. The attribute DATOMATIC is derived from the words “date” and “automatic”. A skeletonised and partially black-rhodiumed central rotor with a centrifugal mass in 950 platinum assures efficient winding. When fully wound, the mainspring barrel delivers a maximum power reserve of 50 hours. The oscillation system is designed to ensure optimum rate accuracy. To this end, the balance, which beats at a frequency of 28,800 semi-oscillations per hour (4 hertz), was suspended beneath the balance bridge; it is hand-engraved with a stylised wave pattern alluding to the water resistance of the watch and the possible applications in sports settings.

The A. Lange & Söhne watchmakers have always cut their own path in crafting and finishing their movements. Thus, the L156.1 DATOMATIC calibre is also assembled twice to ensure maximum precision. Many unique, traditional elements are incorporated, for example bridges and plates made of untreated German silver, the hand-engraved balance bridge or the gold chatons secured by blued screws. Additionally, all components, even those that are no longer visible once the movement is fully assembled, are, for the greater part, elaborately finished by hand. This can be admired through the sapphire-crystal caseback.

“The ODYSSEUS CHRONOGRAPH symbolises the pioneering spirit of the manufactory, to explore previously undiscovered fields, to overcome obstacles and to implement innovative technical solutions,” says Lange CEO Wilhelm Schmid. “Inventiveness and creativity, two A. Lange & Söhne key areas of expertise, will continue to break the mould in traditional precision watchmaking.”

2019 

With the ODYSSEUS, A. Lange & Söhne introduced its newest watch family. It combined sporty elegance with fine watchmaking and was the first of the manufactory’s regularly produced stainless steel watches to be water-resistant to a test pressure of 12 bar, therefore meeting the demands of many Lange collectors for a perfectly crafted timepiece that could be worn for everyday sporting activities and for leisure. The three-dimensional dial, whose different surface finishes accentuate the dark blue, matches the colour of the large day-of-week and date displays. The notched baton appliqués made of white gold are backed with concentric circles just like the scale of the subsidiary seconds. They contrast against the structured and matted inner surfaces of the main and subsidiary dial. The minute scale is printed on the argenté-coloured flange ring, the classic Lange lancet-shaped hour and minute hands stand out prominently and, like the inner surfaces of the baton appliqués, they are luminous. The automatic manufacture calibre L155.1 DATOMATIC was developed in-house, especially for the ODYSSEUS. A skeletonised and partially black-rhodiumed rotor with a 950-platinum centrifugal mass allows for the elaborately manually-finished movement to be observed. It has a balance, which beats at a frequency of 28,800 semi-oscillations per hour (4 hertz), and a power reserve of 50 hours when fully wound. In contrast to other Lange calibres, the oscillation system is held by a balance bridge secured at two points instead of a balance cock. In a nod to its sporting capabilities, a hand-engraved wave motif provides an accent touch. The ODYSSEUS has a diameter of 40.5 millimetres and features a stainless-steel strap, the length of which can be adjusted in small increments up to 7 millimetres thanks to a safety deployant buckle.

2020

A year after its launch, a new elegant version in 18-carat white gold was added to the watch family. This one was made available with a rubber (363.068) or leather (363.038) strap. In terms of ruggedness and water resistance, it possesses the same properties as the stainless-steel ODYSSEUS and its case is also pressure-tested up to 12 bar. The precious metal, white gold, is paired with a grey dial. White-gold hands and notched baton appliqués assure good legibility against the dark background. The numerals of the outsize date and the letters of the large-format day-of-week display stand out in white on grey. Like the hour and minute hands, the hour markers are luminous. The glossy matte inner surfaces of the main and subsidiary dials contrast with the embossed groove structure beneath the applied hour markers and the subsidiary seconds dial. The red 60 on the bevelled argenté flange ring with the printed minute scale also provides a subtle touch of colour.

2022

At Watches and Wonders 2022 in Geneva, A. Lange & Söhne presented the titanium ODYSSEUS in a limited edition of 250 pieces, with a matching strap and new ice-blue dial. It is the first Lange watch made from this lightweight, corrosion-resistant and durable material. Its low weight (43 percent lighter than the stainless-steel version) made the model even more comfortable to wear. In addition to its new colour, the dial features its own surface texture that is especially evident in the decor on the hour ring. Here, the fine guilloched grooves extend in gentle arcs to the hour markers, creating an embedded look. The motif reappears in circular lines on the scale of the subsidiary seconds dial. The irregularly structured inner surfaces of the main and subsidiary dials contrast with the uniform lines. The specially-developed titanium strap with an adjustable length forms a harmonious ensemble with the case.

2023

A year later, the ODYSSEUS CHRONOGRAPH - limited to 100 pieces - made its debut at Watches and Wonders 2023 in Geneva. In a stainless-steel case, the newly-developed calibre L156.1 DATOMATIC celebrated its premiere as the manufactory’s first automatic chronograph movement. With a central pair of chronograph hands and a measuring range of 60 minutes, it sets standards in terms of precision and legibility. The calibre, which clocks 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 hertz) and offers a power reserve of 50 hours when fully wound, is equipped with a new mechanism for setting the chronograph hand to zero: while the minute counter jumps back to its starting position in the conventional way, the red chrono seconds hand covers the entire distance travelled beforehand within a fraction of a second ‒ one full revolution for each measured minute. If the minute counter has not reached the 30-minute mark yet, the two hands move anti-clockwise. If the minute counter has passed the 30-minute mark, both hands will advance to zero clockwise. At high speed, the chrono seconds hand performs a full revolution for every minute required to reach the full hour. The two wedge-shaped pushers are also equipped with a new type of dual function - in the screwed crown’s normal position, both pushers at 2 and 4 o’clock are used to control the chronograph functions: start, stop and zero-reset. With the crown pulled out to the first position, the date and day of the week can be corrected using a newly-developed mechanism.

The ODYSSEUS is designed for ambitious individuals who want a watch that accompanies them in life’s most memorable moments. Its development is inspired by the concept of an artisanally perfected timepiece which is so robust and water-resistant that it can also be worn in leisure and sports settings. The large day and date display can be conveniently adjusted with the prominent tapered buttons; their distinctive design is now also a hallmark of A. Lange & Söhne’s first titanium watch.

New remarkably lightweight case material

The decision to craft the case and bracelet of the third ODYSSEUS model in titanium is based on the special properties of the material. Titanium weighs about 43 per cent less than stainless steel, clearly improving the already high level of comfort of the ODYSSEUS on the wrist. With a diameter of 40.5 millimetres and a height of 11.1 millimetres, the watch hugs the wrist almost unnoticeably. Moreover, titanium is extremely robust. When exposed to oxygen, it produces a very thin transparent oxide coating that protects the material against external factors and makes it corrosion-resistant. Its warm gloss is paired with a unique patina that comes to the fore in the ODYSSEUS with a combination of polished, matte, and brushed surfaces. Like the stainless-steel and white-gold versions, the titanium ODYSSEUS has a water-resistant case with a screw-down crown that can handle a test pressure of 12 bar.

New colour and distinctive structure

In keeping with the other versions of the ODYSSEUS family, the titanium edition, limited to 250 watches, also has a multi-part dial. In addition to the new ice-blue colour, it features its own surface structure, primarily showcased by the decor on the hour ring. Here, the fine guilloched grooves extend in gentle arcs to the hour markers, creating an embedded look. This amplifies the three-dimensional effect and doubles as an exclusive signature.

The motif reappears in circular lines on the scale of the subsidiary seconds dial. The irregularly structured inner surfaces of the main and subsidiary dials contrast with the uniform lines. The argenté-coloured flange ring with the minute scale forms a shadow gap and adds lucidity to the dial. Among the Arabic five-minute numerals in black, the red printed 60 stands out as a colour accent. The sporty nature of the watch is emphasised by prominent hour and minute hands with the Lange-typical lance shape. Just like the notched baton appliques, they are made of polished white gold and filled with a luminous compound.

Titanium bracelet with safety deployant buckle

For its first watch with a titanium case, A. Lange & Söhne created a matching bracelet that forms a harmonious entity with the case. Like the stainless-steel bracelet of the first ODYSSEUS, it is very comfortable to wear. Thanks to its precision-stepped, easily operable adjustment mechanism, the length of the closed bracelet can be changed by as much as 7 millimetres.

A robust, superbly finished movement

Specially conceived for sports and leisure activities, the ODYSSEUS features a reliable and precise self-winding movement that matches the upscale expectations of a manufactory focused on craftsmanship in every respect. This is clearly reflected by the design of the L155.1 DATOMATIC movement that can be admired through the sapphire-crystal caseback. The name DATOMATIC comes from the words “date” and “automatic”. A skeletonised and partially black-rhodiumed central rotor with a centrifugal mass in 950 platinum delivers ample winding power. When fully wound, the watch has a power reserve of 50 hours. The oscillation system is designed for superb rate stability. For this purpose, the balance – it beats with a frequency of 28,800 semi-oscillations per hour (4 hertz) – has been aerodynamically optimised with recessed poising screws and firmly suspended beneath the balance bridge. It is manually engraved with a stylised wave pattern, evoking the water-resistance of the watch. In line with Lange’s philosophy, all parts are lavishly hand-finished and the movement is assembled twice. This includes the German-silver plate decorated with Glashütte ribbing and the screwed gold chaton that marks the position of the escape wheel.

When A. Lange & Söhne’s product developers come up with new ideas, they first have to answer an important question: is it possible to integrate the concept into one of our existing product families? Or will it require a totally new approach? In some cases, this question is not easy to answer and different attempts are needed to find the best solution. This was the case with the ODYSSEUS. When it became clear that the combination of the iconic Lange outsize date in the classic double aperture with an equally large day display on the opposite side produced a distinctive design, the consensus was that this model would be the cornerstone for the sixth watch family at A. Lange & Söhne.

Launched on 24 October 2019, exactly 25 years to the day after the debut of the first new-era timepiece collection by Walter Lange and Günter Blümlein, it was obvious that the ODYSSEUS was designed for active people who wish to wear their Lange watch even in situations when a precision mechanical model would ordinarily be set aside. Its prominently sculpted design emphasises the dynamic personality of the watch.

The second model of the new family combines a 40.5-millimetre white-gold case with a grey dial. White-gold hands and notched baton appliques assure good legibility against the dark background. The numerals of the outsize date and the letters of the large-format day display stand out in white on grey. With a height of 2.4 millimetres, they are easily readable even in poor light conditions. Like the hour and minute hands, the hour markers are luminous. The embossed groove structure beneath the applied hour markers and the subsidiary seconds scale enhances the textured effect of the dial. It contrasts against the glossy matt inner surfaces of the main and subsidiary dials. The red 60 on the bevelled argenté-coloured flange ring with the printed minute scale provides a subtle colour accent.

The tapered buttons for correcting the day and the date are arranged above and beneath the crown. They accentuate the prominent shape of the three-part white-gold case. The finissage of the case and the lugs is characterised by the interplay of brushed surfaces and polished chamfers. Integrated straps are available in hand-stitched leather or black rubber. The latter features air ducts on the inside for superb wearing comfort.

The watch is powered by the L155.1 DATOMATIC manufacture calibre developed exclusively for the ODYSSEUS. Its name stands for the combination of a date mechanism and automatic winding. To guarantee high rate accuracy regardless of external factors, the balance operates at a frequency of 28,800 semi-oscillations per hour (4 hertz). Recessed poising screws minimise air turbulence that could affect the rate. The movement has a maximum power reserve of 50 hours. The skeletonised and partially black-rhodiumed central rotor with a centrifugal mass in platinum assures dependable energy delivery.

In line with Lange’s philosophy, all parts are lavishly hand-finished and the movement is assembled twice. Many artisanal details can be discovered with a glance through the sapphire-crystal caseback. They include the German silver plate decorated with Glashütte ribbing, the wave pattern engraved on the balance bridge, and the screwed gold chaton above the escape wheel.

The ODYSSEUS is a sporty-elegant watch for people who admire fine watchmaking but live active lives. The prominent design of the stainless-steel case with a diameter of 40.5 millimetres and a height of 11.1 millimetres, featuring an integrated stainless-steel bracelet, embraces traditional brand elements and reinterprets them. This applies particularly to the sculpted, slightly cantilevered middle band of the three-part case. Its surfaces are decorated with a satin contour finish and the edges are emphasised with a chamfer. The combination of brushed surfaces and chamfered edges is echoed on the lugs and links of the massive stainless-steel bracelet. Specially sealed, tapered buttons for correcting the date and the day of week are arranged at 2 and 4 o’clock.

The ODYSSEUS is the first Lange watch with a water-resistant case and a screw-down crown, exposed to a test pressure of 12 bar.

New watch family

Today, A. Lange & Söhne has five watch families: LANGE 1, SAXONIA, 1815, RICHARD LANGE and ZEITWERK. The ODYSSEUS is a new face that introduces a sixth watch family. And as usual at Lange, it is endowed not only with a distinctive design but also with a newly developed movement.

Date and day-of-week display          

What first meets the eye on the dark-blue dial is the day-of-week and date display. Located on the right, the Lange outsize date in the classic double aperture is complemented with an equally large day-of-week display on the left. The outer verticals of the frames echo the curvature of the bezel.  The typical Lange font is used for both displays, though here, the numerals and letters are white against a blue background. The newly developed mechanism consists of 99 individual parts.

Three-dimensional dial

The dial is made of brass and has several levels with different surfaces. Just like the outer scale of the subsidiary seconds dial, the notched baton appliques made of white gold lie above concentric lines, a technique called azurage. They contrast against the grained inner surfaces of the main and subsidiary dial. A bevelled, argenté-coloured flange ring with a printed minute scale frames the dial. The number 60, printed in red at 12 o'clock, provides a colourful accent. In the ODYSSEUS, the brand-typical lancet-shaped hands for hours and minutes are more prominent than in other watches of the manufactory. Just like the inner surfaces of the baton appliques, they are luminous.

Adjustable steel bracelet

The stainless-steel bracelet is eminently comfortable to wear. Its length can be adjusted in small steps up to 7 millimetres thanks to a safety deployant buckle. By pressing the pusher embossed with the Lange signature the bracelet can be pulled or pushed to adjust the desired length. It is not necessary to open the buckle. If required, the bracelet can also be extended by adding further links.

Movement for an active lifestyle

For the ODYSSEUS, A. Lange & Söhne developed the new L155.1 DATOMATIC manufacture calibre. The name DATOMATIC visible on the rotor stands for the date mechanism combined with automatic winding. With a diameter of 32.9 millimetres, the movement – visible through the sapphire-crystal caseback – completely fills the case. It features a unidirectionally winding central rotor with a centrifugal mass in platinum. Thanks to the skeletonisation of the rotor further details of the manually executed, lavish finissage of the movement can be observed.

New escapement

When fully wound, the mainspring barrel delivers a maximum power reserve of 50 hours. To guarantee high rate accuracy regardless of external factors, the new self-winding calibre operates at a frequency of 28,800 semi-oscillations per hour (4 hertz). The newly designed balance is regulated with four countersunk poising screws that are flush with the outside of the balance-wheel rim. This design reduces turbulence despite the higher frequency. Together with the freely oscillating balance spring made in-house, the minimised air resistance has a positive impact on the movement’s rate accuracy and energy efficiency.

Bridge instead of balance cock

The oscillation system of the ODYSSEUS is held by a balance wheel bridge secured at two points. It is manually engraved with a wave motif. Other movement decorations also express the concept of combining traditional facets with new ones. All frame parts of the calibre L155.1 DATOMATIC are made of German silver. Additionally, elements of the rotor were black-rhodiumed. In accordance with the A. Lange & Söhne philosophy, the entire movement is elaborately finished by hand and assembled twice. A further typical Lange hallmark, a screwed gold chaton secures the upper bearing jewel of the escape-wheel arbor. It also marks the position of the escapement and places a traditional accent, right there where the heart of the watch beats.