Perpetual sophistication in the distinctive LANGE 1 design
Featuring off-centre displays and a peripheral month ring, the LANGE 1 PERPETUAL CALENDAR imparts a distinct character to a refined complication. Introduced in April 2021, it was initially available in a limited edition of 150 pieces, including a white-gold model with a solid pink-gold dial and a pink-gold version with a grey solid-silver dial. Now, this distinguished collection welcomes a new addition: a platinum model with a striking black dial. The dark backdrop serves to accentuate the moon-phase display, complete with its integrated day/night indicator.
Focused exclusively on its signature complication, the LANGE 1 PERPETUAL CALENDAR, introduced two years ago, exemplifies the pinnacle of precision, design, and originality, resulting in a truly unique allure. This latest model, encased in 950-platinum and measuring 41.9 mm in diameter, is enhanced by a black dial, adding a touch of refined elegance to the watch family. The month ring serves as the foundation for all the displays, with the oversized date and leap year numerals providing a striking contrast against the dark background. All calendar indications switch instantaneously, ensuring clear and unequivocal readings at any moment. They can be adjusted collectively or individually using the correctors. Once set accurately, the mechanism is programmed to accurately display the date until the year 2100.
A perpetual calendar watch the Lange way
In 2001, the enterprising developers at A. Lange & Söhne took on the formidable task of crafting a perpetual calendar mechanism that could gracefully accommodate the varying durations of months and leap years, all while ensuring impeccable legibility. This audacious challenge led to the birth of the LANGEMATIK PERPETUAL.
Their mission was crystal clear: to explore inventive technical solutions while upholding the highest standards of clarity and readability. To safeguard the distinctive design essence of the LANGE 1 watch family, renowned for its off-centre and non-overlapping displays, Lange’s skilled watchmakers embarked on an entirely fresh approach. They conceived a peripheral month ring capable of instantaneous advancement at the close of each month.
This groundbreaking innovation made its debut in 2012 with the launch of the LANGE 1 TOURBILLON PERPETUAL CALENDAR, effectively supplanting the conventional design reliant on a 48-step cam for month display control.
Balanced design and function
“The commitment to tailor the complex mechanical requirements to the characteristic design of
the LANGE 1 presented our developers with constructive challenges, as the large peripheral
ring has to be advanced instantaneously by 30 degrees from one month to the next. Throughout
the month, energy is collected via a cam in order to provide the required power exactly on time,
at midnight on the last day of the month,” explains Anthony de Haas, Director of Product
Development. “Thanks to this design feature in the LANGE 1 PERPETUAL CALENDAR, the
watch familyʼs distinctive face is maintained. The timepiece is therefore also emblematic of our
philosophy to continuously break new ground in the realm of precision watchmaking.”
Precise moon phase
In pursuit of precision, the manufacturer also incorporates a day/night indicator into the moon-phase display, exemplifying their ongoing commitment to accuracy. This feature is designed in two layers, comprising a solid-gold celestial disc adorned with graduated blue tones that completes a full rotation every 24 hours. Against this captivating backdrop, the white-gold moon gracefully follows its synodic orbit, taking precisely 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes, and 3 seconds to do so. Such exactitude is maintained to the extent that the display requires adjustment by just one day after an impressive span of 122.6 years.
Initially introduced with the LANGE 1 MOON PHASE in 2016, this indicator vividly portrays the moon’s journey across a brilliant blue sky during daylight hours and a dark, starry expanse at night, effectively signaling the transition between day and night.
The exceptionally high standards of artisanal craftsmanship maintained by the Saxon manufacturer are immediately evident upon gazing through the sapphire-crystal caseback of calibre L021.3. This movement is meticulously hand-finished and assembled twice to ensure precision and excellence.
The technical attributes of this in-house movement encompass a unidirectional winding rotor crafted from 21-carat gold, featuring a centrifugal mass constructed from 950 platinum. It boasts a commendable power reserve of 50 hours and operates with a balance equipped with eccentric poising weights, oscillating at a frequency of 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour.
Consistent with Lange’s hallmark quality, various elements stand out, such as the plates and bridges constructed from untreated German silver adorned with Glashütte ribbing. Additionally, five gold chatons, secured by blued-steel screws, further demonstrate the brand’s commitment to precision and refinement. The balance cock is painstakingly engraved by hand, with the whiplash spring mounted above it to regulate beat adjustments. These meticulous details underscore the manufacturer’s unwavering dedication to perfection in every facet of its craftsmanship.
About A. Lange & Söhne
In 1845, the visionary watchmaker Ferdinand Adolph Lange from Dresden laid the cornerstone for Saxony’s illustrious precision watchmaking industry when he founded his own manufacturing company. His exceptional pocket watches have since become highly sought-after treasures among collectors worldwide. Following the upheaval of the Second World War, the company faced expropriation, and the name A. Lange & Söhne teetered on the brink of obscurity.
However, in 1990, Walter Lange, the great-grandson of Ferdinand Adolph Lange, displayed remarkable courage by resurrecting the brand. Today, A. Lange & Söhne meticulously produces only a select few thousand wristwatches annually, predominantly crafted in exquisite gold or platinum. These timepieces are exclusively equipped with in-house movements, each intricately finished and meticulously assembled by hand.
With an impressive roster of 71 in-house calibres crafted since 1990, A. Lange & Söhne stands as a frontrunner in the watchmaking industry. Notable achievements include iconic creations like the LANGE 1, renowned for being the first regularly produced wristwatch featuring an oversized date, and the ZEITWERK, distinguished for its precisely jumping numerals. The manufacturer’s unrelenting pursuit of excellence is showcased in extraordinary complications such as the ZEITWERK MINUTE REPEATER, the DATOGRAPH PERPETUAL TOURBILLON, and the TRIPLE SPLIT, each pushing the boundaries of traditional watchmaking artistry to new heights.
In 2019, a new chapter in the brand’s history was inaugurated with the launch of the ODYSSEUS, a sporty and elegant timepiece crafted in stainless steel, marking an exciting evolution for A. Lange & Söhne.
