New: A. Lange & Söhne releases a new Lange 1 Time Zone and a new 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar

Two additions to the Lange collections – a new Lange 1 Time Zone platinum, and a new 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar in a white gold case with a pink gold dial.

Press Release information with commentary in italics.

New: A. Lange & Söhne releases a new Lange 1 Time Zone and a new 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar

Commentary

Two new additions to the extensive family of watches by Lange. The first is a new version of the popular Lange 1 Time Zone, now in platinum joining two other references in white gold/black and pink gold/silver dial combinations. Other than the case and dial material updates, the watch is the same Lange 1 Timezone released in 2020 with the new caliber L141.1. The first generation Lange 1 Time Zone in 2005 in Dresden in a huge multi city live TV coverage. The Chief Editor was reporting for Timezone.com then, and the assets were published there.

The second new release is the superbly technical 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar launched in 2013. But this new release is the same watch, but in a white gold case, and pink gold (salmon) dial.

Both models are decidedly very commercially biased, and will prove to be hot sellers. We photographed both novelties yesterday, and are preparing full length comprehensive reviews to be published soon.

Release information

Lange 1 Time Zone Platinum

Shanghai, Dubai, Glashütte: with the LANGE 1 TIME ZONE, you literally have the world on your wrist. It displays the time at home and in another time zone at one glance. Ring- shaped day/night displays and the daylight-saving time indication for the second time zone expand the already high degree of functionality. This year, A. Lange & Söhne launches a new edition of this intuitive time-zone watch in 950 platinum with a rhodium- coloured dial. The monochrome colour combination adds a timeless elegance to the technical sophistication and underlines the aspiration of the Saxon watch manufactory to push the boundaries and cut its own path.

The simultaneous display of two zone times is one of the most useful additional functions in precision watchmaking and is highly valued by globally interconnected watch connoisseurs. In 2005, A. Lange & Söhne endowed this complication with a distinctive face in the LANGE 1 TIME ZONE: in addition to home time, this unique timepiece displayed the time in a second zone, easily selected thanks to the cities on the city ring representing 24 time zones. In its second generation, presented in 2020, the cosmopolitan model was equipped with the new manufacture calibre L141.1, featuring an intuitive indication of daylight-saving time, thus further expanding the functionality of this watch. Now, the new edition of the LANGE 1 TIME ZONE showcases a 950-platinum case combined with a rhodium-coloured dial made of solid silver, resulting in a decidedly classic look, a first for this model.

Sophisticated time-zone mechanism in a lucid design

The new edition of the LANGE 1 TIME ZONE presented three years ago, once again embodied the innovative power and creativity of the Lange watchmakers, complemented by the aesthetically appealing design. Here too, the objective was to combine sophisticated micromechanical engineering with a timeless design while assuring superb legibility. By placing the ring with the 24 reference cities on the periphery, the harmonious display arrangement in the distinctive, off-centre dial architecture of the LANGE 1 watch family is not impaired. Home time and zone time, the outsize date and the power-reserve indicator ‒ all displays are clearly visible at any given time.

While the larger time circle indicates home time, the smaller time circle displays the time in a second time zone. When the corrector button at 8 o’clock is actuated, the city ring switches in the easterly direction by one time zone. At the same time, the hour hand in the small subsidiary dial advances by one hour and now indicates the zone time of the city ‒ and corresponding time zone ‒ at which the gold applied arrow marker points. The indication of daylight-saving time constitutes a refined technical feature. A colour segment in the arrow indicates whether the selected city and time zone implement daylight-saving time. If this is the case, the small aperture is filled in red. If standard time is observed in this location all year round, the background remains unchanged.

To distinguish between day and night in both time zones, the LANGE 1 TIME ZONE features coloured ring-shaped day/night indicators linked to the hour hands. They are located in the centre of each time circle and inform the wearer whether the respective time indication is valid When the hour hand is in the dial-coloured area, the display refers to the interval between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.; when the blue background appears, it refers to the interval between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Unique synchronisation mechanism

Additionally, the LANGE 1 TIME ZONE is endowed with an ingeniously designed synchronisation mechanism that allows the zone time to be transferred from the smaller subsidiary dial to the larger one, thus making it possible to define a new main time as home time. When the crown is pulled in the second position, the times of both zones can be adjusted synchronously. However, if the time-zone correction button is pressed and held, the hour hand of the zone-time dial will be stopped in its position. Now, the defined new main time can be set independently of the zone time. Finally, it may be necessary to correct the outsize date, which is connected with main time, by actuating the date correction button at 10 o’clock.

“The LANGE 1 TIME ZONE is an expressive manifestation of our manufactory’s efforts to challenge conventions and break new ground in precision watchmaking through innovative advancements and constructions,” explains Lange-CEO Wilhelm Schmid. “Only in proceeding in this way, do we succeed in developing things from the ground up and building watches that offer unique functions and inimitable designs. Progress and tradition go hand in hand to accommodate our quest for perfection.”

Manufacture calibre L141.1

The heart of the LANGE 1 TIME ZONE, the manufacture calibre L141.1, assures a power reserve of 72 hours, despite having only one mainspring barrel. Further technical details include a classic screw balance and a freely oscillating balance spring crafted in-house and calibrated for a frequency of 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour. Lange-typical quality hallmarks such as the three-quarter plate made of untreated German silver, screwed gold chatons, blued screws, an elaborate whiplash precision index adjuster as well as a balance cock and an intermediate-wheel cock ‒ both hand-engraved ‒ are visible through the sapphire-crystal caseback. The hand-crafted decoration of the movement, which is assembled twice, reflects A. Lange & Söhne’s high standards in every single detail.

Currently three model versions

The dimensions of the watch have not been modified: the case boasts a diameter of 41.9 millimetres and a height of 10.9 millimetres. In addition to the models with white gold/black and pink gold/argenté case/dial combinations, the LANGE 1 TIME ZONE is now also available in 950 platinum with a rhodié dial.

1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar

With the 1815 RATTRAPANTE PERPETUAL CALENDAR, A. Lange & Söhne presents three of the most sophisticated watchmaking complications in a classic design. The equally rare and ambitious combination of a split-seconds or rattrapante chronograph with a perpetual calendar now appears in a new guise, featuring an 18-carat white gold case with a pink-gold dial. The new 1815 RATTRAPANTE PERPETUAL CALENDAR is limited to 100 pieces.

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 measurement of short and long distances: the 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

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

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.

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.