For the 175 years of watchmaking in Saxony, A. Lange & Söhne presents a special edition “Homage to F. A. Lange” of 3 new models to the 1815 family – all in honey gold and special decorations on the movement and dials dedicated to Ferdinand Adolph Lange in establishing the manufactory in 1815.
The three new models are the 1815 Thin, the 1815 Rattrapante and the Tourbograph Perpetual, all in honey gold.
Press Release information (edited)
1815 THIN HONEYGOLD
With a diameter of only 38 millimetres, this timelessly elegant two-hand watch is a mere 6.3 millimetres high. With Arabic numerals and a railway-track minute scale, the intricately hand-made enamel dial emphasises the design inspired by Lange pocket watches. The edition is limited to 175 watches.
The movement used in the 1815 THIN HONEYGOLD “Homage to F. A. Lange” L093.1. This is a manufacture calibre of the 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.
Limited Edition 175 watches.
1815 RATTRAPANTE HONEYGOLD
This is the first watch from A. Lange & Söhne which places the classic complications of timekeeping – chronograph and rattrapante – in the spotlight in their pure forms. Additionally, for this watch – which is limited to 100 pieces – the exclusive case material honey gold was used for the first time in combination with a black dial made from solid silver.
The movement is a new caliber, 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).
Limited Edition 100 watches. Special boutique edition.
TOURBOGRAPH PERPETUAL HONEYGOLD
The TOURBOGRAPH PERPETUAL HONEYGOLD is further proof of our desire to always push the envelope of precision watchmaking. Only 50 pieces of the most complex timepiece of the new anniversary edition will be made. Two of its five complications – tourbillon and fusée-andchain transmission – have the single purpose of further increasing the accuracy of the watch. Orchestrating the perfect interaction between chronograph, rattrapante and perpetual calendar is a major watchmaking challenge. For the dial arrangement, A. Lange & Söhne took a completely new approach: it is made of black-rhodiumed honey gold with raised numerals and scales that stand out from the dark background as a ground relief.
The TOURBOGRAPH PERPETUAL HONEYGOLD “Homage to F. A. Lange” is endowed with a movement of peerless complexity. The calibre L133.1 consists of 684 parts. It fully complies with the rules of classic precision watchmaking with design details such as column wheel control for the rattrapante chronograph, the screw balance, and its artisanal finissage. It would be legitimate to call this watch a grand complication.
Limited Edition 50 watches.
We are expecting to handle and photograph these watches soon. Watch this space for our full hands on, detailed review!
Specifications
1815 THIN HONEYGOLD “Homage to F. A. Lange” Ref. 239.050
Movement
Lange manufacture calibre L093.1, manually wound, crafted to the most exacting Lange quality standards, decorated and assembled by hand; precision-adjusted in five positions; plates made of untreated German silver; balance cock engraved by hand
Movement parts 167, No. of jewels 21 Screwed gold chatons 3
Escapement
Lever escapement Oscillation system Shock-resistant screw balance; balance spring crafted inhouse, frequency 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour; precision beat adjustment system with lateral setscrew and whiplash spring
Power reserve 72 hours when fully wound
Functions
Time in hours and minutes
Operating elements
Crown for winding the watch and setting the time
Case dimensions
Diameter: 38.0 millimetres; height: 6.3 millimetres Movement dimensions Diameter: 28.0 millimetres; height: 2.9 millimetres Glass and caseback Sapphire crystal (Mohs hardness 9) Case 18-carat HONEYGOLD® Dial Copper, white enamelled Hands 18-carat HONEYGOLD® Strap Hand-stitched leather, dark brown Buckle Prong buckle in 18-carat HONEYGOLD®
Limited edition 175 watches
1815 RATTRAPANTE HONEYGOLD “Homage to F. A. Lange” Ref. 425.050
Movement
Lange manufacture calibre L101.2, manually wound, crafted to the most exacting Lange quality standards, decorated and assembled by hand; precision-adjusted in five positions; plates made of untreated German silver; balance cock and chronograph bridge engraved by hand; engravings black-rhodiumed
Movement parts 365 No. of jewels 36 Screwed gold chatons 4
Escapement
Lever escapement Oscillation system Shock-resistant screw balance; balance spring crafted inhouse, frequency 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour; precision beat adjustment system with lateral setscrew and whiplash spring
Power reserve 58 hours when fully wound
Functions
Time display with hours and minutes and subsidiary seconds with stop seconds; rattrapante chronograph with 30-minutecounter, tachometer scale
Operating elements
Crown for winding the watch and setting the time; two chronograph pushers, one pusher to operate the rattrapante mechanism
Case dimensions
Diameter: 41.2 millimetres; height: 12.6 millimetres Movement dimensions Diameter: 32.6 millimetres; height: 7.4 millimetres Glass and caseback Sapphire crystal (Mohs hardness 9) Case 18-carat HONEYGOLD® Dial Solid silver, black Hands Hours, minutes, and subsidiary seconds: pink gold 30-minute-counter: white gold Chronograph sweep-seconds hand: steel, pink-gold-plated Rattrapante sweep-seconds hand: rhodiumed steel Strap Hand-stitched leather, dark brown Buckle Prong buckle in 18-carat HONEYGOLD®
Limited edition 100 watches Special boutique edition
TOURBOGRAPH PERPETUAL HONEYGOLD “Homage to F. A. Lange” Ref. 706.050FE
Movement
Lange manufacture calibre L133.1, manually wound, fuséeand-chain transmission, crafted to the most exacting Lange quality standards, decorated and assembled by hand; precision-adjusted in five positions; plates and bridges made of untreated German silver; chronograph bridge engraved by hand
Movement parts 684 (chain counted as one part); chain parts: 636 No. of jewels 52, including 2 diamond endstones Screwed gold chatons 6
Escapement
Lever escapement Oscillation system Shock-resistant screw balance; balance spring manufactured in-house, frequency 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour Power reserve 36 hours when fully wound
Functions
Time display in hours and minutes; tourbillon; chronograph with rattrapante function; perpetual calendar with date, day, month, leap year; moon-phase display
Operating elements
Crown for winding the watch and setting the time, two pushers for operating the chronograph at two and four o’clock, rattrapante button at ten o’clock; separate recessed correction push pieces for advancing the date, day, month and moon phase
Case dimensions
Diameter: 43.0 millimetres; height: 16.6 millimetres Movement dimensions Diameter: 32.0 millimetres; height: 10.9 millimetres Glass and caseback Sapphire crystal (Mohs hardness 9) Case 18-carat HONEYGOLD® Dial 18-carat HONEYGOLD®, black-rhodiumed, with reliefengraved numerals and scales Hands Hour, minute and calendar display hands: HONEYGOLD®; chronograph hands: steel, gold-plated; rattrapante and 30minute-counter hands: blued steel Strap Hand-stitched leather, dark brown Buckle Deployant buckle in 18-carat HONEYGOLD®
Limited edition 50 watches
5 Comments
Peter, thanks for the superb review. I really like the Rattrapante. I really hope Lange keeps this in the catalogue in a regular Rose Gold / White Gold / Platinum case. Though some may prefer Lange does not to preserve its rarity.
I am not sure what I think of the 1815 Thin. Though I must say that the “regular” 1815 with seconds subdial in rose gold is one of my favourite dress-watches.
Thanks Kunal for your kind comments. But the full hands-on review with our own photographs are coming soon. When the carnet gets to Singapore and I have had a chance to handle the watches. Till then, keep safe.
Thank you for the report, Peter.
I think the Rattrapante is by far my favourite. Lovely dial and hands. Not so sure about the 1815 thin at that price level, although it is attractive enough.
Thanks Daryll..curiously, the official picture of the Tourbograph shows the image in honey gold (Lange used to call this honey coloured gold, but now simplified), but the hallmark shows PT950. My former co-moderator of the Lange Forum at Timezone pointed this out to me last evening.
That’s a really interesting observation. I’d be interested to know what Lange says about that…