The first A. Lange & Söhne Boutique was inaugurated in Dresden ten years ago. A limited edition of the 1815 – ten watches each in pink and white gold – commemorates the occasion. The special facet of this anniversary model is the hinged cuvette with an engraving of the Dresden Frauenkirche.
The name 1815 stands for the birth year of Ferdinand A. Lange, who established Germany’s precision watchmaking industry in Glashütte.
Lange opened its first point of sale in September 2007, directly adjacent to the Dresden Frauenkirche, a landmark of the baroque city which was restored between 1994 and 2005. It expresses a strong commitment to the roots of Saxon precision watchmaking. This is where Ferdinand Adolph Lange worked as a watchmaker before he moved to Glashütte in 1845 with the intention of crafting the world’s finest timepieces in his newly established manufactory. Additionally, the inauguration signaled a foray into new international markets. Just a few months later, the doors of the second brand embassy opened in Shanghai. Meanwhile, there are 17 Lange boutiques in the world’s most vibrant cities.
The design of the 1815 is characterised by traditional style elements: with blued hands, Arabic numerals and the railway minute markers.
The special model of the 1815 in a 38.5 mm white or pink gold case also stands for tradition and transition. At first sight, it is a classic 1815 with a well-organized dial, subsidiary seconds, and blued steel hands reminiscent of the design of historic pocket watches. Such associations also come to mind given the numerous artisanal details such as the decorative ribbing of the three-quarter plate made of untreated German silver, the gold chatons secured with thermally blued screws, the classic screw balance and the hand-engraved balance cock with the whiplash spring. The name of the watch is Ferdinand Adolph Lange’s birth year. It pays tribute to the visionary founder as does the engraved hinged cover in solid gold, another hallmark of historic pocket watches.
The watch is available in pink gold and white gold, limited to 10 pieces each.
Originally, the dust cover – referred to as a cuvette – served to protect the movement. In the era of water-resistant sapphire-crystal casebacks that reveal artistically finished movements, it has a new purpose. Like the curtain of a stage, it pleases the eye with a dramatic freehand engraving of the Dresden Frauenkirche. Destroyed in the war and reinaugurated on 30 October 2005, the principal oeuvre of Saxon architect George Bähr now stands for a new beginning as a symbol of peace and reconciliation. This aspect is closely related to the successful new start of A. Lange & Söhne in the 1990s.
Specifications
Movement: Lange manufacture calibre L051.1, manually wound; precision-adjusted in five positions; plates and bridges made of untreated German silver; balance cock engraved by hand
Movement parts: 188
Jewels: 23
Screwed gold chatons: 5
Escapement: Lever escapement
Oscillation system: Shock-resistant screw balance, Nivarox® balance spring with a frequency of 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour, precision beat adjustment system with lateral setscrew and whiplash spring
Power reserve: 55 hours when fully wound
Functions: Time in hours and minutes, subsidiary seconds with stop seconds
Operating elements: Crown for winding the watch and setting the time
Case dimensions Diameter: 38.5 millimetres; height: 8.8 millimetres
Movement dimensions Diameter: 30.6 millimetres; height: 4.6 millimetres
Glass and caseback: Sapphire crystal (Mohs hardness 9)
References 235.043 Case Pink gold
References 235.047 Case White gold
Strap: Alligator leather strap, black or brown, with pin buckle
Limited Edition to 10 watches each
Price to be confirmed – the standard 1815 is priced at 21,700 Euro.
