A. Lange & Sohne : Give the gift of time
5 min read
Although we may still be unable to truly fathom the fleeting nature of time, there can be no doubt that spending time face to face with our loved ones and bringing them joy has immeasurable value. The most precious gift of all is time.
LANGE 1 MOON PHASE – a heavenly delight, both day and night
Those who love poetry – but not at the expense of precision – will truly appreciate the Lange 1 Moon Phase. With its eponymous complication, this watch depicts the eternal lunar cycle exactly, paying close attention to detail. Even when earth’s satellite is at its brightest, unfolding its unique magic in the dark night sky, it still accompanies us during the day. This phenomenon, which we rarely notice, is reflected in the extraordinary display of the Lange 1 Moon Phase. While the solid-gold moon charts its path across a bright-blue sky during the day, the fascinating spectacle is set against a dark-blue background at night. To complete the stylish design, the celestial body is accompanied by a myriad of tiny laser-cut stars – 383 of them, to be precise.
The celestial disc completes exactly one turn in each 24-hour period and features different shades of blue thanks to special interference effects. The different times of day are thus displayed in this manner as well. Like all moon-phase displays by A. Lange & Söhne, the manufacture calibre L121.3 mechanism is astronomically precise: it only deviates from the synodic period by a single day once every 122.6 years. The other elements on the solid-silver dial are also bound to impress. The luminous time indication, power-reserve display and Lange outsize date are integrated into the off-centre dial layout in perfect harmony.
LANGEMATIK PERPETUAL – a gift for eternity
The perpetual calendar is one of the most popular and practical features of mechanical time-keeping instruments because the complication allows the wearer to always keep track of important dates – particularly useful over the festive period. The Langematik Perpetual was the very first mechanical wristwatch to combine this complication with the Lange outsize date. Twinning maximum functionality with ease of use, all of the calendar displays can be advanced simultaneously using a single main corrector. The harmonious design ensures that all of the functions – the hour, minute, second, outsize date, day of the week, month, leap-year hand and astronomically precise moon phase – are intuitively legible. Once it has been set correctly, the mechanism is pre-programmed to display the correct date and month, even in leap years, until 2100. This is achieved by the self-winding manufacture calibre L922.1 SAX-0-MAT with Lange’s proprietary ZERO-RESET mechanism, which is developed to set the time with one-second accuracy.
To mark the twentieth anniversary of this technical masterpiece, two limited editions of the Langematik Perpetual were released this year. With each run consisting of just 50 watches, they come in white gold or pink gold with a blue dial. These two precise and stylish timepieces are the perfect companions for a journey to the year 2100.
SAXONIA MOON PHASE – a classic choice
Classics are often particularly popular during the festive period. We give our loved ones classic novels, listen to classical music and look forward to evenings watching classic movies. The Saxonia Moon Phase is a true classic in the realm of fine mechanical watches. It boasts a clear, characterful design with an exciting combination of two popular complications.
Lange’s trademark outsize date is clearly legible and positioned prominently just underneath 12 o’clock. It is balanced by the moon-phase display, which appears at 6 o’clock together with the subsidiary seconds. This design makes for perfect harmony on the solid-silver dial. Finely polished baton appliques in solid gold lend the watch an unsurpassed elegance.
The best classics all have something in common: No matter how many times you read them, listen to them or watch them, you discover something new. The SAXONIA MOON PHASE is no exception, because if you take a closer look, you will spot no fewer than 852 stars on its lunar disc. Turning it over to admire the movement through the sapphire-crystal caseback, you will find a hand-engraved balance cock, a precisely oscillating screw balance, and numerous surfaces embellished with care and skill. A true feast for the senses.
ZEITWERK STRIKING TIME – the sound of time
The ZEITWERK STRIKING TIME is a masterpiece for those who love extraordinary mechanical complications. With this timepiece, A. Lange & Söhne puts not one, but two such complications on the wearer’s wrist: a striking mechanism and precisely jumping numerals displaying the time in digital fashion. Each of these is an outstanding achievement in its own right. Together, they represent a tour de force of contemporary fine watchmaking. When the striking mechanism is activated, it chimes on the hour and the quarter hours.
To the wearer’s delight, the two powerful little steel hammers that make the time audible are also visible in all their glory on the dial. The one on the right chimes on the quarter hours, while the one on the left strikes on the hour. The two gongs embedded in a recess between the dial and the bezel are also clear to see. Every 15 minutes, the mechanism triggers a hammer to strike one of these two gongs. The higher-pitched gong marks the quarter hours three times before a lower chime indicates the full hour.
Not only is the striking mechanism music to the ears, but the precisely jumping numerals are also a feast for the eyes. The large digits of the side-by-side hour and minute displays are an expressive example of clear, intuitively legible design. Within fractions of a second, the patented constant-force escapement advances the jumping numerals display one minute at a time. It is particularly pleasing to see all three numeral discs change simultaneously on the hour. The ZEITWERK STRIKING TIME works to the rhythm of the manufacture calibre L043.2, which is decorated and finished in accordance with all the conventions of Saxon watchmaking artistry. This melodious timepiece is available in white gold with a black dial or pink gold with an argenté dial.
With all the wonderful festivities, winter is a time to reflect and think about the things that really matter in life. A time to escape from the hectic rhythm of everyday life and to find peace. It is also a time to look back with gratitude and give our nearest and dearest something special that will bring them real joy. An A. Lange & Sohne maybe?
