„Homage to F. A. Lange”: 1815 Thin, 1815 Rattrapante & Tourbograph Perpetual – 175th anniversary of Saxon fine watchmaking

Three “Homage to F. A. Lange” novelties featuring special movement decorations and dials dedicated to Ferdinand Adolph Lange. 175 years ago, he opened his first workshop in Glashütte, thus laying the cornerstone for the Saxonian art of watchmaking

(175^th anniversary trio)

• 1815 Thin “Honey Gold” – Arabic numerals and a railway-track minute scale on the enamelled dial is inspired by Lange pocket watches and celebrates classical yet understated watchmaking from Saxony. LE 175 pieces. Diameter: 38mm. Height: 6.3mm.
• 1815 Rattrapante “Honey Gold” – the black (solid silver) dial with a honey gold case celebrates the classic complications chronograph and rattrapante at its best. LE 100 pieces. Diameter: 41.2mm. Height: 12.6mm.
• Tourbograph Perpetual “Honey Gold” – the black-rhodiumed honey gold dial with raised numerals and scales is highly sophisticated and brings the grand complication (tourbillon, fusée-and-chain-transmission, rattrapante chronograph and perpetual calendar) to a new level. LE 50 pieces. Diameter: 43mm. Height: 16.6mm.

Edited Press Release

The seventh of December 1845 marks a turning point in the history of the town of Glashütte. The inauguration of the first pocket watch workshop in the former mining community south of Dresden by Ferdinand Adolph Lange, then 30 years old, laid the cornerstone for Saxon precision watchmaking. To commemorate the anniversary, A. Lange & Söhne is now presenting three limited-edition timepieces that share the epithet “Homage to F. A. Lange” – the 1815 RATTRAPANTE HONEYGOLD, the TOURBOGRAPH PERPETUAL HONEYGOLD and the 1815 THIN HONEYGOLD. All three models belong to the 1815 watch family that refers to Ferdinand Adolph Lange’s birth year with its name.

1815 THIN HONEYGOLD “Homage to F. A. Lange”

(Unique combination: 1815 THIN HONEYGOLD “Homage to F. A. Lange” with enamel dial)

With the 1815 THIN HONEYGOLD “Homage to F. A. Lange”, A. Lange & Söhne celebrates the establishment of Saxon precision watchmaking 175 years ago, when Ferdinand Adolph Lange founded his manufactory for fine timepieces. The two-hand watch in a limited edition of 175 pieces features a case in Lange’s exclusive honey gold, a white enamel dial, and special movement finissage.

With its numerous traditional hallmarks, the 1815 THIN HONEYGOLD “Homage to F. A. Lange” is also reminiscent of his legendary pocket watches. At the same time, it unites two features that also characterise Ferdinand Adolph Lange’s designs and developments: perfection and clarity.

An elegantly simple design

The case is merely 6.3 millimetres high and has a diameter of 38 millimetres. Just like the hands and the buckle, it consists of honey gold, an alloy developed exclusively for and used only by A. Lange & Söhne. Thanks to special admixtures and special thermal treatment, the metal is harder and thus more scratch-resistant than other gold alloys with a fineness of 18 carats. It was used for the first time in 2010 for the three watches of the “165 Years – Homage to F. A. Lange” anniversary edition. So far, only eight limited editions of watches cased in this exceptional gold alloy with its warm glow have been launched.

The brilliant white, two-part enamel dial stands out prominently in this exclusive framework. The dark-grey printed Arabic numerals and the classic railway-track minute scale contrast well against the bright background.

A sublime creation

Simple and perfect: The L093.1 manufacture calibre of the 1815 THIN HONEYGOLD “Homage to F. A. Lange” 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 dimen-sions 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 bal-ance, it assures optimised rate accuracy.

(Calibre L093.1: Granular three-quarter plate with circular graining on the winder wheels, and black-rhodiumed engravings adorn the movement of the special model)

In all of its artisanal facets, the manually assembled 167-part movement pays tribute to the style introduced by Ferdinand Adolph Lange. Contrary to the Glashütte ribbing commonly used in other Lange models, the German-silver three-quarter plate has a granular surface texture often found in historic Lange pocket watches. The crown and ratchet wheels are visibly integrated in the train bridge and decorated with perfectly executed circular graining. Gold chatons secured by three thermally blued screws trace the path of the power transmitted from the mainspring barrel to the escapement. The invisible quality hallmarks include the two-fold assembly of the movement which guarantees technical and visual perfection.

The freehand engraving on the balance cock is the signature element of all Lange manufacture calibres. The fine lines of the floral pattern are black-rhodiumed, just like the inscription on the plate. The dark hue of the galvanic coating echoes the grey of the dial imprints and at the same time amplifies the three-dimensional effect of the engravings.

 1815 RATTRAPANTE HONEYGOLD “Homage to F. A. Lange”

The newly developed 1815 RATTRAPANTE HONEYGOLD “Homage to F. A. Lange” is one of three models of an exceptional anniversary collection. Limited to 100 watches and exclusively available in A. Lange & Söhne boutiques, the rattrapante chronograph puts the focus on the eponymous complication. It features a case in honey gold, a black dial, and special movement finissage.

(New combination: case in honey gold and black dial)

Unique colour combination

The honey-gold case of the 1815 RATTRAPANTE HONEYGOLD “Homage to F. A. Lange” has a diameter of 41.2 millimetres. The rare case material developed explicitly for A. Lange & Söhne is characterised by exceptional hardness and a warm sheen. For the first time, it has now been combined with a black dial in solid silver that highlights its modern, captivating looks.

Elaborate complication

A Lange & Söhne’s sixth split-seconds chronograph stands out with another premiere: for the first time, the complication is in the spotlight. The complex mechanism ranks among the most elaborate devices in precision watchmaking. The superposed chronograph and rattrapante sweep-seconds hands make it possible during a running time measurement to ascertain any number of lap times within the course of a minute. The chronograph sweep-seconds hand, the lower hand, consists of pink-gold-plated steel. It entrains the superposed rattrapante – also called split-seconds – hand made of rhodiumed steel. Both hands start together when the push-er at two o’clock is actuated. The rattrapante sweep-seconds hand can be stopped inde-pendently of the chronograph sweep-seconds hand and then resynchronised with it. The French word “rattrapante” describes this sequence. The verb “rattraper” means “to catch up again”. This function is controlled with the pusher at ten o’clock. If it is actuated during an ongoing measurement, the rattrapante sweep-seconds hand stops and displays the lap time while the chronograph sweep-seconds hand keeps running. A second actuation of the pusher causes the rattrapante sweep-seconds hand to catch up and then synchronise with the chronograph sweep-seconds hand. This lap-time measurement procedure can be repeated as many times as needed.

A new manufacture calibre

The complex chronograph/rattrapante mechanism is located on the movement side of the new 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).

(Calibre L101.2: granular bridges and black-rhodiumed engravings are hallmarks of the anniversary edition)

Exquisite finissage

The artisanal finish of the manually assembled 365-part movement is inspired by the benchmarks developed by Ferdinand Adolph Lange to make his calibres inimitable. The raised Ger-man-silver frame parts are endowed with granular surfaces that are reminiscent of his historic pocket watches in the 1A quality category. Among other features, they had gold poising screws, screwed gold chatons to secure the bearing jewels and a hand-engraved balance cock. Today, these traditional quality hallmarks can again be found in many A. Lange & Söhne timepieces.

All upper sides of the moving parts of the rattrapante chronograph, such as levers, springs, and jumpers, are decorated with straight graining while the chamfers are polished. Chamfer polish-ing acute interior angles a particular challenge. They are elements that reflect the immense manual work involved in such movements. The required degree of perfection is achievable only by experienced finishers with sharp special tools. Great caution is needed during the assembly of the granular frame parts since the sensitive surfaces do not tolerate even the most minute scratches.

All of the fine lines of the free-hand engravings on the balance cock and the chronograph bridge as well as the inscriptions on the bridges are black-rhodiumed. The dark hue of the galvanically applied coating adds plasticity to the engravings. The contemporary evolution of traditional finissage techniques reflects the manufactory’s ambition to never stand still.

TOURBOGRAPH PERPETUAL HONEYGOLD “Homage to F. A. Lange”

Like no other watch, this special model shows how A. Lange & Söhne has evolved the tradition of precision watchmaking and repeatedly infused it with fresh momentum. Five classic complications are combined in a unique masterpiece of technology called TOURBOGRAPH PERPETUAL “Pour le Mérite”, introduced in 2017. As a tribute to Ferdinand Adolph Lange, a limited special edition in honey gold is now debuting with a black-rhodiumed dial made of the same material.

(TOURBOGRAPH PERPETUAL HONEYGOLD “Homage to F. A. Lange”)

Sublime relief in honey gold

With the dial of the TOURBOGRAPH PERPETUAL HONEYGOLD “Homage to F. A. Lange”, A. Lange & Söhne has taken a totally new approach. It is black-rhodiumed and, like the 43-millimetre case, consists of solid, 18-carat honey gold. The raised numerals and scales as well as the logo contrast vividly against the dark background. They are not applied and instead are raised from the material by about 0.15 millimetres. In combination with the relief, this creates an incomparable three-dimensional effect.

The hands of the time and calendar displays as well as the black-rhodiumed lunar disc are made of the same gold alloy. Its two glistening, slightly cambered moons are framed by hand-engraved stars. The dial and the lunar discs are crafted in-house to assure the perfect implementation of the innovative design idea.

Peerlessly complex

With calibre L133.1, the TOURBOGRAPH PERPETUAL HONEYGOLD “Homage to F. A. Lange” is endowed with a movement of peerless complexity; it 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. However, a masterpiece with this name already exists at A. Lange & Söhne: the GRAND COMPLICATION with a total of seven horological complications. It was released in 2013 and crafted only six times.

(Calibre L133.1, movement side: The special model features granularly textured bridges and black-rhodiumed engravings)

(Calibre L133.1, dial side: The calendar module is built around the tourbillon. The lunar disc is made of honey gold)

A quintet of complications

When it was introduced in 2017, the TOURBOGRAPH PERPETUAL “Pour le Mérite” was among the highlights at the SIHH salon in Geneva. The combination of five complications in this arrangement is unique. As long ago as 2005, A. Lange & Söhne had already created a watch with a fusée-and-chain transmission, a tourbillon, and a rattrapante chronograph: the TOURBOGRAPH “Pour le Mérite”. But the addition of a perpetual calendar required more than 200 extra parts, dramatically changing the power flows in the movement and requiring a new design concept.

With analogue displays, the perpetual calendar indicates all month durations correctly until 2100. After a one-time correction, the calendar is then properly calibrated for the next century. It has three subsidiary dials. The date at twelve o’clock and the day at nine o’clock are indicated with honey-gold hands. The month and leap year are both displayed at three o’clock. The upper half of the analogue date accommodates the moon-phase display which is calculated at an accuracy of 122.6 years.

The connection between the perpetual calendar and the rattrapante chronograph posed a spe-cial challenge for the engineers. This is because when both the chronograph function is used and the calendar displays switch, mechanical conflicts must be avoided alongside amplitude fluctuations that could have a negative impact on rate stability. Here, A. Lange & Söhne was able to benefit from its many years of experience in the development of highly complex chrono-graphs. The top-mounted rattrapante (or split-seconds) hand in blued steel can be stopped in-dependently of the gold-plated chronograph hand and also resynchronised with it via the pusher at ten o’clock. This allows any number of lap times to be stopped during a running time meas-urement. The mechanical switching processes are controlled with two column wheels and can be observed in real time through the sapphire-crystal caseback. The 30-minute-counter at nine o’clock completes the repertoire of chronograph displays.

With their carefully orchestrated interaction, the tourbillon and the fusée-and-chain transmission minimise two unavoidable physical phenomena that are common in all mechanical watches: gravity and the waning force of the mainspring. In 1994, A. Lange & Söhne succeeded for the first time in integrating a fusée-and-chain transmission in the compact dimensions of a wristwatch. Via a fusée connected to the spring barrel with a chain, the power of the mainspring is delivered to the movement with constant force thanks to the ingenious way in which the princi-ple of levers is harnessed. A planetary gearing mechanism inside the fusée assures that the flow of power from the mainspring barrel to the escapement is not interrupted while the watch is being wound.

A special finish

The special finissage of the calibre L133.1 was produced with a great artisanal effort and distinguishes itself from the first generation in essential details. The surfaces of the German-silver bridges and cocks are granularly textured and endowed with black-rhodiumed inscriptions. The filigreed lines of the manually engraved chronograph bridge are black-rhodiumed as well. This increases the three-dimensional effect of the pattern as well as the modernity of the traditional technique.

The artisanal decoration also includes the straight graining on the chain. The black polish on several areas of the curved tourbillon bridge challenges the skills of the finissage experts to the utmost. The tourbillon cage is suspended between two diamond endstones as was the case in Ferdinand Adolph Lange’s historic pocket watches of the then highest quality level, the 1A category. Other technical details of that category included a balance wheel with gold poising screws and screwed gold chatons to secure the bearing jewels. To top it off, a diamond endstone was integrated in the hand-engraved balance cock. When reincorporating the company, Walter Lange and Günter Blümlein adopted numerous 1A quality criteria in the new product philosophy to build a bridge between tradition and modernity.

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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 in-house, 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

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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 chrono-graph 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 in-house, 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-minute-counter, tachometer scale
Operating elements
Crown for winding the watch and setting the time; two chrono-graph pushers, one pusher to operate the rattrapante mecha-nism
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

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TOURBOGRAPH PERPETUAL HONEYGOLD “Homage to F. A. Lange” Ref. 706.050FE

Movement
Lange manufacture calibre L133.1, manually wound, fusée-and-chain transmission, crafted to the most exacting Lange quality standards, decorated and assembled by hand; preci-sion-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, rat-trapante 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 relief-engraved numerals and scales
Hands
Hour, minute and calendar display hands: HONEYGOLD®; chronograph hands: steel, gold-plated; rattrapante and 30-minute-counter hands: blued steel
Strap
Hand-stitched leather, dark brown
Buckle
Deployant buckle in 18-carat HONEYGOLD®
Limited edition
50 watches

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