written by:
the eclecticum

published:
2020-06-25

categories:
A. Lange & Söhne, Novelty 2020, snapshot, watches

Novelty – A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Timezone 2020

A new time-zone watch from A. Lange & Söhne, with a new manufacture calibre (L141.1)


Fifteen years after the first Lange 1 Timezone was introduced it gets a technical and aesthetic upgrade thanks to the new movement – this also marks the completion of the transition for all watches of the Lange 1 family that were originally based on the calibre L901.

(Three versions: YG/champagne (LE 100; Boutique-Edition), WG/black and PG/argenté)



What has changed – first impression:

  • Two of the triangles on the dial are missing, the third one is bolder, and the day/night indication looks more centred
  • Some of the cities have been changed – Hong Kong instead of Singapore, Beirut instead of Cairo, Riyad instead of Moscow to mention only a few
  • Instead of “Doppelfederhaus” there is now “Gangreserve 72 Stunden” written


Good news – the dimensions remain unchanged and the diameter is still 41.9 millimetres and a height of 10.9 millimetres.

On “average” wrists like ours it still will be fine, even for business occasions.

A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Timezone (Wristshot of the former Lange 1 Timezone “Buenos Aires” for exemplification)

(More about the “Buenos Aires” click here: Snapshot Lange 1 Time Zone Buenos Aires)


First conclusion:

In our view, the new Lange 1 Timezone seems to be a development typical for the manufacturer in Glashütte: a new watch/version comes with a new movement, and the improvements concern both aesthetics as well as the technology under the hood. We applaud Lange for keeping with that, particularly since the changes – on the face of the watch – are only subtle but seem to address the few areas which were not ‘perfect’.



As we haven´t seen the novelty in metal yet, we will add (only) some more information and pictures from the official press release:

The Lange 1 Timezone indicates the time at home and in another time zone at a glance. Fifteen years after its launch, it has now been endowed with a new manufacture calibre. Ring-shaped day/night indicators assure good legibility and the new daylight-saving time indication is a useful addition.



In precision watchmaking, the “second time zone” function is a particularly convenient complication, especially because more and more people travel, work and communicate intercontinentally. For them, A. Lange & Söhne had already introduced a watch with two time zones in 2005. It was based on the Lange 1 and comfortably displayed the time in 24 time zones.

The new version of the Lange 1 Time Zone combines functionality with eminent legibility and superb craftsmanship. Its personality is characterised by an asymmetric dial with two time displays, an outsize date and a power-reserve indicator. And it retains the switchable city ring that allows convenient setting of the second time zone.


Two times at a glance

In contrast to world time watches, the Lange 1 Time Zone provides the time at home and the time in a second zone at a glance. While the larger time circle shows home time, the smaller of the two time circles can be set to a second time zone by adjusting the city ring. When the time is adjusted with the crown, both displayed times are corrected simultaneously.


Ring-shaped day/night indicators

One of the key innovations is that the day/night indicators for home time and zone time, originally displayed with rotating arrow hands, have been shifted to the centres of the two time circles. There, together with the hour hand, they inform the user whether the time indication applies to the first or second half of the day. The ring-shaped day/night indicators are not only harmoniously designed, they are also intuitively readable. Featuring blue printed semicircles, the discs rotate once about their axes in 24 hours while the hour hand performs two revolutions in the same period. When it is located in the dial-colour segment, the display spans the period from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on the blue background from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.



Innovative daylight-saving time indication

 The new Lange 1 Time Zone has another convenient feature. It is located in a small aperture of the golden arrow applique at 5 o’clock that indicates the reference location for the zone time that has been set. If the aperture is red, the respective city has a daylight-saving time regime. If standard time applies to the city all year round, the display appears on a bright background. This feature is technically implemented with coding on the underside of the city ring.


Simple change of time zones

A feature retained from the predecessor model is the convenient adjustment of the second time zone based on a switchable city ring with 24 time zones. They were defined in 1884 and are represented by 24 reference locations. When the corrector button at 8 o’clock is pressed, the city ring jumps from west to east 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 beneath the golden arrow applique that stands for that particular time zone. The hands on the large numerals circle can be set to display the time at home or the time in another freely selectable time zone. To simplify the distinction, zone time is indicated with printed Arabic numerals while home time is displayed with gold Roman numeral appliques.


Synchronisation mechanism

The new model also retains the unique synchronisation mechanism that makes it possible to transfer zone time from the smaller to the larger dial. This is useful when – during an extended stay abroad, for instance – the user wishes to swap zone time and main time. If the crown is pulled out to the second position, the times of both zones can be adjusted synchronously. But in the process, if the button for setting the second time zone is pressed and held, the hour hand for zone time will stay in its position. Now, the defined new main time can be set independently of zone time. Finally, it may be necessary to correct the outsize date which is connected with main time. This is done with the pusher at 10 o’clock.


New manufacture calibre





Calibre L141.1 – the most recent one reflects the experience accrued with the development of 65 calibres so far. In comparison with the predecessor model, the 72-hour power reserve is achieved with only one spring 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.




Some more pictures from A. Lange & Söhne for your pleasure:












Click here, for more: https://www.alange-soehne.com/en/stories/novelties-2020

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