Everything has a name, and every name has a meaning and a reason for being named.
So what is the origin of that famous watch's name?
In this column, we explore the secrets behind the names of watches and share their anecdotes with you.
This time, we will explore the origin of the name "Odysseus," A. Lange & Söhne's first sporty watch, which made a spectacular debut.
Articles published in March 2020
A. Lange & Söhne "Odysseus"
A. Lange & Söhne's first sporty watch. This is the brand's first regular model to feature a stainless steel exterior. Automatic (Cal. L155.1 DATOMATIC). 31 jewels. 28,800 vph. Power reserve of approximately 50 hours. Stainless steel (diameter 40.5mm, thickness 11.1mm). Water resistant to 12 bar. Price: 3.1 million yen (excluding tax, available only in boutiques until April 2020).
A. Lange & Söhne was reborn after the reunification of East and West Germany and released its first collection on October 24, 1994. The new Odysseus watch was released on October 24, 2019, marking the 25th anniversary of that reunification.
The Odysseus is a particularly special model for A. Lange & Söhne. In fact, the development project was carried out with exceptional care, taking more than 10 years to complete.
The biggest feature of the Odysseus is that it is the first stainless steel model in A. Lange & Söhne's standard model range, which has long been a highly requested feature.
Luxury watch brands typically use precious metal cases made of gold or platinum. It's common to hear owners who normally wear precious metal models request a lightweight, hard, and scratch-resistant steel case for weekend leisure wear. This is how the so-called "luxury sports watch" was born.
A. Lange & Söhne has been receiving requests for this since the time of Günter Blümlein, which means it has been around since the very beginning of the company's revival.
Along with Walter Lange (1924-2017), the fourth generation of the A. Lange & Söhne family, Günter Blümlein (1943-2001) was the man who made the greatest contribution to the revival of the brand following the reunification of East and West Germany in 1990.
After many twists and turns, development finally began about 10 years ago. The reason it took more than 10 years to complete was, of course, due to the development of a new movement.
It is equipped with a mechanism that allows you to advance the date (oversize date) and day of the week in one-day increments using the push buttons above and below the crown. What's even more noteworthy is that you can also reset the date and day of the week using the crown. This is an innovative mechanism that any watch enthusiast will understand.
However, the most time-consuming part was coming up with a face that would be instantly recognizable as an A. Lange & Söhne watch. The Odysseus was born, and indeed, it has a stunning design that is instantly recognizable as an A. Lange & Söhne watch. Incidentally, development of the movement apparently began after the face design was decided. Therefore, if the design had been different, this groundbreaking day-date mechanism may never have been conceived.
