A. Lange & Söhne's New Watches for 2022

Richard Lange Minute Repeater

The Richard Lange family has been joined by the Richard Lange Minute Repeater, a timepiece with a timepiece that follows tradition but has evolved to suit modern times. It is limited to 50 pieces and will be available exclusively in boutiques.

　Among the musical mechanisms in wristwatches, the minute repeater, which operates with minute-level accuracy, is one of the most difficult and complex mechanisms to master. The history of the minute repeater at A. Lange & Söhne dates back to pocket watches from the late 19th century, and in 2013 the company revived the minute repeater in a Grand Complication featuring a variety of features, including a rattrapante chronograph and a perpetual calendar. Furthermore, in 15, the company unveiled the Zeitwerg Minute Repeater, which synchronizes the digitally displayed time with the number of strikes, further demonstrating the company's advanced technical expertise.

　The striking mechanism of this model follows the traditional format: it features two gongs, one tuned to a low note and one to a high note. When the slider on the 9 o'clock side of the case is operated, a low note sounds the hours, a double note sounds the quarter-minutes, and a high note sounds the minutes. However, this model adds three improvements to this traditional striking mechanism.

　The first is the ability to skip the pause in the hammering mechanism. From 0 to 14 minutes into any given hour, there's no need to strike the 15th minute after striking the hour, so conventional mechanisms wait a short time (pause) before striking the minute. This model, however, skips this pause and strikes the minute immediately after striking the hour.

　The second is a protection mechanism to prevent damage to the striking mechanism. Previously, pulling out the crown while the minute repeater was operating could cause a malfunction, but to prevent this, the crown cannot be pulled out while the minute repeater is operating.

　The third is the hammer blocker, which is a mechanism that momentarily stops the hammer in its initial position each time it strikes the gong, preventing the hammer from striking the gong again due to recoil.

　The sound quality has also been improved. To ensure a bright, clear sound that resonates for a long time, the gongs are adjusted and assembled by hand to harmonize with the acoustic properties of the platinum case material. The parts are assembled and tested, and if they are not satisfactory, they are disassembled and re-adjusted, and this process is repeated until the model is complete. As a result, the majority of the finishing time is spent on creating the perfect sound.

　The hand-wound movement, Cal. L.122.1, assembled in this way complies with the highest Lange quality standards, just like the rest of the lineup. In particular, the hammers of this model are black polished, and the hand-bent gongs are also polished to a lustrous finish.

　The case that houses this movement is based on the company's basic principle that "structure and design must be one," and the platinum 950 case is 39mm in diameter and 9.7mm thick, with a satin-finished side. The dial is made in-house, with the surface of solid gold covered in white enamel, and the outer and central parts of the main dial and the small seconds are separate parts that are joined together by hand to form a single dial.

Odysseus

　A limited edition model of the Odysseus, A. Lange & Söhne's first titanium case and bracelet, has been added. It is available only in boutiques and is limited to 250 pieces.

　The Odysseus is the company's first stainless steel sporty model, released in 2019. It was a challenging model for a company that has always specialized in dress watches, but it has been highly praised for its high level of perfection, not only for its high-quality appearance, but also for its comfortable controls and flexible bracelet.

　Now, as a new challenge for 22, the Odysseus is outfitted with a titanium case and bracelet. This model embodies the company's philosophy of "never standing still." The case diameter is 40.5mm and thickness is 11.1mm, the same as the stainless steel model. It also features a screw-down crown and is water resistant to a test pressure of 12 bar. The bracelet, like the stainless steel model, also features an extension buckle with a built-in fine adjustment mechanism.

　Titanium is approximately 43% lighter than stainless steel, so the already acclaimed wearing comfort is expected to be even better. The titanium surface is available in glossy, matte, and brushed finishes, which create a variety of different looks depending on the light reflection.

　Like previous models, the dial design, which combines multiple parts to create a three-dimensional effect, is now finished in a new ice blue color. Furthermore, the hour ring, which was previously decorated with concentric circles on the stainless steel model and radiating indentations on the 18K White Gold model, is now decorated with delicate guilloche grooves that form a gentle arc extending to the indexes. This unique, organically oscillating curve will become the signature of this special piece.

　Like previous models, the movement is the Cal. L155.1 DATOMATIC, designed for the Odysseus, with a power reserve of approximately 50 hours, an outsize date at 3 o'clock, a small second at 6 o'clock, and a day of the week display at 9 o'clock. The movement, which is meticulously finished in accordance with A. Lange & Söhne's highest quality standards, features a black-rhodiumed platinum central rotor and can be viewed through the case back.

Grand Lange 1

　The Grand Lange 1 was announced with a new case measuring 41mm in diameter and 8.2mm thick, featuring a gray dial. The previous model was also slim at 8.8mm thick, but this new model is even thinner, resulting in an even more elegant design.

　Since its debut in 2003, the Grand Lange 1 has maintained a firm position in the A. Lange & Söhne collection. Its 38.5mm diameter and 9.8mm thickness make it slightly larger and thinner than the Lange 1. These proportions are achieved by the manual-wound Caliber L095.1, which was introduced in the 2012 update. The movement's hands are positioned slightly outward to match the case diameter, adhering to the Lange 1 family's design codes down to the last detail. While the Lange 1's Caliber L121.1 uses a twin mainspring barrel with two overlapping mainsprings, the Caliber L095.1 utilizes a single, larger-diameter barrel, achieving a power reserve of approximately 72 hours. The movement, with its German silver baseplate and bridges, is finished to Lange's highest quality standards, featuring numerous notable features, including the iconic Glashütte strap three-quarter plate and gold chatons.

　This model is available in two versions: 18K white gold and 18K pink gold, with the hands and indices coordinated to match the case material. The accompanying gray dial is a new color added to the Grand Lange 1 collection. The dial features a two-aperture outsize date display with gold trim, sunken subdials, Roman numerals, and diamond-shaped indices, creating a rich three-dimensional effect. The slightly roughened matte texture and record-like azure finish add to the richness of the dial's expression.

　The thinner design not only makes it easier to fit into the cuff, but also lowers the center of gravity, which will also contribute to an improved wearing comfort.