aBlogtoRead.com » A Lange Sohne

All The A. Lange & Sohne Lange 1 Watches

admin — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 01:23:53 +0000

Since its birth in 1994, the A. Lange & Sohne Lange 1 watch has been the brand's most iconic watch. A real gamble at the time, it proved to be a very successful design. You can also thank it for the "big date" complication - that they refer to as an "outsized date." Here is a nice picture from A. Lange & Sohne with the complete family of all the Lange 1 watches to-date. I thought it was a nice way to reflect on the collection. Below you will find a cool spec chart that discusses each of the models and when they were released. Click on the images (above and below) to make them larger.

A. Lange & Sohne Datograph Up/Down Watch Hands-On

admin — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 07:05:37 +0000

One of the top watches that I was excited to see at SIHH 2012 was the updated version of the A. Lange & Sohne Datograph. The original Datograph from quite a while ago was an awesome watch and one of Lange's best aside from their iconic Lange 1 range. It is one of the only Lange watches you could sort of call sporty, and it was I believe the only Lange watch with a black dial. Those high contrast chronograph subdials and that smoothly integrated chronograph along with the big date indicator made for a great look.

For about a decade, Lange fans have been asking the German brand to re-release the Datograph or come out with something new yet similar. In 2012 Lange responded with the Datograph Up/Down... called the Auf/Ab in Germany. The piece is a slight but satisfying evolution on the original watch with some upgrades.

For 2012, the Datograph gets a size increase to 41mm wide in case diameter. That is just 2mm more than the original, but the size does matter. Lange doesn't make the largest watches, but they are mostly thick in size which helps them look larger. With size preferences for men's watches up for good, it made sense to offer the same package in a slightly more modern size for today's watch lovers. The case is thick enough to be noticeable at 13.1mm.

On the wrist, the new size feels comfortable and appropriate. The concept feels better at 41mm and feels very medium, being not too large or too small. 39mm wide was personally too small for my tastes. You really get a feeling of depth when looking at the movement through the sapphire crystal caseback. If you aren't impressed with how Lange movements look, then you need a new hobby. The in-house made caliber L951.6 is an amazing thing that is very three-dimensional. It is hard to tell looking at it straight on, but with so many levels, the movement really feels like a city of springs and gears. The movement parts are all hand-decorated and finished.

Aside from the slightly larger size, the movement adds an increased power reserve over the original - up to 60 hours for the manually wound movement. It also adds a power reserve indicator. This latter complication is very useful to have in any manually wound movement and I think that it has been integrated tastefully and carefully into the dial. Lange designed the power reserve indicator like some day/night indicators on their other watches. It is diminutive yet useful. I however feel that an automatic version of the Datograph would be very welcome.

Dial elements on the A. Lange & Sohne Datograph Up/Down are crisp and of a very high quality. The hands are filled with lume (not common for the brand), and contrast is high for easy reading. I really don't quite understand what prevented Lange from having other black dialed watches. They got close with dark gray dials... but not quite black. Or am I forgetting something?

While this watch does have a sporty demeanor it is in platinum. That's right, A. Lange & Sohne just skipped over white gold and went straight for platinum to make the watch ultra-lux. I really don't know if anything other than a platinum version will ever be offered. Attached to the watch is a black crocodile strap with some blue-gray stitching. It looks nice with the Datograph Up/Down, and I bet it would look good on a bracelet (fat chance of that happening anytime soon I suspect). Overall, this is a fantastically nice watch that I will more than likely never get the chance to own. As a Lange, this is a fine "grail" watch, and those able to get one will have a piece they can enjoy for a long time.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

A. Lange & Sohne Lange 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar Watch Hands-On

admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:07:27 +0000

One theme I noticed at SIHH 2012 was a bit of a return to more classy connoisseur-driven high end watches. Brands like A. Lange & Sohne and Greubel Forsey released tourbillon based watches with tourbillons not visible from the dials. For Lange it is this highly useful and complicated creation that pulls at the heart strings of seasoned watch lovers and novices alike.

The watch is the A. Lange & Sohne Lange 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar watch. It is actually one of three new Lange 1 timepieces for 2012 from the famous German brand. The watch is not only subtle in its use of a tourbillon but also its layout of the perpetual calendar. For the first time event the month indicator is displayed as a peripheral ring around the dial, with a small arrow at the bottom of the dial pointing to the current month. Right above it is a small window that continues the same triangular shape to indicate the leap year. The overall information presentation is quite elegant.

A retrograde indicator on the left of the asymmetrical dial displays the date of the week using just the first letter of the day, and there is Lange's famous "outsize" (big) date indicator. The dial also has a day/night (AM/PM) indicator as well as a moon phase as part of the subsidiary seconds dial. All that alone would be enough to make it a superb watch. Though Lange being Lange needed to not only throw in a tourbillon, but make it an automatic as well. That latter piece of useful functionality really surprised and delighted many people as the brand is not known for typically producing high-complication watches that are self-winding.

Inside the watch is the in-house designed and manufactured Lange caliber L082.1 automatic movement. As an automatic it has a solid gold and platinum rotor that is centrally mounted. The tourbillon is placed under double balance cocks that are hand-engraved. In terms of most high-end watches that contain tourbillon movements, this one is pretty subdued and hidden - but you know it is there and working which is the important part. The movement has a total of 624 parts.

Functionally you already know what the movement does - and again allow me to add how happy I am that it is an automatic. Come to think of it, this is the first automatic watch I know of that has a rear-mounted tourbillon in the movement. The technical prowess of the watch is highly refined and meant to excite only the most veteran of watch lovers who can appreciate the craft and how this is in fact a subtle execution of luxury.

The dial is pure love for me. It is so simple to read and really builds on the core Lange 1 look and feel in a healthy way that is still true to the now mythical look. The case of the Lange 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar watch is 41.9mm wide and offered in a case that is brushed on the sides and polished pretty much everywhere else. The case is about the right thickness at around 12mm. m For 2012 Lange will produce two versions. First is a limited edition set of 100 pieces in platinum. Next is a non-limited version in 18k pink gold. Really a treat and I am pissed I won't ever be able to afford one.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

A. Lange & Sohne Datograph Up/Down Watch

admin — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 08:01:50 +0000

One of my favorite A. Lange & Sohne watch designs of all time is the famous Datograph - and to think the design is over 11 years old now! For 2012 Lange is revisiting the Datrograph with a new and updated model that retains the desirability of the original watch. The new model will be called the Datograph Up/Down (Update: it was originally called the Datograph AUF/AB in German, but they changed the name to English).

The original Datograph was named as such because in addition to the time, it featured a big-date indicator (which Lange called its "out-sized date") and a 30 minute chronograph. The "Datograph" name summed all that up nicely. For me the combination of light silver and black on the dial in addition to the symmetrical layout made it a gorgeous design.

The new Datograph Up/Down ads a power reserve indicator, which is the source of the new name. "Up/Down" stands for "up" and "down," which are the indications on the power reserve indicator in all A. Lange & Sohne watches for whether the reserve is full or empty. The new watch has a power reserve of 60 hours thanks for to the new in-house made Caliber L.951.6. This is is 24 hours more than the original model. The new movement chronograph is a flyback with a column wheel operator. You can view the beautiful movement through the display back of the watch. No one else makes and decorates a movement quite like Lange.

While the original Datograph was 39mm wide the Datrograph Up/Down for 2012 will be 41mm wide. I appreciate the size increase. At first this Ref. 405.035 watch will be available only in a platinum case. I expect 18k gold versions to follow the year later or soon thereafter. The newer large size will look great I think.

In addition to the inclusion of a power reserve indicator the dial has been updated a bit from the original. Most noticeably are the use of all rhodiumed gold baton hour markers. The original Datograph used a few Roman numerals ones. The dial of the watch is solid silver with black application.

The new Datograph Up/Down is not meant to be a revolutionary step up from the Datrograph. The original was very popular but is no longer made. High demand for it prompted the brand to revisit the beautiful model, and Lange wanted to offer collectors what they wanted with a little extra. The new features and size are highly desirable and make for another Datograph very much worth lusting for. It will be matched to a dark blue-gray hand-stitched crocodile strap. Look for it in 2012.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Celebrating Connoisseurship With A. Lange & Sohne Watches

admin — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 07:08:41 +0000

Back in early 2009 I visited A. Lange & Sohne's manufacture in Glashutte. It was actually the first watch manufacture I visited, and now almost three years later I have much to compare it to. It is actually a shame that I saw Lange's manufacture so early in my career because I did not properly know how to appreciate it at the time. Don't get me wrong, I was thoroughly impressed during my visit, but I would have been much more impressed had I seen other places first that don't necessarily deliver the same experience and level of product. Even on a larger scale, Lange is the type of brand you can only really appreciate after getting to know many other watches first. I think that by definition that makes it a connoisseur's brand.

This idea gets me thinking about what it means to be a connoisseur and how watches fit into the overall world of connoisseurship. Here with A. Lange & Sohne in the Napa Valley testing and learning about wine and watchmaking is probably a good place to ponder these considerations. With passions like wine, cars, homes, cigars, travel, etc... out there, I realize that watch connoisseurship is just one piece of a large puzzle. Though these pursuits do each have things in common, especially when it comes to the price required to enjoy the best you can get.

A connoisseur has passion and curiosity. He or she wants to understand all about the things that they love, why they are lovable, which are the most lovable, and how they may be able to love them even more. Connoisseurs take a hobby and turn them into almost an addiction. Connoisseur's are a bit weird, and most of you reading this (myself included) proudly boast that this adjective applies to you fittingly.

Like some of these other passions, you can enjoy watches while doing the other things you love. Watch can be an end unto themselves as well as an enhancer of life. You could say the same thing about wine. With a nice watch on my wrist I do find events more interesting to attend and activities more pleasing to complete. As I write this I wonder how much I am starting to sound like an horological drug addict. Maybe a little bit...but isn't this the hallmark of a true connoisseur ($50,000 a day watch habit anyone?)

Out here with Lange they wanted to introduce us to a very compelling program they have called the A. Lange & Sohne Akademie. Typically a few days long in Glasshute, this workshop-based program teaches people both about the history of the great German brand and then offers hands-on experience in watch making, assembly, finishing and decoration. This sounds nerdy (because it is), but hanging out with watch makers is always cool and very educationally enriching. I participated in a light version of the program, and I was hungry for more. Nevertheless, I have to say that each time I learn more about Lange's timepieces I end up wanting one even more. There is something so richly captivating about the brand's timepieces that seems to transcend notions like "luxury" and "status." Never has there been such a nice watch so little interested in calling itself the best. Even in Lange's most high-end "Pour le Merite" watches, there is a steady sense of humility and quiet pride. Lange internally likes to call this "stealth wealth," and in a large sense that's what these watches are all about.

At the same time Lange has a lot pride itself on. A. Lange & Sohne is a complete watch movement manufacturer - they even make a lot of their own hairsprings. I discussed more about their manufacture and production process back in 2009 here starting in this article. In my opinion they make of the nicest watch movements in the world - if not the absolute best looking watch movements anywhere (amazing finishing as well). The German style differs a bit from the Swiss, and you'll see that Lange movements offer different decoration and more exposed areas - especially in their chronograph models. Use of the iconic German 3/4 plates for the movements also improves the strength of the movements while offering a unique look. All Lange watches have hand-engraved balance cocks. A fun fact to know as you'll never get tired of saying "balance cock." These engraved areas are also beautiful to look at. Though what can I really say with words on the matter of beauty? Hence the pictures of these lovely Lange calibers. Anyone seeing them can agree they are pretty, but after years of seeing lots of other movements I can attest to them being beautiful.

By the way, for a very modest sum (like under $100 I believe) Lange will personalize the engraving on balance cock (people often like their initials there). The down side is that it must be specially ordered and the wait time for the watch is a few months. Though it is good to know that such services exist. Lange, in concert with other Richemont brands, are pushing their personalization services a lot so expect to continue to see interesting offerings.

The context of the event being in the Napa Valley was to connect the world of watches with the world of wine. I felt that this was a logical as well as interesting move by Lange. They don't sponsor any wineries or have official events here, though I've never been to a watch event that didn't have good wine being served. Timepiece makers tend to like to keep the conversation on watches, but Lange's people were more than happy to focus on the item of the area - the vino. That was great. They even taught us about German influences on wine making in the Napa Valley region. More interesting was the education on wine production itself. Similar to watches, the luxury is all in the details, and nothing wonderful can be mass produced. That and a good watch - like a good wine - can take a long time to develop and produce.

Anyone can enjoy a fine wine, but a connoisseur wants to understand what makes it so good. Listening to wine lovers discuss their favorite pours is interesting. I had no idea how much tiny differences in climate and conditions will dictate the taste of wine from even the same grapes planted in the same spot year to year. Being a wine lover and connoisseur is about noticing and appreciating the details. I would say that the same rule applies to the enjoyment of timepieces. When I first learned about Lange watches I wasn't too moved. This was early on in my watch loving days and I was mostly interested in techie, novel things. Lange seemed like a storied brand that perpetuated a look from a different generation. That is actually totally true, but their stories are good, and the look they perpetuate is refined and highly effective. What they manage to do is make an extremely high quality classic watch that never feels boring - a difficult task I promise you. As is the case with wine, you want something highly refined that does not shock the senses.

There are similarities both interesting and relatively trivial between wine and watches. Though both are things that people have been spending their lives obsessing over (for 100s of years). Don't make me state how watches, like wine, get better with age. I must admit that wearing a nice Lange timepiece on your wrist while enjoying a good California wine does seems very natural. A. Lange & Sohne had me convinced a long time ago that their watches and work is fantastic. No one really seems to disagree. In that sense they are among the least controversial timepieces I know. The single complaint I've ever heard about their watches is the price - which of course is not inexpensive. At the same time Lange watches could be priced higher. Each piece is hand assembled, finished, and decorated. Each movement is assembled twice, and each watch comes in a precious metal case. That and each A. Lange & Sohne watch is useful. They make few pieces that (assuming you could afford it) would not sit comfortably as a daily wear.

It was a pleasure to celebrate wine connoisseurship with a connoisseur's watch brand. The experience helped me think about how passion and being a connoisseur intersect, as well as identify the best way to appreciate an A. Lange & Sohne watch. No, not necessarily while drinking, but rather with experience and good taste.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

A. Lange & Sohne Langematik Perpetual Watch Available On James List

admin — Sun, 22 May 2011 07:02:03 +0000

The perpetual calendar complication has been a fascinating and useful feature on high-end watches for quite sometime. Calendar functions directly related to keeping the time, and offer a variety of information related to the 24 hour cycle. Most watches have just the date, and the more complex you get, the more calendar functions you can record. Annual calendars measure the day, date, and month - often the phase of the moon as well. The benefit for those is being able to avoid adjusting your watch each month that does not have a 31 day cycle. Though there is still the matter of dealing with a 29 day February.

Perpetual calendars step it up a notch by taking into consideration leap years, which occur each four years and affect the length of February. Perpetual calendars are named as such because they don't need to be adjusted very often. The next time any perpetual calendar watch needs to be adjusted (by one day) will be the year 2100. This sounds sexy even though none of us will be alive to adjust the date. Of course, the humorous part to me is that this is all based on the assumption that your mechanical perpetual calendar watch will be running for that long (and in good condition). Still, having such a long range calendar feels reassuring - like the watch has got your back. For me, this complication is not only one of the most impressive to see on a dial, but also one that is functional (I am talking to you Equation of Time!).

If you want a watch with a mechanical perpetual calendar, you have a ton of options even though these are very high-end pieces. They come in a zillion varieties and many offer unique add-on complications such a year indicator, or week indicator, etc... If you are going to step into QP world (quantieme perpetual - another term of perpetual calendar) it is hard to know where to start. One good option is this classic, the A. Lange & Sohne Langematik Perpetual watch from a few years ago.

Available in gold or platinum, it has a 38.5mm wide case and an automatic movement with a 3/4 rotor (not quite a full rotor, but larger than a micro-rotor). The movement is the perfect example of why you should lust for an A. Lange & Sohne timepiece. It is good looking, highly complex, and includes much of what people are looking for in a high-end manufacture made movement. The balance cock is hand engraved while the automatic rotor is in solid gold.

Even though a perpetual calendar often displays a lot of information, the Langematik Perpetual Calendar organizes it well on the dial. The time and date are easiest to see. It features a big-date (which Lange calls an "outsize date") and easy to read lume covered hands. There subdials include info for the day, month, year, 24 hour hand, moon phase, and seconds for the time.Â It also has applied gold hour indicators and a timeless style to it.

A. Lange & Sohne has an excellent section on their website dedicated to the Langematik Perpetual that you can see here. One of the interesting things about the watch is that is among the few pieces Lange offers on a bracelet. Retail price for these Langematik Perpetual Watches is over $100,000 - but one (in platinum) is available on James List here for just under $70,000.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

A. Lange & Sohne Richard Lange Tourbillon “Pour le Merite” Watch Hands-On

admin — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 07:08:58 +0000

One of the best surprises at SIHH 2011 was how much I enjoyed the A. Lange & Sohne Richard Lange Tourbillon "Pour le Merite." The regulator style watch took influence from a pocket watch made in the Dresden area a while back. It had three overlapping subdials, with one for the hours,Â minutes, and seconds. Lange took the concept and added to it some very complex mechanical features that make this not only a neat looking watch, but one with a very sophisticated inside.

I wrote about the Richard Lange Tourbillon Pour le Merite watch here when it was first introduced. There I cover all the technical details and talk more about the movement. When meeting with A. Lange & Sohne I was pleasantly surprised to see the details all worked together in a very cohesive way. Making a complex watch is one thing, making it feel balanced and properly composed is another. It also helped that Lange gave me some Radeberger Pilsner that they brought to Geneva from Dresden - the local beer of the area. Nothing is better than some draft beer when you are in the stuff halls of SIHH at the Palexpo.

The L072.1 manually wound movement in the Richard Lange Tourbillon regulator is manually wound and has a tourbillon escapement as well as a fusee and chain transmission. For super star watch nerds, this is a glorious combination of holy grail features. The tourbillon sits viewable in the seconds subdial, while it is harder to see the mini bicycle chain part of the fusee and chain. Each of these exotic items is meant to increase accuracy in a movement. Fusee chains are much more rare and harder to make. Having them both together probably excited a number of people.

As is the case in most hand-made and decorated A. Lange & Sohne watch movements, the one in here is breathtakingly beautiful, and I don't use that term lightly. Really one of the brand's better one. Don't forget the hand-engraved balance cock. I pretty much take every opportunity I can to say balance cock.

The little "trick" on the dial was the piece of the hour dial the retracts when the hour hand isn't using it, so that you have a fuller view of the tourbillon and opening to the movement. The complication is pretty slick, and I will just defer to the little movie I took to have you see it in action (please thank Arnd for the narration!... and the Radeberger). As I said in the prior article on this watch, the complication isn't necessary, but appreciated in a high-end item of mechanical splendor and one of those things that make you smile about Lange timepieces. Even though their watches are dutifully classic, there is a warm sense of playfulness in their watches that just seems to be missing in other watches of this caliber. The watch is fun and impressively complex. Like I said, the final execution of it impressed me, and I really think Lange did a nice job for their 2011 flagship piece.

In platinum the Richard Lange Tourbillon Pour le Merite is limited to just 100 pieces with a price of $211,900, and is not limited in pink gold with a price of $175,600.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

A. Lange & Sohne Richard Lange Tourbillon “Pour le Merite” Watch

admin — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 08:09:22 +0000

2011 will experience the release of this new fusee and chain transmission watch from Glashutte, Germany based A. Lange & Sohne. To be honest, fusee and chain movement watches excite me a lot more than tourbillons. Not that they are mutually exclusive, but I really love the idea that there is a tiny hand-made (bicycle style) chain in a watch helping to move power from the mainspring to the movement. Plus, a fusee and chain is a lot more useful for accuracy and rate reliability than a tourbillon is.Â Today there are only a few brands that offer watches with fusee and chain complications. The three that I can think of off the top of my head are A. Lange & Sohne, Breguet, and Cabestan. Who am I missing?

Cabestan does the fusee and chain best because they make it visible on the dial. On This lovely Lange you'll have to peek around through the back of the watch for views of the chain. If you look at the movement image in this post you can see bits of the chain wrapped around the brass colored mainspring barrel at the upper right-hand part of the movement. In terms of a video on how a fusee and chain works, the best I could find is a Breguet video on YouTube here.

So the new watch is called the A. Lange & Sohne Richard Lange Tourbillon "Pour le Merite." In addition to a fusee and chain, this watch has a three subdial regulator style display, tourbillon (gotta have that tourbillon in there) and a stop seconds mechanism (stops the seconds hand when you pull the crown out for more accurate time setting). The watch, based on certain regulator clocks of the past, as well as an historic pocket watch, is beautiful. To me, most of what Lange releases is beautiful. Though in this instance I am beginning to grow a bit weary of the this watch's naming convention. There are other watches in the collection with the terms "Richard Lange, Tourbillon, and Pour le Merite" in them. I trust Lange that this new combo of words is new, but it just sounds too much like their other names. Lange actually has some very clever watch names, so I'd like to see them apply more thought in to all new watch titles. Some of my favorite names in their collection are the "Tourbograph, and the Zeitwerk."

In this instance the dial of the watch contains three overlapping subdials. These each represent either the dial for the hours, minutes, or seconds. This concept is not new, but this particular arrangement is uncommon. Lange ups the ante a bit by adding something additionally interesting. The seconds dial is cutaway - with a view of the tourbillon and movement underneath it. There is also a small retractable section that makes up the "full" hour dial to the right of it. That disc is moved and "hidden" for a full, unadulterated view of the tourbillon window when not in use. Let me explain how it works. When the watch is telling the time from 12 - 6 o'clock, the portion of the disc that roughly has indicators for 8 - 10 o'clock is hidden from view. When the time is 6 o'clock, the hidden dial segment instantly moves into the view! Once the time reaches 12 o'clock, the disc instantly moves out of view. Aside from being cool, allowing a full view of the tourbillon window, this complication ensure that the watch wearer will never have to guess what time it is - Teutonic need for order!. It is a little thing, but ads to the complexity, precision, and interest in the watch. Seriously, only the Germans make complications like this - and I love them for it.

I mentioned that the watch has a stop seconds feature. Your basic ETA 2824 has this function, so it isn't inherently complex. Though it is when you have a tourbillon. A. Lange & Sohne was the first to develop a stop seconds mechanism for a tourbillon a few years ago, and that complication has been put into place here on the Richard Lange Tourbillon Pour Le Merite watch.

The timepiece is really beautiful. Another gorgeous interpretation of an historic timepiece by A. Lange & Sohne, with a few new tricks to make it interesting. Inside the watch is the in-house made and designed Calibre L072.1 manually wound movement. You know the features it has already, but it has a 36 hour power reserve (a bit low compared to their other stuff, but there was likely not room for a long fusee and chain (I am guessing that is the reason). Lange also includes a hairspring that they manufacture themselves. These "Lange hairsprings" aren't placed in all Lange watches, just a select few - and very few watch makers are able to make hairsprings. The movement itself has 351 parts, but counting the chain (which is 636 parts) , it has 987 parts. Typical impeccable decoration from the Lange manufacture as well.

Lange puts the Richard Lange Tourbillon Pour Le Merite in a 41.9mm wide case in either platinum or 18k pink gold. The hands on the dial are in gold, and the dial itself is solid silver. Strap is brown or black crocodile. The platinum version of the watch will be limited to just 100 pieces, while the pink gold model will not be a limited edition. In pink gold the watch is $193,600 while that price jumps to $233,600 for the limited edition platinum model.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

A. Lange & Sohne 165 Years – Homage To F.A. Lange Collection: Tourbograph “Pour le Merite,” Lange 1 Tourbillon, And 1815 Moonphase Watches

admin — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 10:12:24 +0000

Earlier this year A. Lange & Sohne announced a limited edition collection of (even more) decorated watches as homages of the 165th anniversary of their founder, Ferdinand Adolph (F.A.) Lange. In 1845 Mr. Lange moved from Dresden to the nearby small mountain town of Glashutte. As Lange likes to see it, history was then born!

The 165 Years - Homage to F.A. Lange Collection includes three watches. They are not new watches per se, but done with unique treatment. Each on a new gold color called "honey gold." More on that in a sec. The watches each have guilloche engraved dials, which is rare for the brand these days.Â First is the Tourbograph "Pour le Merite," then the Lange 1 Tourbillon, and finally the quite new 1815 Moonphase watch.

Honey gold is a new 'invention' by Lange. It is a novel gold alloy that has a honey color to it. The warm look of the gold is unparalleled. It has a light brass look to it. Plus, it resembles the patina that the German silver (not actually silver) gets on its surface, a few years after the movements have been made. I know the concept of a new shade of gold is a bit silly. We already have all sorts of niche alloys in addition to the main ones like white, pink, or red gold. Still... honey gold is pretty nice, plus it is proprietary to A. Lange & Sohne for the time being (they aren't giving out the specific formula to anyone).

The first of the models is the Tourbograph "Pour le Merite" watch. Another addition to the "Pour Le Merite" collection. Actually, Lange has already offered a Tourbograph Pour le MeriteÂ watch, so I guess this would be the A. Lange & Sohne 165 Years - HomageÂ to F.A. Lange Collection Tourbograph "Pour le Merite" limited edition watch. Darn that is a long name. Aside from the 41.2mm wide honey gold case and applied guilloche engraving on the solid gold dial, I believe this watch is otherwise similar to the other Tourbograph Pour le Merite watch. It has a Lange made L903.0 manually wound tourbillon movement with a 60 minute chronograph. A lovely Lange if there was any, and limited to just 50 pieces.

Next is F.A. Lange Homage version of the Lange 1 Tourbillon. Again, this is an existing model with a new treatment. Case is 38.5mm wide in honey gold, and the solid gold dial has guilloche engraving applied to it. A bit hard to tell here, but it is applied in the center of the watch face part of the dial. Gives the Lange 1 Tourbillon a real classy look. Inside the watch is an in-house manufactured L961.2 manually wound tourbillon movement. The asymmetrical dial has the time with a small subsidiary seconds dial, big ("out-size") date, and power reserve indicator. Really stunning with the exposed tourbillon mechanism. Doesn't that honey gold look good with the brown alligator strap? The Lange 1 Tourbillon for this collection will be limited to just 150 pieces.

Last is my favorite watch in the 165 Years - Homage to F.A. Lange Collection. It is an 1815 Moonphase watch in (of course) honey gold with a beautiful guilloche engraved dial. The Symmetry and balance on this watch are outstanding given the features and items on the dial - truly a magnificent piece. It is no secret that I love A. Lange & Sohne timepieces, but some of them hit me in an emotional way more than others. This is one of them. At 37.4mm wide, the watch case could be a hair bigger for my tastes, though it does wear nicely. Inside the 1815 Moonphase is Lange L943.2 manually would movement that features a moonphase indicator, time on the main dial, and subsidiary seconds hand. Again, the dial is in solid gold, with blued steel hands. This one is limited to 265 pieces.

As a nice reminder of these above three watch lines, the 165 Years - Homage to F.A. Lange Collection watches are going to be a collectors favorite. Use of the decoration on the dial matched with the new type of gold tone is a nice play on the limited edition. They should be out now, priced... high.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

A. Lange & Sohne Grande Lange 1 Luminous Watch

admin — Thu, 13 May 2010 19:17:33 +0000

It is the heat of the night, and you are having an expensive watch wearing worthy good time. You go to look are your luxury timepiece in the dim lighting on the patio of that bar you like, and low and behold those lustrous gold holds show no luster in the dark. Time to rethink your evening timepiece selection, or you could instead seek out the relatively few high-luxury watches with luminant applied to them. While not a big deal for a Seiko, a lume covered German A. Lange & Sohne is a rarity. Here is their newest one, called the Grande Lange 1 Luminous. Larger Grande Lange 1 case (as opposed to the smaller standard Lange 1). Black dial, and just the right shade of retro green for the richly applied lume that makes up the hour markers and is all over the hands. A cool sporty Lange watch. Though, to actually refer to it as a sport watch, your idea of sports involves playingÂ lawn croquet at night.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.