A. Lange & Söhne unveiled seven new wristwatches of 2014 at the Geneva Fine Watch Show (SIHH) including the RICHARD LANGE PERPETUAL CALENDAR “Terraluna”, a regulator with an orbital moon phase display and a 14 day movement; the 1815 TOURBILLON that unites a stop-seconds tourbillon with the ZERO-RESET function; the GRAND LANGE 1 MOON PHASE with an striking moon phase display; the 1815 with a new 38.5mm case; the new pink gold versions of the LANGE 1 TOURBILLON PERPETUAL CALENDAR and LANGE ZEITWERK STRIKING TIME, plus two new designs of the SAXONIA in diamond-set white gold cases. The new line-up continues to be a vivid representation of the watchmaker’s philosophy of “Precision beyond Accuracy”. Three high pitched chimes and one lower pitched tone are the sounds with which the LANGE ZEITWERK STRIKING TIME announces each passing quarter and full hour. The first A. Lange & Söhne wristwatch with a chiming mechanism is now available in pink gold with an argenté-coloured dial and pink gold hands. In the LANGE ZEITWERK STRIKING TIME, the key chiming mechanism components are visibly integrated into the dial design. The black polished steel hammers can be seen on either side of the subsidiary seconds dial: one on the right for the quarter hours and one on the left for the full hours. The two gongs, embedded in a recess between the dial and bezel, are also readily recognisable. Every 15 minutes, the mechanism triggers the striking of one of the two gongs. Three higher pitched tones sound each quarter hour, while a low pitched tone chimes the top of the hour. The chiming mechanism can be deactivated to prevent any disturbance during the night or at a meeting. A push piece at 4 o’clock raises the hammers and silences the watch. This process can be observed through the sapphire crystal glass, so it is always apparent whether the mechanism is switched on or off.
The new GRAND LANGE 1 MOON PHASE is marked by its striking and prominent moon phase display on its dial. It is connected with the hour-wheel continuum, making it constantly in motion just like the moon itself, and would only have to be corrected by one day every 122.6 years. A patented coating process for the lunar disc endows this astronomical complication with a remarkably lifelike appearance. Combining an off centred dial, the outsize date and a lavishly finished manufacture calibre, the GRAND LANGE 1 MOON PHASE features all of the iconic hallmarks of A. Lange & Söhne’s most famous timepiece family. The considerable 72 hour power reserve is achieved with only one mainspring barrel, making the height of the movement a scant 4.7mm. The 41mm case comes in yellow gold, pink gold or platinum. The Lange manufacture calibre L095.3 unites all of the classic features that prompt connoisseurs around the world to associate A. Lange & Söhne timepieces with Saxon watchmaking artistry and superior precision.
The RICHARD LANGE PERPETUAL CALENDAR “Terraluna” combines A. Lange & Söhne’s benchmark precision, inventiveness and design competence. Featuring an orbital moon phase display, a perpetual calendar with the Lange outsize date, a power reserve of 14 days, and a constant force escapement, it represents the pinnacle of Saxon watchmaking artistry. The RICHARD LANGE PERPETUAL CALENDAR “Terraluna” is equally impressive on both sides. On the dial side of the 45.5mm pink or white gold case, the watch stands out with the regulator layout of scientific precision watches. The movement side presents an innovative orbital moon phase display that depicts the constellation of the earth, moon, and sun, and would only require a correction by one day in 1058 years.
With a 38.5mm case and all of the unmistakable hallmarks of the A. Lange & Söhne style, the 1815 embodies the paradigmatic ideals of a sleek mechanical timekeeping instrument. Thus, it follows the horological standards upheld by Ferdinand A. Lange, whose birth year is reflected in its name. Noble understatement permeates the finesse of the watch, which is available in yellow, pink and white gold. Its 38.5mm case diameter addresses the preference of many watch connoisseurs. The larger version with a diameter of 40mm is also still available. With its two-tier design and the subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock, the solid silver dial is reminiscent of Lange’s historic pocket watches. This look is emphasised by a gently contoured bezel and the slender lugs. A railway-track minute scale, black Arabic numerals and blued steel hands accentuate the classic appearance of the watch and enhance the legibility of its argenté-coloured face. With a power reserve of 55 hours and its lavishly hand-decorated movement parts, the manually wound calibre L051.1 epitomises Lange’s acclaimed watchmaking artistry.
For the very first time, an A. Lange & Söhne timepiece unites the stop-seconds mechanism for the tourbillon with the ZERO-RESET function. The interaction between the two patented mechanisms makes it possible to stop and set the new 1815 TOURBILLON with one-second accuracy. It is designed for supreme precision: when the crown is pulled, the balance inside the tourbillon cage stops instantaneously and the seconds hand jumps to the zero position. The watch can now be conveniently synchronised with a reference watch or a time signal. The one-minute tourbillon, visible through the aperture in the dial, is the only manifestation of the complexity of the watch with its arbour carrying the subsidiary second hand in blued steel. The combination of Arabic numerals with the classic railway-track minute scale is reminiscent of historic A. Lange & Söhne pocket watches. With a diameter of 39.5mm, a pink gold or platinum case provides a stage for the Lange manufacture calibre L102.1. The limited edition of 100 watches in platinum emphasises the exclusiveness of this exceptional timepiece.
In their diamond-set white gold cases, the two new SAXONIA models in white (Ref. 878.029) and brown (Ref. 878.038) constitute a fascinating combination of horological precision, superb artisanship and feminine elegance. With svelte hands and baton hour markers in rhodiumed gold, the scintillating white or brown inlaid mother-of-pearl face indicates the hours and minutes, as well as the seconds on a subsidiary dial. The cool gloss of 18K white gold emphasises the graceful silhouette of the two part case that sparkles with the exceptional fire of 60 brilliant cut diamonds. Straps in white or brown crocodile leather match the colour of the dial and amplify the glamorous charisma of these watches. The SAXONIA is equipped with a manually wound manufacture calibre L941.2 that assures high timekeeping accuracy as well as a power reserve of 45 hours when fully wound.
Thanks to an ingenious arrangement of the calendar displays around the time indication, the LANGE 1 TOURBILLON PERPETUAL CALENDAR presents an abundance of information at a single glance. Now, this horological masterpiece with the eponymous complications is also available in a pink gold case. The LANGE 1 TOURBILLON PERPETUAL CALENDAR combines two classic complications with the iconic design of A. Lange & Söhne’s most famous watch family. Configured around the time indication, the calendar displays and the peripheral month ring deliver full time and date readings at a single glance. All of the perpetual calendar displays advance instantaneously. Thus, the date, day of the week, month, leap year, and moon phase can never be interpreted incorrectly. The mechanism is designed in such a way that it must be advanced only by one day in the year 2100. And the moon phase display will even run true for 122.6 years before it needs to be corrected by one day.
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