A modern take on a great tradition
A.Lange & Söhne brings traditional style to its most avant-garde watch. A limited edition of 30 LANGE ZEITWERK watches celebrates Saxon craftsmanship at its best. These limited-edition watches are available exclusively from A.Lange & Söhne boutiques.
Three years ago, A.Lange & Söhne presented the LANGE ZEITWERK, the first mechanical watch to feature a constant-force escapement that allowed for a highly accurate jumping-digit display. Since then, having won several awards, this timepiece has become one of the brand’s greatest successes. As a limited edition with the appellation “Fait main”, this watch has reached a new level of excellence: a refined case, dial and decorations, together with a Glashütte anchor, highlight the craftsmanship and watchmaking expertise of the Saxon manufacture. This masterpiece symbolizes the richness of tradition, in addition to numerous technical innovations.
The rhodium-plated white gold dial features elaborate tremblée engraving. The engraver manually guides a specially designed chisel across the surface in precisely choreographed multidirectional movements. This produces a delicate, highly granular texture.
A formidable challenge for the engravers: the rounded A.Lange & Söhne logo and the filigree lettering of the power-reserve indicator appear in relief. Decorated with linear veining, the nickel silver hour bridge contrasts with the black dial. Traditionally used at Lange for plates, bridges and balance cockles, nickel silver is inseparable from the movement as a whole. Cleverly integrated into the dial, the hour bridge encompasses all time indications: the large white hour and minute numerals and the solid silver seconds dial. The Lange signature, case number and serial edition number on the caseback are also hand-engraved.
A glance through the sapphire crystal caseback of the LANGE ZEITWERK HANDWERKSKUNST watch reveals the Manufacture’s highly complex L043.4 caliber, which, in addition to classic elements such as the three-quarter plate and screwed gold chatons, is distinguished by a kaleidoscope of artistic decorations: the nickel silver three-quarter plate features a granular surface and hand-engraved lettering. The A.Lange & Söhne signature on the barrel is executed as a relief engraving. This technique requires the artist to chisel the motif in high relief, giving it an embossed appearance. The balance cock is also decorated with a
freehand engraving. The upper part of the constant-force escapement bridge is polished “black”, the most elaborate and meticulous finishing technique available. The Glashütte anchor pays a special tribute to the Lange traditions of the 19th century. The anchor and escapement wheel are made of hardened 18-carat gold. The advantage is its resistance to magnetic fields. Steel alloys, commonly used today, were not available then. The anchor is designed to remain well balanced in all positions. The pallets are crimped and slightly curved to reduce friction with the escapement wheel. Perfectly executed, all these subtle design features contribute to the watch’s precision. Creating this exceptional timepiece was a challenge for the current generation of master watchmakers.
This limited edition of 30 pieces is on sale exclusively in the seven A.Lange & Söhne boutiques around the world. The LANGE ZEITWERK HANDWERKSKUNST was launched at The Mall in Dubai on September 26, 2012, one of the world’s most important shopping malls, during the inauguration of the latest A.Lange & Söhne boutique.
Cette publication est également disponible en : Français (French)
