SIHH 2017 Highlights: A. Lange & Söhne

By combining five high complications — the perpetual calendar, chronograph, rattrapante, fusée and chain and tourbillon — into the Tourbograph Perpetual “Pour Le Mérite”, A. Lange & Söhne has successfully introduced one of its most complicated wristwatches at SIHH this year. It follows in the footsteps of the Tourbograph “Pour Le Mérite” from 2005, except that its movement has been redesigned to incorporate a perpetual calendar complication. What’s also different is the addition of a specially shaped tourbillon bridge, whose decoration work alone demanded several days. The new L133.1 calibre is composed of 684 micro parts, one of which is the 676-part fusée and chain that helps to guarantee regular and even torque throughout the 36 hours of power reserve.

Some 15 years since it was first launched, the Lange 1 Moon Phase is now powered by a new base movement, the manually wound L121.3 calibre. Most remarkably, it also premieres a new celestial feature in the form of a moon-phase display that is ingeniously combined with a day/night indicator. Composed of two separate discs, the lunar disc (accurate to 122.6 years) is depicted in solid gold while the transition between day and night is shown on a gradated blue disc that has gone through a patented coating process.

The 1815 line adds an annual calendar complication to the family. Offered in pink or white gold, the handsome watch features an impeccably well balanced dial and is powered by the new manually wound L051.3 calibre.

A third chiming watch is added to the Zeitwerk line, which appears to have evolved organically from the previous two Zeitwerk striking models. Christened the Zeitwerk Decimal Strike, it chimes the time in passing (at the top of the hour and every 10 minutes), instead of the traditional quarters. Presented in the brand’s proprietary honey gold, it features hammers and a bridge decorated in a finely grained surface engraving.

For the ladies, A. Lange & Söhne launches two watches: The first is the Little Lange 1 Moon Phase, featuring an argente-coloured gold dial decorated in guilloche and powered by the manually wound L121.2 movement introduced two years ago. Devoid of any superfluous accoutrements and sized at 36.8mm, it offers the perfect blend of femininity and masculinity. The second feminine offering is the Saxonia, a 35mm time only classic design offered in white or pink gold with an iridescent mother-of-pearl dial.

Lastly, the brand adds a new variant to the Lange 31, an impressive masculine piece with a whopping 31 days of power reserve thanks to the use of a patented constant force escapement. It is now available in 18k white gold with a grey dial.

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