Limited edition commemorating the 175th anniversary of Saxon precision watchmaking
Like no other watch, this special model shows how A. Lange & Söhne has evolved the
tradition of precision watchmaking and repeatedly infused it with fresh momentum. Five
classic complications are combined in a unique masterpiece of technology called
TOURBOGRAPH PERPETUAL “Pour le Mérite”, introduced in 2017. As a tribute to Ferdinand
Adolph Lange, a limited special edition in honey gold is now debuting with a blackrhodiumed
dial made of the same material.
The brave decision of Ferdinand Adolph Lange to establish his first pocket watch workshop in
the Ore Mountain town of Glashütte on 7 December 1845 marks the birth of Saxon precision
watchmaking. A. Lange & Söhne is now commemorating the event with a “Homage to F. A.
Lange” collection. It consists of three limited-edition models from the 1815 watch family – the
1815 RATTRAPANTE HONEYGOLD, the 1815 THIN HONEYGOLD and the TOURBOGRAPH
PERPETUAL HONEYGOLD. The third model is limited to 50 pieces and introduces the combination
of a fusée-and-chain transmission, a tourbillon, a rattrapante chronograph and a perpetual calendar, which was realised for the first time in 2017, and a novel dial and exclusive
movement finissage.
Sublime relief in honey gold
With the dial of the TOURBOGRAPH PERPETUAL HONEYGOLD “Homage to F. A. Lange”,
A. Lange & Söhne has taken a totally new approach. It is black-rhodiumed and, like the 43-
millimetre case, consists of solid, 18-carat honey gold. The raised numerals and scales as well
as the logo contrast vividly against the dark background. They are not applied and instead are
raised from the material by about 0.15 millimetres. In combination with the relief, this creates an
incomparable three-dimensional effect.
The hands of the time and calendar displays as well as the black-rhodiumed lunar disc are
made of the same gold alloy. Its two glistening, slightly cambered moons are framed by handengraved
stars. The dial and the lunar discs are crafted in-house to assure the perfect implementation
of the innovative design idea.
Peerlessly complex
With calibre L133.1, the TOURBOGRAPH PERPETUAL HONEYGOLD “Homage to F. A.
Lange” is endowed with a movement of peerless complexity; it consists of 684 parts. It fully
complies with the rules of classic precision watchmaking with design details such as columnwheel
control for the rattrapante chronograph, the screw balance, and its artisanal finissage. It
would be legitimate to call this watch a grand complication. However, a masterpiece with this
name already exists at A. Lange & Söhne: the GRAND COMPLICATION with a total of seven
horological complications. It was released in 2013 and crafted only six times.
A quintet of complications
When it was introduced in 2017, the TOURBOGRAPH PERPETUAL “Pour le Mérite” was
among the highlights at the SIHH salon in Geneva. The combination of five complications in this
arrangement is unique. As long ago as 2005, A. Lange & Söhne had already created a watch
with a fusée-and-chain transmission, a tourbillon, and a rattrapante chronograph: the
TOURBOGRAPH “Pour le Mérite”. But the addition of a perpetual calendar required more than
200 extra parts, dramatically changing the power flows in the movement and requiring a new
design concept.
With analogue displays, the perpetual calendar indicates all month durations correctly until
2100. After a one-time correction, the calendar is then properly calibrated for the next century. It
has three subsidiary dials. The date at twelve o’clock and the day at nine o’clock are indicated
with honey-gold hands. The month and leap year are both displayed at three o’clock. The upper
half of the analogue date accommodates the moon-phase display which is calculated at an accuracy
of 122.6 years.
The connection between the perpetual calendar and the rattrapante chronograph posed a special
challenge for the engineers. This is because when both the chronograph function is used
and the calendar displays switch, mechanical conflicts must be avoided alongside amplitude
fluctuations that could have a negative impact on rate stability. Here, A. Lange & Söhne was
able to benefit from its many years of experience in the development of highly complex chronographs.
The top-mounted rattrapante (or split-seconds) hand in blued steel can be stopped independently
of the gold-plated chronograph hand and also resynchronised with it via the pusher
at ten o’clock. This allows any number of lap times to be stopped during a running time measurement.
The mechanical switching processes are controlled with two column wheels and can
be observed in real time through the sapphire-crystal caseback. The 30-minute-counter at nine
o’clock completes the repertoire of chronograph displays.
With their carefully orchestrated interaction, the tourbillon and the fusée-and-chain transmission
minimise two unavoidable physical phenomena that are common in all mechanical watches:
gravity and the waning force of the mainspring. In 1994, A. Lange & Söhne succeeded for the
first time in integrating a fusée-and-chain transmission in the compact dimensions of a wristwatch.
Via a fusée connected to the spring barrel with a chain, the power of the mainspring is
delivered to the movement with constant force thanks to the ingenious way in which the principle
of levers is harnessed. A planetary gearing mechanism inside the fusée assures that the
flow of power from the mainspring barrel to the escapement is not interrupted while the watch is
being wound.
A special finish
The special finissage of the calibre L133.1 was produced with a great artisanal effort and distinguishes
itself from the first generation in essential details. The surfaces of the German-silver
bridges and cocks are granularly textured and endowed with black-rhodiumed inscriptions. The filigreed lines of the manually engraved chronograph bridge are black-rhodiumed as well. This
increases the three-dimensional effect of the pattern as well as the modernity of the traditional
technique.
The artisanal decoration also includes the straight graining on the chain. Requiring several
hours to complete, the black polish on areas of the curved tourbillon bridge challenges the skills
of the finissage experts to the utmost. The tourbillon cage is suspended between two diamond
endstones as was the case in Ferdinand Adolph Lange’s historic pocket watches of the then
highest quality level, the 1A category. Other technical details of that category included a balance
wheel with gold poising screws and screwed gold chatons to secure the bearing jewels. To
top it off, a diamond endstone was integrated in the hand-engraved balance cock. When reincorporating
the company, Walter Lange and Günter Blümlein adopted numerous 1A quality
criteria in the new product philosophy to build a bridge between tradition and modernity.
