In 2009 A. Lange & Söhne shocked the (watch) world with the introduction of the Zeitwerk. The concept was based on the famous five-minute clock at the Semper Opera House in Dresden, Germany. A. Lange & Söhne took the design and scaled its details down to wristwatch size and paired it with a unique dial layout that displays time in a digital format like military time.
Perhaps the most astonishing thing about the model is that it is powered by a mechanical movement. It includes a large number of numerical discs that jump quickly from one to another to display time, all of which require a substantial amount of power that needs to be built up and released all at once. This is quite a volatile action, where stopping the disc at precisely the correct position is as important as moving it at the right time. While various brands have made jump-hour watches, the Zeitwerk brought them to another level.
Nearly thirteen years after the debut of its base model, A. Lange & Söhne is releasing a second-generation model, though it is not the first time that the brand has experimented with the Zeitwerk. As the brand amassed more experience with the watch over the years, different versions emerged, integrating other complications like repeaters and a date function.
At first glance, there seem to be few updates to the original, but below the surface, this generation of the Zeitwerk is equipped with an entirely new movement. The caliber L043.6 offers a power reserve that has doubled over the previous version, now being able to run 72 hours when fully wound, as opposed to 36. Another improvement is the button at five o’clock, which allows the wearer to advance the hours by one. This makes the Zeitwerk even easier to travel with, as switching time zones is done with considerable ease.
Despite all these improvements, and the 63 more parts that A. Lange & Söhne needed to make this movement as compared to the 2009 model, the watch is 0.4mm thinner. This is a momentous achievement, adding a generous dash of elegance to the Zeitwerk with comfortable proportions. A. Lange & Söhne also made minor adjustments to the dial detailing, but the overall look and recognizability of the model have been maintained. To give the next generation a fresh appeal, the brand offers the Zeitwerk in a platinum case with a rhodium-colored dial or in pink gold with a contrasting black dial.
The new Zeitwerk from A. Lange & Söhne is a boutique exclusive with the price available upon request. More information is available via the brand’s website.
To learn more, visit A. Lange & Söhne, here
A dream watch, absolutely amazing this mechanical feature drives the mechanism. I have been collecting Langes since 2000. Have acquired all up to the Dato level. Love the craftsmanship. I wish that Lange would produce more Lange ones, Langematiks, and Saxonia’s @ 40 mm and 41. I am not a big fan of 38.5. My platinum Dato is 39. I can’t believe I have had it for so long. I was lucky enough to meet Walter Lange and Fabian Krone. I admire your company so much. I don’t even look at other brands.