For the second edition of World Brand Piazza exhibition, a part of Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair, A. Lange & Söhne, has prepared three very special models. All visitors will be able to see the brand’s Lange Double Split Watch, Langematik Perpetual, as well as Lange 31.
A. Lange Söhne Lange Double Split Watch 404.035
The first exhibited piece, Lange Double Split (Reference 404.035), marked the beginning of a new chapter in development of mechanical watches when it first appeared in 2005. The reason for such a bold claim is the fact that this timepiece is the world’s very first flyback chronograph with a double rattrapante feature.
A. Lange & Söhne Lange Double Split Watch 404.035
The complex rattrapante sweep-seconds function on a chronograph was previously very useful for shorter measurements. This complication, also known as a double chronograph, means that the watch has two separate chronograph mechanisms and thus, the ability to measure two events of unequal durations. Its major flaw was its inability to be used for measurements over 60 seconds. The Lange double Split overcomes this obstacle with the extension of this principle to its 30-minute counter. Besides, it has a flyback function that enables the possibility of instant resetting of both chrono hands with a single push. It even has the ability to display the fastest and the slowest laps measured.
Lange Double Split owes its fantastic abilities to its in-house crafted hand-wound Lange Calibre L001.1 movement, with plates and bridges made of silver and with a hand-engraved balance cock. It is also worth noting that Lange Double Split has a power reserve of 38 hours, a platinum case (43 mm wide), a black dial, a sapphire crystal (hardness 9), as well as a hand-stitched crocodile strap with a platinum buckle.
A. Lange & Söhne Langematik Perpetual Watch 310.032
The second piece by the brand, Langematik Perpetual (Reference 310.032), is also a groundbreaking mechanical watch. The watch, first presented at the beginning of the century, is the first automatic wristwatch that has a perpetual calendar, oversized date and a new mechanism called Zero Reset that allows both individual and collective advancement of its calendar and moon-phase displays.
A. Lange & Söhne Langematik Perpetual Watch 310.032
The driving force of this timepiece is its self-winding Calibre L922.1 SAX-0-MAT movement with a bidirectional rotor which is fitted into a pink gold case (this is actually a more recent option, available since 2007), with the diameter of 38.5 mm and the thickness of 10.2 mm. Sapphire crystals guard both face and the case back of the watch. The dial is solid silver in argenté color, while the hands are pink gold. The final touch is its hand-stitched brown crocodile leather strap.
The third marvel by A. Lange & Söhne is its Lange 31 (Reference 130.025), a mechanical timepiece with a mind-boggling power reserve of 31 days. On order to be able to achieve this, the watch has two mainspring barrels, each with the diameter of 25 mm. Two mainsprings are five to ten times bigger than those usually found. As the brand says, they generate energy “enough to lift a 100-gram bar of Swiss chocolate 320 centimeters more than 10 feet”. In order to enable the winding of those extra strong springs, the company has replaced the crown with a more traditional solution – a winding key. Another challenge to construction of such watch is enabling a uniform energy delivery for the escapement. For this reason, the brand has created a constant-force escapement that includes an auxiliary spring, sporadically rewound by the mainspring.
A. Lange & Söhne Lange 31 Watch 130.025
To include all these elements, Lange 31 needed a chunky case. It has a platinum case that is 46 mm wide and 15.9 mm thick. It holds Lange Calibre L034.1, made of 406 components and with 61 jewels. The watch is shock-proof and has sapphire crystals on its face and case-back. A silver dial includes a large power reserve indicator and a date display. Just like the previous two watches, this watch also has a hand-stitched crocodile strap.
I think that all three watches are phenomenal, especially the first, because it is a mechanical watch able to show fastest and slowest laps. the last one /w a power reserve of an entire month is also sensational in my opinion.