During lockdown of 2020, Lange introduced a new Lange 1 Time Zone and while it isn’t immediately clear what has changed, you can rest assured that Lange had undoubtedly made some changes beneath the dial. As you may well know Lange 1 Time Zone is about efficiency in all aspects of the word. Inspired by the iconic Lange 1; it has been said that the Lange 1 has probably won more prizes than any other wristwatch of the new era, which then spurred the development engineers of Lange to endow it with a separate time-zone indication. No minute of the day, or night for that matter, is unaccounted for. In 2020, some 15-years after it was first introduced – Lange updated the calibre; however, this year Lange have introduced a platinum model.
The style of this watch is, of course, akin to every other watch crafted by Lange & Söhne, with the utmost importance being precision. The main dial displaying the wearers home time or if they wish the time of the country they are visiting for pleasure or business, is placed in the traditional location of the Lange 1 at 8 o’clock. The main dial largely remains unchanged, featuring circular graining, with diamond-shaped batons and polished Roman numerals at the 12, 3 and 9 o’clock positions that are highlighted by spearhead-style hands and subsidiary dial at 6 o’clock, displaying the running seconds.
Previously, the Lange 1 Time Zone displayed the day and night phases with small arrows that swept along either bright or dark segments, both for home time and for the time zone selected with the city ring. This is now displayed via a disc located at the centre axis of both time zones. These two indicators are separate and synchronised. Through use of semi blue lines, day and night are indicated, helping to simplify the reading of time in a rush.
For this platinum model, the dial is only available in Solid Silver Rhodié, which will add to its distinction. The watch is manually wound and will provide up to 72 hours via its new single mainspring barrel which is now noted on the dial with the inscription “GANGRESERVE 72 STUNDEN”, this reserve of power is indicated by the up/down gauge positioned at 3 o’clock. Thanks to the new design, the number of hands has been reduced from nine to seven. This creates a well- organised face.
The daylight-saving time indication is in the aperture of the arrow applique on the zone-time dial. If the aperture is red, the respective city has a daylight savings time regime. If it remains white, standard time applies there throughout the year. Should daylight saving time apply at home but not in the selected zone, one hour must be subtracted from the displayed zone time. A simple, yet effect approach to the problem that otherwise goes unnoticed that is controlled by coding on the underside of the city ring.
Turning the timepiece over and peering through the sapphire display back you’ll see the signature Gläshutte ¾ plate main bridges which are constructed from untreated German silver. Another wonderful touch is the balance cock and intermediate wheel cock, both uniquely engraved by hand. The calibre L141.1 is made up of 417 components and makes use of a lever escapement, joined by screwed, polished gold chatons – and this I believe to be a feat of excellence, when considering each one is assembled by hand. You have to respect the attentive and skilful nature of the timepiece. It also has, shock-proofed glucydur screws, a Nivarox balance spring with a frequency of 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour and a whiplash precision index adjuster with a patented beat adjustment mechanism.
Time zone adjustments can be made via the corrector push-piece located at 8 o’clock. The respective lever and wheel-train mechanism is located beneath the main plate. Every actuation of the button advances the zone-time hour hand by one hour. At the same time, the mechanism drives the corrector wheel that advances the city ring by exactly 15 degrees to the next reference city.
The 41.9mm case in platinum, is nicely sized and of course has some nicely integrated functional setting features. For winding and setting the timepiece, a moderately sized fluted crown affords comfort, it also has a pusher at 10 o’clock for switching the least intricate aspect of the timepiece, the simplistic and iconic outsized date display. The glass used to seal the watch is anti-reflective sapphire crystal with an exceptional hardness of 9. The Lange 1 Time Zone is fixed to the wrist via a hand-stitched crocodile strap complementing the superiority of the watches unsurpassed precision. The strap features the iconic Lange prong buckle in solid platinum held closely by coved style lugs.
The new platinum Lange 1 Time Zone is a boutique exclusive timepiece and is priced at approx. £56,000.For more information on the Lange 1 Time Zone, visit alange-soehne.com.
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