A. Lange & Söhne
Lange 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar “25th Anniversary”
A. Lange & Söhne
Lange 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar “25th Anniversary”
Taking inspiration from the Lange 1 Time Zone, a decision was made to place a month ring around the dial perimeter. Then a small arrow shaped aperture was placed at six o’clock with which to indicate the leap year and, also, point out the month on the month-ring.
Yet another Lange 1, the Lange 1 Moon Phase, served as further inspiration for the next point of elevation for the Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar, which is the familiar moon phase incorporated with the running seconds sub dial.
Says Tony, “What we had to do is place the tourbillon deeper into the movement. So deep, in fact, that the tourbillon of the Lange 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar starts at the main plate [occupying precious real estate required by the calendar mechanism].
“It was as a result that we had to rethink the complete construction of the perpetual calendar mechanism. We basically had to build the calendar mechanism around the tourbillon. Therefore, the movement isn’t a modular one — like, say the Langematik — rather it is one of multiple layers of a completely integrated caliber, incorporating the gear train, calendar and automatic winding mechanism.
“Take for instance the month-ring on the movement that serves the calendar mechanism as its brain. This, as opposed to the 48-month wheel that typically steers a perpetual calendar. The differing lengths of the inward facing teeth of the month-ring is what determines the length of each month and essentially provides logic to the complete calendar system on the watch.”
It is with such a level of innovation that Lange was able to maintain the high level of clarity that we’ve grown accustomed to on a Lange 1 dial, even with the perpetual calendar execution. At the same time, it is with the intelligence contained within the movement that we are treated to a brand of opulence visible through the caseback of the Lange 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar that we have grown to expect of Lange.
A Handwerkskunst (German for ‘craftsmanship’) version followed a year later, in 2013, which allowed for the opulence of Lange’s decoration on the front of the timepiece, with the white gold dial practically carpeted in tremblage and relief engraving, and for the first time, hand-painted numerals for the outsize date. In platinum, the Handwerkskunst variant was made in a numbered edition of a highly limited 15 pieces. Recently, Lange also introduced a new version in 2016, in white gold case with a grey dial.
“He went on to explain his amazement by sharing a story about an interview he did with Mr Blümlein in the early 2000s. Peter said that while discussing the Langematik Perpetual he suggested to Mr Blümlein that it would be wonderful to see the perpetual calendar incorporated into the iconic dial the Lange 1. Mr Blümlein at that time responded saying, ‘I do not think it is possible.’