A. Lange & Söhne
A. Lange & Söhne: The Zeitwerk Phenomena
A. Lange & Söhne
A. Lange & Söhne: The Zeitwerk Phenomena
Jumping Digital Display
We love it when opposites attract, like sweet and sour or a great buddy cop movie with an irascible long-time cop paired with an excitable young recruit, so it’s no surprise that the combination of classical mechanical movement and a modern digital display in horology makes for an inspiring timepiece. The A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk line first launched in 2009 with its iconic jumping digital display driven by the L043.1 mechanical movement and inspired by the collaboration between Johann Christian Friedrich Gutkaes and Adolph Lange on the famous five- minute clock at the Semper Opera House in Dresden.
The Original Zeitwerk
In 2009, the concept of a mechanical watch with a digital display was an exciting concept, and the Zeitwerk delivered with a dial that featured jumping hours with a dual-disk mechanism to show the first and second numerals of the jumping minutes in two windows. The stop seconds were displayed in a secondary subdial that was balanced by a power indicator.
The Luminosity Effect
In 2010, A. Lange & Söhne released the Zeitwerk “Luminous” version that featured a semi-transparent sapphire crystal dial so that the jumping numeral disks could be seen in action. This also allows UV light to filter through to the numerals that were not actively displayed to charge the lumen coating for better low-light visibility and off-the-scale coolness factor.
According to Langepedia.com, the complication and the combination of this unique use of lume on the Zeitwerk has, of course, so enamored the watch community that it’s bestowed the timepiece with the uber cool moniker, “Phantom.”
The Sound of Time
Work of Art
The three-quarter plate was made of untreated German silver and featured hand engraved lettering. Artists decorated the balance and escape wheel cocks with free-hand relief engraving and the upper side of the bridge was embellished with black polishing.
The creation of these time intensive pieces resulted in a rare watch that was as beautiful as it was complex.
Ringing in the Minutes
Expanding its acoustic capabilities, A. Lange & Söhne released the platinum and silver Zeitwerk Minute Repeater in 2015. The design team worked to create a case and movement that put the harmonious sound quality at the forefront. The chiming feature is activated with the press of a button and emits a low-pitched tone for the hour, a double tone for each 10 minutes and a high-pitched tone for each minute, aligned cleverly to the triple disk architecture of the jumping hours and minutes.
In 2020, Lange created a limited edition model with a white gold case, and a solid silver and deep blue dial. They made only 30 of these extraordinary timepieces.
The Song of Decimals
Red Letter Day
The neutral gray and silver of the dial with the white gold of the case made for a versatile and attractive timepiece that, for the first time in the Zeitwerk line, displayed day as well as time.
Instantaneous Leap
The caliber L043.6 utilizes three jumping numeral disks. “To switch the disks of the jumping numerals mechanism to forward on time every minute, the movement requires much more energy than a classic time display,” explains Anthony de Haas, A. Lange & Söhne’s director of product development. “Not only are the numerals disks very heavy by watchmaking standards, but they also have to be quickly accelerated and braked again. This calls for considerably higher forces than the uniform rotation of a pair of hands of much less weight. The greatest amount of energy is needed at the top of the hour when the movement advances all three disks at the same time.”
At 41.9mm, the timepiece is eye-catching in either of the platinum or pink gold case. The caseback is sapphire crystal for a marvelous view of the mechanicals that have been decorated by hand with engravings on the balance cock and escape wheel.
The pink gold model is paired with a black alligator strap and the platinum version is paired with a dark brown alligator leather strap.
Digital and Mechanical Marvel
A. Lange & Söhne amazed watch connoisseurs with the innovation and unique jumping hours and minutes of the Zeitwerk, but it couldn’t rest on that achievement alone. Over the years, the brand has continued to innovate and grow the line with an impressive array of complications and materials. Each new variation has had something important to explore and we’re excited to see what will be next for the Zeitwerk series.
Tech Specs
A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk
References: 142.025 (950 platinum); 142.031 (18K pink gold)
Movement: Manual winding caliber L043.6; 72-hour power reserve
Functions: Jumping hours and minutes, and subsidiary seconds with stop seconds
Case: 41.9mm; 950 platinum or 18K pink gold
Dial: Rhodium colored or black; Arabic numerals
Strap: Dark brown or black alligator leather; platinum or pink gold pin buckle
Price: Upon request