A. Lange & Söhne
Lange Makes a Steel Watch: the A. Lange & Söhne Odysseus
A. Lange & Söhne
Lange Makes a Steel Watch: the A. Lange & Söhne Odysseus
In Steel
The Odysseus features a freshly designed case by the team at Lange. At 40.5mm, this is the first regular production timepiece that Lange will be made in steel. The only other steel watch that Lange credits itself to is the one off 1815 ‘Homage to Walter Lange’ in steel that was auctioned off at the at the Phillips Geneva Watch Auction: Seven for charity. There is, of course, the steel Lange 1, but that’s a unicorn of sorts and a completely different story.
The Dial
Moving into the dial of the Odysseus, we start off with the printed minute scale on the beveled, argenté-colored flange ring that frames the face of the watch. The surface of the watch is, thereafter, stepped with the outer perimeter with a vinyl ribbed surface and the center of the dial with a grained surface treatment. The small running seconds sub dial replicates these surface treatments with its centre stepped upward.
The hour markers are notched baton appliques in white gold and have lume applied within the notch. Lume is as well applied to the hour and minute hands.
From there we can finally speak about the day and date windows, placed at 9 and 3 o’clock, respectively. Both windows take on Lange’s signature “big date” implementation with a single wide window for the day and the classical segmented two window design of Lange’s “big date”.
The Movement
The power house movement that enables all of the Odysseus’ functionalities, is Lange’s newly developed L155.1 DATOMATIC manufacture calibre. The movement design bases itself on Lange’s well-established approach, beautifully executed and finished in German silver.
There are, however, two deviations with the new movement. The first of which is Lange’s newly designed balance that regulated with four countersunk poising screws, set flush to the rim of the balance. The reduced profile of the balance is said to give it a more dynamic form, reducing the effects of air resistance in affecting the watch’s chronometry.
The second deviation is the bridge placed over the balance instead of Lange’s traditional balance cock. The bridge, as opposed to the balance cock implementation, adds further stability to the balance and keeps the movement in line with the requirement of increased shock resistance. But, keeping true to tradition, Lange will have the new balance bridge engraved by hand.
Price & Availability
Price stands at € 28,000 (SG$40,700). First worldwide delivery will be made in November of 2019.
Movement
Self-winding Lange manufacture calibre L155.1 DATOMATIC; hour, minutes and small running seconds; day and date in dedicated windows; 50-hour power reserve
Case
40.5mm in stainless steel; water resistant to 120m
Bracelet
In stainless steel with safety deployant buckle
[/td_block_text_with_title]