A. Lange & Söhne Go Platinum For The Lange 1 Time Zone

A. Lange & Söhne launches a new edition of their intuitive time-zone watch, the Lange 1 Time Zone, in 950 platinum with a rhodium-coloured dial.

The simultaneous display of two zone times is one of the most useful additional functions in precision watchmaking and is highly valued by globally interconnected watch collectors.

In 2005, A. Lange & Söhne enhanced this complication for the Lange 1 Time Zone with a distinctive face, in addition to home time, this unique timepiece displayed the time in a second zone, easily selected thanks to the cities on the city ring representing 24 time zones. In its second generation, presented in 2020, the cosmopolitan model was equipped with the new manufacture calibre L141.1, featuring an intuitive indication of daylight-saving time, thus further expanding the functionality of this watch.

Now, the new edition showcases a 950-platinum case combined with a rhodium-coloured dial made of solid silver, resulting in a decidedly classic look, a first for this model. By placing the ring with the 24 reference cities on the periphery, the harmonious display arrangement in the distinctive, off-centre dial architecture of the watch is not impaired. Home time and zone time, the outsize date and the power-reserve indicator ‒ all displays are clearly visible at any given time.

While the larger time circle indicates home time, the smaller time circle displays the time in a second time zone. When the corrector button at 8 o’clock is actuated, the city ring switches in the easterly direction by one time zone. At the same time, the hour hand in the small subsidiary dial advances by one hour and now indicates the zone time of the city ‒ and corresponding time zone ‒ at which the gold applied arrow marker points. The indication of daylight-saving time constitutes a refined technical feature. A colour segment in the arrow indicates whether the selected city and time zone implement daylight-saving time. If this is the case, the small aperture is filled in red. If standard time is observed in this location all year round, the background remains unchanged.

Additionally, the watch has an ingeniously designed synchronisation mechanism that allows the zone time to be transferred from the smaller subsidiary dial to the larger one, thus making it possible to define a new main time as home time. When the crown is pulled in the second position, the times of both zones can be adjusted synchronously. However, if the time-zone correction button is pressed and held, the hour hand of the zone-time dial will be stopped in its position.

“The Lange 1 Time Zone is an expressive manifestation of our manufactory’s efforts to challenge conventions and break new ground in precision watchmaking through innovative advancements and constructions. Only in proceeding in this way, do we succeed in developing things from the ground up and building watches that offer unique functions and inimitable designs. Progress and tradition go hand in hand to accommodate our quest for perfection.”
Wilhelm Schmid, CEO, A. Lange & Söhne

At its heart is the manufacture calibre L141.1, assuring a power reserve of 72 hours, despite having only one mainspring barrel. Further technical details include a classic screw balance and a freely oscillating balance spring crafted in-house and calibrated for a frequency of 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour. Lange-typical quality hallmarks such as the three-quarter plate made of untreated German silver, screwed gold chatons, blued screws, an elaborate whiplash precision index adjuster as well as a balance cock and an intermediate-wheel cock ‒ both hand-engraved ‒ are visible through the sapphire-crystal caseback.

Technical Specifications:

LANGE 1 TIME ZONE

Ref. 136.025

Movement	Lange manufacture calibre L141.1, manually wound, crafted to the most exacting Lange quality standards, decorated and assembled by hand; precision-adjusted in five positions; plates and bridges made of untreated German silver; balance and intermediate-wheel cocks engraved by hand
No. of movement parts	448
No. of jewels	38
No. of screwed gold chatons	3
Escapement	Lever escapement
Oscillator	Shock-resistant screw balance; superior-quality balance spring manufactured in-house, frequency of 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour; precision beat adjustment mechanism with lateral setscrew and whiplash spring
Power reserve	72 hours when fully wound
Functions	Home time and zone time, each with a ring-shaped day/night indicator; subsidiary seconds dial with stop seconds; city ring for adjustment of the second time zone with daylight-saving time indication; outsize date for home time; UP/DOWN power-reserve indicator
Operating elements	Crown for winding the watch and setting the time; one button each for correcting the outsize date and setting the second time zone
Case dimensions	Diameter: 41.9 millimetres; height: 10.9 millimetres
Movement dimensions	Diameter: 34.1 millimetres; height: 6.7 millimetres
Crystal and transparent caseback	Sapphire crystal (Mohs hardness 9)
Case	950 platinum
Dial	Solid silver, rhodié
Hands and appliques	Rhodiumed gold
Strap	Hand-stitched alligator leather, black
Buckle	Prong buckle in 950 platinum