The newly developed L156.1 calibre encased in stainless steel premieres the first A. Lange & Söhne self-winding chronograph movement.
A. Lange & Söhne watchmakers continues to break new ground with the new self-winding Odysseus Chronograph, with its contemporary appearance is based on openness, lightness and the prominent features. Its narrow bezel allowed for a comparatively large dial. Together with the lancet-shaped hands and the typical Lange displays for the date and day of week, it assures excellent legibility.
To retain the characteristic dial design of the Odysseus, the manufactory developed a customised movement that positions both chronograph hands in the centre, the minute counter with a lozenge-shaped tip as well as the red chronograph seconds hand. As a consequence, the totalisers, which are conventionally arranged at 3 and 9 o’clock, could be dispensed with, and the style-defining positions of the outsize date and day of the week could be maintained.
Owing to the expansion of the measuring range from 30 to 60 minutes, the Lange developers succeeded in introducing new fields of application for the chronograph. Additionally, it is endowed with an innovative, dynamic reset-to-zero function.
To assure safe and easy operation of the chronograph, the Lange product developers equipped the specially sealed, tapered buttons with a novel dual function. In the normal position of the screw-down crown, the buttons at 2 and 4 o’clock are used to operate the chronograph functions: start, stop and reset to zero. When the crown is pulled, the date and day of the week can be corrected with a newly developed mechanism. The timepiece takes centre stage in a three-part stainless-steel case with a diameter of 42.5 millimetres that withstands a test pressure of 12 bar and is robust enough to accompany its wearer even during sports and leisure activities.
The L156.1 DATOMATIC calibre ‒ the manufactory’s first self-winding chronograph movement ‒ powers the Odysseus Chronograph. The attribute DATOMATIC is derived from the words ‘date’ and ‘automatic’. A skeletonised and partially black-rhodiumed central rotor with a centrifugal mass in 950 platinum assures efficient winding. When fully wound, the mainspring barrel delivers a maximum power reserve of 50 hours.
“The ODYSSEUS CHRONOGRAPH symbolises the pioneering spirit of the manufactory, to explore previously undiscovered fields, to overcome obstacles and to implement innovative technical solutions. Inventiveness and creativity, two A. Lange & Söhne key areas of expertise, will continue to break the mould in traditional precision watchmaking.”
Wilhelm Schmid, CEO, A. Lange & Söhne
Technical Specifications:
| ODYSSEUS CHRONOGRAPH Ref. 463.178 | |
| Movement | Lange manufacture calibre L156.1 DATOMATIC®, self-winding, crafted to the most exacting Lange quality standards, decorated and assembled by hand; precision-adjusted in five positions; unidirectional winding central rotor with 950 platinum centrifugal mass; balance bridge engraved by hand |
| Movement parts | 516 |
| Jewels | 52 |
| Screwed gold chatons | 4 |
| Escapement | Lever escapement |
| Oscillation system | Shock-resistant cam-poised balance with four poising screws, superior-quality balance spring manufactured in-house, frequency 28,800 semi-oscillations per hour (4 hertz), precision beat adjustment system with cam and whiplash spring |
| Power reserve | 50 hours when fully wound |
| Functions | Time indicated in hours, minutes, and subsidiary seconds with stop seconds; date and day-of-week displays, chronograph with central chrono seconds hand and 60-minute counter |
| Operating elements | Screw-down crown for winding the watch and setting the time; two buttons for correcting the date and day of week as well as operating the chronograph |
| Case dimensions | Diameter: 42.5 millimetres; height: 14.2 millimetres |
| Movement dimensions | Diameter: 34.9 millimetres; height: 8.4 millimetres |
| Case | Stainless steel |
| Water resistance | Up to 12 bar (120 metres) |
| Dial | Brass, black |
| Hands and appliques | Hours and minutes: white gold, luminous; subsidiary seconds: white gold; 60-minute counter: rhodiumed steel, luminous; red chrono seconds hand: aluminium; baton appliques: white gold, luminous |
| Crystal and caseback | Sapphire crystal (Mohs hardness 9) |
| Bracelet | Stainless steel |
| Buckle | Safety deployant buckle with precision adjustment mechanism for adjusting the length |
| Limited edition | 100 watches, edition engraving, boutique-exclusive |
Price upon request. For more information please visit A. Lange & Söhne