Shanghai, Dubai, Glashütte: with the LANGE 1 TIME ZONE, you literally have the world on your wrist. It displays the time at home and in another time zone at one glance. Ring-shaped day/night displays and the daylight-saving time indication for the second time zone expand the already high degree of functionality. This year, A. Lange & Söhne launches a new edition of this intuitive time-zone watch in 950 platinum with a rhodium-coloured dial. The monochrome colour combination adds a timeless elegance to the technical sophistication and underlines the aspiration of the Saxon watch manufactory to push the boundaries and cut its own path.
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 connoisseurs. In 2005, A. Lange & Söhne endowed this complication with a distinctive face in the LANGE 1 TIME ZONE: 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 of the LANGE 1 TIME ZONE 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.
Sophisticated time-zone mechanism in a lucid design
The new edition of the LANGE 1 TIME ZONE presented three years ago, once again embodied the innovative power and creativity of the Lange watchmakers, complemented by the aesthetically appealing design. Here too, the objective was to combine sophisticated micromechanical engineering with a timeless design while assuring superb legibility. 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 LANGE 1 watch family 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.
To distinguish between day and night in both time zones, the LANGE 1 TIME ZONE features coloured ring-shaped day/night indicators linked to the hour hands. They are located in the centre of each time circle and inform the wearer whether the respective time indication is valid for the first or the second half of the day. When the hour hand is in the dial-coloured area, the display refers to the interval between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.; when the blue background appears, it refers to the interval between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Unique synchronisation mechanism
Additionally, the LANGE 1 TIME ZONE is endowed with 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. Now, the defined new main time can be set independently of the zone time. Finally, it may be necessary to correct the outsize date, which is connected with main time, by actuating the date correction button at 10 o’clock.
“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,” explains Lange-CEO Wilhelm Schmid. “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.”
Manufacture calibre L141.1
The heart of the LANGE 1 TIME ZONE, the manufacture calibre L141.1, assures 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. The hand-crafted decoration of the movement, which is assembled twice, reflects A. Lange & Söhne’s high standards in every single detail.
Currently, three model versions
The dimensions of the watch have not been modified: the case boasts a diameter of 41.9 millimetres and a height of 10.9 millimetres. In addition to the models with white gold/black and pink gold/argenté case/dial combinations, the LANGE 1 TIME ZONE is now also available in 950 platinum with a rhodié dial.
A. Lange & Söhne LANGE 1 TIME ZONE Technical Specifications
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
- Movement dimensions
- Diameter: 34.1 millimetres; height: 6.7 millimetres
Case
- 950 platinum
- Case dimensions: Diameter: 41.9 millimetres; height: 10.9 millimetres
- Crystal and transparent caseback: Sapphire crystal (Mohs hardness 9)
Dial
- Solid silver, rhodié
- Hands and appliques
- Rhodium gold
Strap
- Hand-stitched alligator leather, black
- Buckle: Prong buckle in 950 platinum
About A. Lange & Söhne
Dresden watchmaker Ferdinand Adolph Lange laid the foundations for Saxony’s precision watchmaking industry when he established his manufactory in 1845. His precious pocket watches remain highly coveted among collectors all over the world. The company was expropriated after World War II, and the name A. Lange & Söhne nearly vanished. In 1990, Ferdinand Adolph Lange’s great-grandson, Walter Lange, had the courage to relaunch the brand. Today, Lange crafts only a few thousand wristwatches per year, predominantly in gold or platinum. They are equipped exclusively with movements made in-house that are elaborately finished and assembled by hand. With 71 manufacture calibres developed since 1990, A. Lange & Söhne has secured a top-tier position in the world of watchmaking. Its greatest achievements include brand icons such as the LANGE 1, the first regularly produced wristwatch with an outsize date, and the ZEITWERK, with its precisely jumping numerals. Extraordinary complications such as the ZEITWERK MINUTE REPEATER, the DATOGRAPH PERPETUAL TOURBILLON and the TRIPLE SPLIT represent what the manufactory always strives for: to drive the traditional art of watchmaking to ever-new heights. Launched in 2019, the sporty-elegant ODYSSEUS marked the beginning of a new chapter for A. Lange & Söhne.