Nine years separate the presentation of the first Richard Lange Jumping Seconds from its aesthetic evolution unveiled at the 2025 edition of the Hampton Court Concours d'Elegance, south of London. Despite—or perhaps because of—this long period, its allure remains just as strong. Why? "Luxury is rarity, creativity, elegance," as the designer Pierre Cardin once emphasized. The regulator-type display is now more than exceptional. This seductive power is further amplified by a pertinent use of the principles that founded one of the major architectural movements of the 20th century, the Bauhaus.
Form follows function
Reference clock, master clock, benchmark timepiece... The regulator holds an essential place in the history of watchmaking. Designed to ensure absolute precision, it has continually evolved, miniaturizing with advancements in micromechanics. Even though the dimensions of the mechanisms have been reduced, their display of time information has remained unchanged. The hour, minute, and second hands are not coaxial. Each finds its place on a distinct sub-dial, ensuring a clear, unambiguous reading.
The dial of the Richard Lange Jumping Seconds aligns with this tradition. It adopts the typical regulator's distinctive layout. The trio of hands has its own scale with specific typography for the hours and minutes. Precision combines with aesthetics for a rigorous measurement of time.
Functional by nature, this exceptional piece illustrates another Bauhaus principle. The primacy of linear and geometric forms adheres to a logic of utility, devoid of artifice. The clarity of the indications reflects this pursuit of purity. The rare jumping seconds complication completes the ensemble and brings rhythmic regularity.
Gesamtkunstwerk or the complete work of art
In direct correlation to this other principle of the Bauhaus, no boundary is erected between the artist and the artisan. Thus, similar to all creations bearing the A. Lange & Söhne signature, every detail, technical and aesthetic, matters and contributes to their unique personality. The architecture of the L094.1 caliber, partly visible through the sapphire back, reveals this pursuit of perfection. The untreated German silver plates and bridges, the screwed gold chatons, the hand-engraved balance cock, like each of the 390 components of the manually wound movement, even those hidden, receive meticulous attention. This holistic approach shapes the identity of the Saxon manufacture.
Intelligent Use of Resources
Emphasizing technology and a commitment to constant development are also two of the principles of the architectural movement that originated in Germany. This ambition is reflected in this Richard Lange by a fine management of energy. The constant-force escapement orchestrates the jump of the second hand 60 times per minute. The jumping seconds mechanism coupled with the so-called Zero-Reset mechanism ensures precise time setting. For the watch wearer, this complexity serves simplicity of use. “A discreet triangle at the intersection of the hour and minute discs is dressed in the same salmon hue as the dial. Ten hours before the 42-hour power reserve is depleted, it turns red,” informs Anthony de Haas, product development director. The efficiency of the whole lies in a global approach, putting aesthetics and ergonomics on equal footing. Nothing is gratuitous; everything follows a logic of use, true to the Bauhaus spirit that inspires this Richard Lange Jumping Seconds.
