For A. Lange & Söhne, 2022 marks the return of the minute repeater, the Grand Lange 1 and the Odysseus. Let’s have a look at what the watchmaker is presenting at Watches & Wonders Geneva.
The 69th Symphony
After making a triumphant return in the Grande Complication in 2013, followed by the Zeitwerk models in 2015 and 2020, the minute repeater is back this year with the Richard Lange Répétition à Minutes. Unlike its predecessors, this latest implementation is simple and understated (but elegant, as always!), with sober colours and a minimalist dial. There are no decorative flourishes or additional complications; the new 39mm Lange focuses exclusively on the complexity of the sonnerie mechanism, showcasing a 69th new calibre incorporating 415 components (191 of them for the minute repeater alone).
The new and effortlessly accomplished manual movement features a hammer blocking mechanism that prevents the hammers from rebounding and striking the gongs again, as well as a pause elimination feature that skips the usual gap between the hour and minute strikes. In order to protect the complex mechanism, the Richard Lange Répétition à Minutes includes a safety device to prevent activation of the repeater when the crown is pulled out. It’s also impossible to pull out the crown while the chiming mechanism is active. Peace of mind thus assured, the symphony can be enjoyed in peace.
Slimmer profile
Available in white gold with a black leather strap, or rose gold with red-brown leather strap, the new Grande Lange 1 is slimmer than its predecessors. The watch with its traditional 41mm case has, over the years, continued to shave decimillimetres (the unit that comes after millimetres) off its depth. Measuring 9.5mm in 2016 and 9.4mm in 2019, the Grande Lange 1 has now shrunk to a slender 8.2mm this year. As well as being a delight to the eye, this latest version is a pleasure to wear, thanks to its more comfortable weight. The slim profile of the watch also makes it easier to slip under the cuff – a genuine advantage, believe me. With its light and airy design, this new manually wound timepiece presents the time indications (hours, minutes, small seconds, date and power reserve) clearly and legibly.
An epic Odyssey
Lange is using titanium for the first time in its history, and the Odysseus collection has been chosen for the prestigious debut. Titanium is 43% lighter than stainless steel and extremely robust thanks to its chemical properties (it forms a light patina which protects the metal from external factors and from the corrosive effects of oxygen). It is present in every part of the new Odysseus: both case and bracelet. Perfect for smaller wrists like mine, the bracelet h sas 7mm of adjustment. But that’s not the only new feature: this model also comes with an artfully textured dial, amplifying the illusion of depth, in ice blue. This automatic timepiece in a limited series of 250 also has a large day and date display, a sapphire case back, a power reserve of 50 hours and a depth rating of 120m.
