So, here it is, the first striking watch from Lange. I already explained the context in the introduction of my report.
To be honest with you, I'm not a fan of this watch. Even if for the technical reasons (mainly the available power), the Zeitwerk was a good choice for creating this first striking watch... I regret to loose the purety of the "classic" version of the Zeitwerk. I'm not sure that here, the visible hammers work very well in we speak in terms of design. But there is a functional reason for this choice: the Zeitwerk strikes "au passage" and not on request. So we need a display to see if we are in a silence or in a striking mode. When the hammers touch the chime, the watch is in the striking mode. When they are close to the time bridge, the watch is in the silence mode.
When it is in the striking mode, the watch strikes once every quarter and once every hour: the hour note is deeper than the quarters one. It is not possible to set the watch in a "hours striking" only.
I think that my disappointment comes from the unique strike. I would be pleased to see at least a small melody (or the number of hours) every hour and not an unique note.
The left hammer is dedicated to the hours while the right one is dedicated to the left one:
Everybody agrees about the fact that this watch is a first step. We gave to Lange during the last years a lot of pressure. Each time we met a Lange representative, in NY, in Germany, in Paris, in Singapore, everywhere in the world, we had the same question: when will you release a striking watch? So here it comes. I think that with this Zeitwerk, the Lange team learned a lot and understood that would be the upcoming challenges to create an impressive striking watch which will bring an alternative offer to the swiss ones.
Caliber L043.2 has a 2,5hz frequency and a power reserve of 36 hours even when the watch is in the striking mode. That's the proof that there was a reserve of power in the Zeitwerk.
Due to the presence of the chimes, the case is larger (44,2mm) and a bit thicker (13,8mm). The watch is available with WG case (with the black dial) and with a PT one (and a rhodiumed dial) in a LE of 100 pieces.
The WG Zeitwerk Striking Time:
My feelings in a sentence: a first step in the striking watches world, maybe too shy in front of my expectations. Lange has the potential to do better and sure that the restauration of the 42500 gave more ambitious ideas to the Lange team.
2011 will be a very important year for Lange. In 2010, Lange has been back on the right tracks with a new commercial dynamic and a big increase of the sales figures. The context is now much favourable to start a new area with the arrival of Mr Wilhelm Sch...
I would like to start with this watch because it is, without any doubt, my fav of the new collection. Lange published the press release before the Salon so we were quite excited to discover it in the metal. I was not disappointed. For me, this watch is th...
the PLM is undoubtedly the star, and the talk of the ZW strike hour is just distraction.i do not think the dial is "flat", afterall it is inspired by a pocketwatch. a beautiful blend of classic styling and contemporary interpretation. thanks for the repor...
So, here it is, the first striking watch from Lange. I already explained the context in the introduction of my report. To be honest with you, I'm not a fan of this watch. Even if for the technical reasons (mainly the available power), the Zeitwerk was a g...
Apart from that, I like how it looks, I like that it is an added complication on top of the original jump hour so in that regard, I feel the sanctity of the original Zeitwerk is preserved which would not be so if the Zeitwerk was released in a plethora of...
You have to consider that the dial has the same size. The enlargement is due to the presence of the chimes around the dial. So even if the case is larger, the watch doesn't really look bigger than the other one. Thanks a lot for your comments! Fr.Xavier
I think that the restoration of the 42500 has given Lange many ideas / design elements to use now and for the future ...... Check out the hammers/gong... What will they 'recycle' next? I know this years SIHH has only just ended but I can't wait for the ne...
I think our friends at ALS have this right. Rather then a complex MR they have kept it simple, and therefore are remainng true to the elegance which is A. Lange & Söhne. In addition, they way in which the Zeitwerk strikes is much more practical then tryin...
We don't have to be wrong: the Saxonia collection is a key issue for Lange. Franckly speaking, we had the feeling that Lange was looking for the right solution for its entry level during the last years: end of the first 1815 collection, end of the first S...
... as I am in a hurry but will do read all at a later. My favorite is also the new and great Saxonia line: perfect, elegant watches! The most tempting one is the auto in WG with a 3 Hz movement that I am asking a watch of this caliber to have, 38.5 mm an...
I would like to thank you for your report..... I am a bit surprised though.... Lange usually reserves the silver indicators for platinum models and blue for wg... Why the silver on the Saxona models? Thanks Cheers
but, IMHO, in WG it can be a very, very universally weareable wacth: It will grace any tuxedo and will not jar with jeans and t-shirt. I have to see it first in meatl, but this could be a very handsome and powerful (72h power reserve) every day and any oc...
No platinum version here so they can choose the colors which are the best with the WG version. I really think they created something very harmonious with these Saxonia. Fr.Xavier
for this excellent report. I read it with much interest and enjoyed your photos( your live pics. are so much more realistic. ) Need a bit of time now to digest it all.Looking forward to seeing them in the metal someday. Best fernando
and the manual winding Saxonia is great but the Thin is wonderful. If it only would be available in WG. Why everybody is offering us so much the red metal? Best, Kari
Thank you for this phantastic overview! It made me realise what is in the meantime also visible on the Lange homepage - the "Saxonia Automatic Date" has disappeared. Am I the only one missing it? I got mine just recently, and I really love it... The "Jahr...
To call it your favorite? What I can read in this watch is this: - most likely the management consultation with Vacheron showed that the Patrimony Contemporain is a mega seller and Lange is jumping also on that train. - secondly: a new movement like this ...
I'm really interested on the Richard Lange Tourbillon Pour le Mérite movie. Can you tell if ALS is going to make something like GO's DVD we can order for free through their website? Regards, Marcelo
The movie is not present on the CD which was given at the SIHH. But you can find the movie in the part of the website dedicated to the novelties. I managed to download the flv version of it. Hope it helps ! Fr.Xavier
I'm a little nervous about the Saxonia Thin, available only in rose gold. JLC tends to offer only SS and rose gold, with rare PT and WG models. Hopefully Lange is just adopting a Patek model and future metals will debut in future.
we can expect future versions of this Saxonia Ultra Thin with other case metals. BTW, Jérôme Lambert perfectly knows that the same strategy doesn't work for both Lange and JLC. They are two different brands. Fr.Xavier
... wonderful photos. Aside from the sizes of the most - 40mm or larger - which I do not like, I can't wait to see in the flesh. I would love to report back when I see them in Tokyo boutique sometime in March.... Again, thank you, FX! Ken
my overall impression compared with my previous disappointed post hasn t changed much but a little. The reason is that my look on horology and Lange specially is always very personal. I cannot detach from the fact that I must like a watch very much ,xo mu...
