The German manufacture has unveiled a new version of its 1815 Tourbillon, housed in a platinum case and featuring a black grand feu enamel dial. Limited to just 50 pieces, this edition joins the two existing models, which are both characterised by lighter dials: one in platinum with a white dial, and one in red gold with a silvered dial.
The tourbillon and its cage are clearly visible at six o’clock. As is typical for Lange, the movement is equipped with a Zero-Reset mechanism—an impressive feat in a tourbillon. When the crown is pulled out, the seconds hand instantly jumps to zero and stops, allowing the time to be set with precision to the exact second. This is a meaningful benefit in a tourbillon watch, which compensates for the effects of gravity and therefore delivers a high degree of accuracy. Pushing the crown back into its normal position immediately restarts the seconds hand.
In addition to the technical sophistication, the watch also impresses with its decorative finishes. Both the tourbillon bridge and the upper part of the cage are black-polished—an elaborate technique in which experienced watchmakers manually rub the components with measured pressure over a tin plate coated with polishing paste, until the surface reflects light in such a way that it appears deep black at a specific angle.
The caseback reveals even more to discover. The manufacture calibre L102.1 features a three-quarter plate made of untreated German silver, screwed gold chatons, a screw balance, and a hand-engraved balance cock—which, in this instance, technically forms part of the seconds bridge. These traditional elements already appeared in Lange pocket watches over 150 years ago. A particularly rare detail that further sets the 1815 Tourbillon apart is the diamond endstone. Historically, this was a hallmark of quality, reserved exclusively for pocket watches by A. Lange & Söhne in the highest 1A grade.
The dial, too, follows the traditions of classic artisanal watchmaking. The deep black grand feu enamel dial is produced entirely in-house at the manufactory in Glashütte. The process involves numerous meticulous steps—from preparing the solid white-gold base dial, to grinding and applying the enamel pigments, followed by repeated firings and careful surface finishing. The circular aperture for the tourbillon is manually bevelled, requiring exceptional precision to avoid damaging the delicate enamel surface. In total, the creation of each dial involves over 100 individual steps and takes several weeks to complete.
The stark black dial offers a striking contrast to the 950 platinum case. Measuring 39.5 mm in diameter and just 11.3 mm in height, the watch remains relatively slim in spite of its complex movement. The new 1815 Tourbillon is worn on a black alligator leather strap and fastened with a platinum deployant clasp.
