W&W 2020: A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Minute Repeater
At this year’s Watches & Wonders 2020, A. Lange & Söhne presents a limited edition of the Zeitwerk Minute Repeater. Ever since 2015, this model has been the only watch to combine a mechanical jumping numerals display with a decimal minute repeater. Furthermore, only 30 pieces of the new model are available. It now comes in a 44.2 mm white-gold case with a deep blue dial.
The A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Minute Repeater digitally displays the time of day using a display module consisting of three discs so that it can be read from left to right. The solid silver deep blue dial contrasts with the rhodium-plated nickel silver bridge. As is typical of the brand, the small seconds at 6 o’clock complete the design. There is also a power reserve indicator at 12 o’clock.
The audible tones produced by the striking mechanism of the Zeitwerk Minute Repeater indicate the time currently displayed. In addition to the digital time display, the ten-minute intervals sound as double strikes. For example, at 07:52, the left-hand gong hammer strikes seven times for each hour. Then, five double strikes sound for the ten-minute intervals, whereupon the right hammer reproduces the single minutes with two strikes.
The energy for the striking mechanism is provided by the mainspring barrel. Therefore, the slide (which is common for minute repeaters) is not necessary. Instead, the pusher at 10 o’clock triggers the mechanism. Furthermore, given that a pusher can be sealed (unlike a slide), the watch offers a water resistance of 30 m. Additionally, the crown and the display module cannot be used for as long as the repetition process is running. This means that the sound and digitally displayed time coincide.
Powering the timepiece is the in-house, manual-winding calibre L043.5. Furthermore, it consists of 771 components as well as 93 jewels. When the mainspring barrel is fully wound, the power reserve is 36 hours – assuming that the striking mechanism has not been activated. Additionally, the frequency is 18,000 semi-oscillations per hour or 2.5 Hertz. Finally, the sapphire caseback allows for a view of the decorated caseback.
A. Lange & Söhne manual-winding calibre L043.5
The A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Minute Repeater (Ref. 147.028F) is presented on a blue leather strap with a white-gold buckle. Only 30 pieces available. Price EUR 449.000.
Hours and minutes with jumping numerals display, striking mechanism with decimal minute repeater, subsidiary seconds with stop seconds, power-reserve indicator
Panerai presents a new model PAM01036 with dual time zone function that is strongly inspired by the Challenger of Record of the 36th America’s Cup. It expresses the affinity between Panerai and the Team that first launched the challenge to the Defender of the 36th America’s Cup, the final act of which is expected in Auckland, New…
At this year's Watches and Wonders, Vacheron Constantin is proving that green remains in favour with the addition of two captivating Overseas models in olive-green and pink-gold. For those who are less about the glamour and more about technical feats, fear not. Vacheron is also introducing a titanium Overseas tourbillon edition into its main collection.…
In celebration of the Chronomètre à Résonance's 20th anniversary, F.P. Journe is introducing a new model. The new 2020 Chronomètre à Résonance is notably different to its predecessors, which were discontinued last year. Crucially, it has a brand new rose-gold calibre (1520), which powers the watch using a single (rather than the previous double) mainspring…
The Swiss watch company Oris pairs up with the independent Japanese brand Momotaro Jeans. From this collaboration, a special steel and bronze version of the Oris Divers Sixty-Five emerged, with an indigo blue Momotaro denim strap with two white ‘battle stripes’, the denim manufacture’s signature. Named after a Japanese folklore hero, Momotaro was launched in…
The IWC Portugieser's origins go back a long way to the 1930s – longer than you would perhaps expect. Over the course of the Portugieser’s existence, IWC Schaffhausen has brought many small incremental upgrades, with today being no different during the novelties presentation at Watches & Wonders 2024. These new releases from IWC continue the…
To mark the brand’s 250th anniversary and 70 years since the birth of the Type XX (the standard Type version was released in 1953), Breguet is launching two new chronograph models. Under reference 2075, the maison introduces two variants: one comes with a black anodised aluminium dial, the other is limited to just 250 pieces…
The art of enamelling and engraving has been applied by Jaeger-LeCoultre for many years. Now the Swiss label puts this art in a focus with introducing three new models of the Reverso. Therefore the artisans of the brand followed the idea of a model revealing this kind of art on their back. On the front a finely hand-guillochéd dial…
OMEGA is introducing a new OMEGA Seamaster Diver 300M James Bond Numbered Edition, this time in platinum-gold. The new watch is this year's follow-up from the James Bond 007 Limited Edition Omega Seamaster 2019 edition, introduced to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1969 film On Her Majesty's Secret Service. The new edition celebrates the Swiss…
Jaeger-LeCoultre's recently relaunched 'Master Control' collection features redesigned 40mm watches with open casebacks, sunray brushed silver-white dials and a blue central seconds hand. The watches are now driven by updated calibres integrating various energy-saving enhancements. One of the new iterations is the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Calendar, which features a complete calendar as well as a…
Montblanc is unveiling the Montblanc 1858 Split Second Chronograph Limited Edition 18. The watch uses a new gold alloy called Lime Gold. The Montblanc 1858 line takes its inspiration from the professional Minerva watches from the 1920s and 1930s. These piece were used in extreme conditions, following their initial conception for use by the military.…
Hublot is presenting the Big Bang Unico Essential Grey, a new model designed exclusively for the company's own e-commerce platform. This version of the Big Bang is remarkable for its monochrome grey design. The case is of lightweight titanium and has a full satin finish. The unisex watch integrates in-house mechanics featuring a flyback function…
Back in January at the LMVH Watch Week in Dubai, watchmaker Zenith, which was founded back in 1865, introduced several exciting novelties into its DEFY collection. One special new piece of this collection is likely to have particularly excited fans of electro and techno music: the DEFY 21 Carl Cox Edition. It was created in…
The Chopard L.U.C Strike One integrates a Sonnerie au Passage that strikes a note every full hour. The limited edition comes in a 40 mm white gold case and presents the characteristic brand codes on the dial. Previously, a variant in roségold was available. The exposed hammer reveals the complication. Using the pusher in the…