A. Lange & Söhne LANGE 1 TIME ZONE

A. Lange & Söhne is introducing three new LANGE 1 TIME ZONE models. With fifteen years having passed since the launch of the original, the manufacture has decided to equip the 41.9 mm models with the in-house calibre L141.1. As a result, all models of the LANGE 1 watch line originally equipped with the L901 are now powered by the L141.1.

The new LANGE 1 TIME ZONE watches consist of a white-gold edition with a solid silver black dial (Ref. 136.029), pink-gold model with a solid silver argenté dial (Ref. 136.032), and a yellow-gold version with a solid silver champagne dial (Ref. 136.021) – the latter of which is a limited edition of 100 pieces.

The LANGE 1 TIME ZONE watch is easy to read. The larger time subdial displays the home time, while the smaller subdial displays a second time zone. Also, when the time is adjusted with the crown (plus the help of the city ring), both time subdials are corrected in unison. For extra clarity, the home time is displayed with yellow-, rhodium-, or pink-gold Roman numeral appliques, while the second time zone is indicated with printed Arabic numerals. The oversized date window corresponds to the home time.

As with previous models, the second time zone can be adjusted using the switchable city ring with 24 time zones, which is positioned around the edge of the dial. When the corrector pusher (at 8 o’clock) is pressed, the city ring jumps from west to east by one time zone. Simultaneously, the hour hand in the second time zone advances by one hour and indicates the time zone of the city beneath the golden arrow appliqué, which stands for that particular time zone.

Furthermore, as was also the case with its predecessors, the new A. Lange & Söhne LANGE 1 TIME ZONE watches incorporate a synchronisation mechanism that makes it possible to transfer the zone time from the smaller to the larger (normally home time) dial. By pulling out the crown to the second position, the times of both zones can be adjusted simultaneously. If the button for setting the second time zone is then pressed and held down, the hour hand for zone time will stay in its position, meaning the new main time can be set independently. This is useful during a long stay abroad. The outsized date can also be changed if necessary, via the pusher at 10 o’clock.

Both the time subdials have day and night indicators. Previous models used rotating arrow hands, however the new dials place the day/night indicators at the centre of both time subdials. Blue semicircles printed onto inner rotating discs rotate once in 24 hours, while the hour hand performs two revolutions in this time. This allows the wearer to distinguish between day (blank section) and night (blue semicircle section).

Additionally, the watch has a useful daylight saving function. A golden arrow appliqué at 5 o’clock indicates the location for the zone time that has been set. If the aperture is red, the respective city has a daylight saving time regime (which changes according to the seasons). If standard time applies to the city all year round, the display appears on a bright background.

Powering the new watches is the manually wound Lange manufacture calibre L141.1. The plates and bridges are made of untreated German silver, while the balance and intermediate-wheel cocks engraved by hand. Moreover, unlike the previous LANGE 1 TIME ZONE, the 72-hour power reserve is now provided by only one spring barrel. Additionally, the movement incorporates a classic screw balance and a freely oscillating balance spring with a frequency of 3 Hz. The movement is visible through the sapphire-crystal caseback. Meanwhile, the German words “Ab” (down) and “Auf” (up) on the dial serve as a power reserve indicator. The movement is wound via the crown.

The new A. Lange & Söhne LANGE 1 TIME ZONE models are presented on hand-stitched leather straps in “medium brown” (Ref. 136.021), “dark brown” (Ref. 136.029), and “red brown” (Ref. 136.032), with the prong buckles matching the case materials. The Ref. 136.021 is limited to 100 pieces and is priced at 52,200 euros. Meanwhile, the Ref. 136.029 and Ref. 136.032 both cost 49,200 euros.

www.alange-soehne.com

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