W&W 2025: The A. Lange & Söhne Odysseus Debuts in Gold

At Watches and Wonders 2025, A. Lange & Söhne is unveiling the sportily elegant Odysseus in a 750-grade Honeygold case for the first time, pairing it with a rich brown dial. With this release, the Honeygold model becomes the fourth variant in Lange’s sixth watch family, alongside the Lange 1, Saxonia, 1815, Richard Lange, and Zeitwerk collections. Since its introduction in 2019, the Odysseus has been designed for those who demand the highest standards of fine mechanical watchmaking, whether in their leisure time or during sporting activities.

The Genesis of the A. Lange & Söhne Odysseus

The Odysseus emerged from ideas first developed in 2013 for a watch characterised by a date and day window positioned to the right and left of the central hands. Since its release, it has held a special place in A. Lange & Söhne’s portfolio as the brand’s first model with a stainless steel case. However, the journey to creating Lange’s first watch explicitly designed for leisure activities, which Chief Product Officer Anthony de Haas described as the most challenging project of his 20-year career, was far from straightforward.

As De Haas revealed in an interview with Swisswatches, it took three creative attempts and no fewer than 20 bracelet prototypes before the watch finally emerged in 2019. There is no doubt that developing Lange’s first sports watch was a pivotal moment – after all, stainless steel watches have shaped the success of manufactures like Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet for over 50 years and continue to play a decisive role in their future.

At its initial presentation, it became clear what De Haas had been diligently working on for years: the Odysseus broke away from the brand’s traditional conventions to debut as A. Lange & Söhne’s first water-resistant watch, featuring a bracelet seamlessly integrated into the case. However, its overall design –tailored to the purpose of a leisure timepiece, with a robust construction consisting of a round case, integrated pushers, and a fixed bracelet-to-case architecture – elicited mixed reactions upon its launch. Was the five-link bracelet too wide for the watch in some eyes? Yet, for Chief Product Officer Anthony de Haas, the Odysseus quickly took its place alongside the Zeitwerk, the Grand Complication, and the Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon as one of the brand’s ‘Big Four’.

In many ways, the watch’s long development journey has become part of its identity. As De Haas himself explains, its name is a direct reference to Odysseus –the legendary hero who overcame countless obstacles on his arduous journey home, repeatedly proving himself in the face of new challenges. Similarly, the creation of the Odysseus was anything but linear, marked by hurdles, setbacks, and ultimately, the successful realisation of its vision.

The Case in Honeygold

As a natural progression, the brand has thus introduced the fourth colour and material variant of the Odysseus, crafted in its patented gold alloy known as Honeygold. This material, named for its warm hue that sits somewhere between red and white gold, was first introduced in 2010 with three timepieces from the 165 Years – Homage to F. A. Lange anniversary collection. Reserved exclusively for the brand’s most prestigious models, this alloy is distinguished by its exceptional hardness, which, according to A. Lange & Söhne, surpasses that of all other gold alloys.

In the latest Odysseus, the case components blend seamlessly to create a harmonious aesthetic. The 40.5 mm-wide and 11.1 mm-high Honeygold case showcases a dynamic interplay of round and angular elements, merging traditional design with modern influences. This extends to the distinctive, wedge-shaped pushers positioned above and below the screw-down crown, enabling quick adjustments of the date and weekday display. Meanwhile, the slim, understated bezel recedes into the background, framing the warm brown dial with subtle refinement.

The Dial of the A. Lange & Söhne Odysseus

The most contemporary iteration of the Odysseus culminates in a brown dial, divided into two distinct sections – applied baton indices and the small seconds scale, both accentuated by Lange’s signature concentric circles, known as azurage. At the centre, the inner surfaces of both the main and subsidiary dials feature a finely mattified finish. This design not only creates a striking visual depth but also achieves a seamless harmony with the Honeygold case.

Equipped with a large date display at 3 o’clock, inspired by the renowned five-minute clock of Dresden’s Semper Opera House, the latest Odysseus upholds one of Lange’s signature design elements, further complemented by a weekday indicator at 9 o’clock. The numerals, rendered in Lange’s distinctive typography, measure 2.4 mm in height and are set in white against a brown backdrop for optimal legibility. The lance-shaped hands and notched baton indices, crafted from the same Honeygold alloy as the case, reinforce the watch’s cohesive aesthetic. The warm presence of the dial is subtly interrupted by the sloped rehaut ring with printed minute markings, featuring a bold red “60” that lends a striking focal point.

The Movement

As the first Lange timepiece specifically designed for leisure activities, the Odysseus was not only given a new design but also an entirely new movement: the self-winding manufacture calibre L155.1 DATOMATIC. When the watch is turned over, the meticulously hand-finished movement is revealed in all its detail. Among its standout features are the skeletonised and partially black-rhodium-plated rotor with a 950 platinum oscillating weight, untreated German silver bridges and plates, blued screws, and the signature screwed gold chaton securing the escape wheel. The name DATOMATIC, engraved on the rotor, signifies the fusion of an automatic winding system with an integrated date mechanism.

The balance wheel, regulated by four recessed screws, ensures minimal air resistance despite its high frequency of 28,800 semi-oscillations per hour. The mainspring barrel delivers a power reserve of 50 hours when fully wound. Unlike other Lange calibres, where the balance system is held by a cock, the Odysseus features a robust, double-anchored balance bridge, enhancing stability and precision.

Availability of the A. Lange & Söhne Odysseus

In its latest iteration, the Odysseus embodies both contemporary and traditional elements, balancing elegance and sportiness in equal measure. There is little need for speculation to predict that the 100 available pieces will swiftly find new owners. Furthermore, the first-ever version in Honeygold is likely to ignite strong desirability among collectors. Ultimately, the Odysseus, with its integrated bracelet, holds the same significance for A. Lange & Söhne as the Nautilus does for Patek Philippe or the Royal Oak for Audemars Piguet. Price: 120,000 EUR.

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