The new A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar and Lange 1 Time Zone
Fergus Nash- Two modern classics of A. Lange & Söhne designs have been given fresh case materials.
- The 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar is cased in 18k white gold with a pink gold dial.
- The Lange 1 Time Zone is cased in 950 platinum with a rhodium dial.
It’s well established by now that the Swiss aren’t the only ones who can make watches that incorporate great complications and extraordinary quality, and the revived A. Lange & Söhne are continuing their mission of excellence from the heart of German watchmaking in Glashütte. Their two latest releases are examples of contemporary technological achievements styled in classical beauty, with the new A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar in white gold and the Lange 1 Time Zone introduced in platinum.
In a world where we can just go on YouTube and look for the most complicated watches in history, some of the magic can be taken away from high horology. It wasn’t so long ago in human development that unless you were royalty, you wouldn’t have even found out a watch like this existed. The A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar is a reminder that merging two complications is an enormous undertaking, even for modern engineering. Originally introduced 10 years ago in 2013, the 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar merges a flyback chronograph with the ultimate calendar in the Calibre L101.1. This manually wound movement is comprised of 631 components, with 42 hours of power reserve and a 3Hz beat rate that can measure down to 1/6th of a second on the chronograph register. The perpetual calendar is comprised of pointer date and day displays, as well as those for the month, and leap year indication. There’s also a power reserve gauge and a moonphase display, ornately decorated with dazzling stars on a blued background.
The case and dial are what’s new for 2023, now cased in 18k white gold for a sumptuous lustre and a salmon-toned pink gold dial for rich contrast. The blued sword hands provide a robust dose of German character, while the artful arrangement of subdials and displays make everything easy to read at a glance. The case is 41.9mm in diameter with a thickness of 14.7mm, so it’s not a watch that’s going to shy away beneath a cuff. The sapphire display caseback offers a generous view of the L101.1, with its masterful decoration and architecture.
Moving into a more modern realm, the A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Time Zone is a classical piece for the 21st century jet-setter. The Lange 1 was one of the first watches that the brand released when they were re-founded in 1994, but it wasn’t until 2020 that the Time Zone was incorporated. Using a peripheral ring around the iconic dial, the subdial usually reserved for the small seconds has been replaced with a miniature clock dial for the second time zone. A sharp arrow points towards the city of choice, and the small seconds has been given an even tinier subdial within the home clock. Differentiating them further, the home clock uses applied Roman numerals and diamond indices while the travel clock has printed Arabic numerals. It’s a surprisingly subtle addition that adds a lot of functionality without detracting from the overall sophistication, or distracting from the grand date display.
Again the new elements are the case and dial, this time in a holistic package of sleek white metal. The 41.9mm case is made from 950 platinum imbuing its slightly otherworldly quality and weight that oozes stealth wealth. It’s only 10.9mm thick, which is remarkably tame for a complicated Lange. The stippled rhodium dial is contrasted by high-shine sword hands and applied details that play with the light deliciously, and the view of the Calibre L141.1 from the display caseback is just as captivating. It’s much more sparse than the Perpetual Calendar with a traditional Glashütte 3/4 plate, but the decoration is spectacular. It’s complete with a 72-hour power reserve and a 3Hz beat rate.
The new A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar and Lange 1 Time Zone pricing and availabilities:
The A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar is available now as a limited edition of 100 pieces, while the Lange 1 Time Zone is a boutique exclusive with an unconfirmed number. Price: €300,000 (1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar) / Price on request (Lange 1 Time Zone)
| Brand | A. Lange & Söhne | A. Lange & Söhne |
| Model | 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar | Lange 1 Time Zone |
| Case Dimensions | 41.9mm x 14.7mm | 41.9mm x 10.9mm |
| Case Material | 18k white gold | 950 platinum |
| Water Resistance | 30m | 30m |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire | Sapphire |
| Dial | Pink gold | Rhodium |
| Strap | Brown alligator leather | Black alligator leather |
| Movement | Calibre L101.1 | Calibre L141.1 |
| Power Reserve | 42 hours | 72 hours |
| Availability | Limited to 100 pieces | Boutique exclusive |
| Price | €300,000 | Price on request |