This week A. Lange & Söhne unveiled a new limited edition timepiece at the “Watches & Wonders” Haute Horlogerie Exhibition in Hong Kong. The Lange 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar Handwerkskunst will be limited to just 15 pieces, and will be available exclusively through the eleven international A. Lange & Söhne Boutiques.
A close up look at the new limited edition timepiece A. Lange & Söhne are billing as their horological opus magnum...
As its name indicates, the Lange 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar Handwerkskunst combines two classic complications. The calendar displays, with the patented peripheral month ring, the date, day, month, leap year, and moon phase. Meanwhile the tourbillon mechanism, with the patented stop function, can be observed on the caseback side.
Its name also applies to the decorations of the manufacture calibre L082.1 (the German word handwerkskunst translating to craftsmanship). The relief-engraved tourbillon and intermediate-wheel cocks frame the tourbillon ensemble with the patented stop-seconds feature. The same free-hand engraving technique was used to decorate the large central rotor in 21-carat gold with a platinum centrifugal mass. Each of the three train bridges is embellished with solarisation. The specular polish on the upper side of the tourbillon cage, four screwed gold chatons and a diamond endstone bearing for the tourbillion are the grand finale.
Inside the 41.9mm platinum case is a dial crafted from solid white gold, decorated with tremblage and relief engraving techniques. The blue numerals of the outsize date display are hand-painted. The A. Lange & Söhne signature and the case and edition serial numbers on the caseback are hand-engraved. The Lange 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar Handwerkskunst is completed by a hand-stitched crocodile strap with a black Lange deployant buckle in platinum.
Photos courtesy A. Lange & Söhne.
