Hands on review of the Lange & Söhne 1815 Thin Honeygold

Jan 19, 2021,13:02 PM
 

On December 7, 1845, Ferdinand Adolph Lange founded his first workshop and started his business in the small city of Glashütte. History was on the move and this workshop would later become one of the most prestigious watchmaking manufactures, thus contributing to the economic influence of Saxony. To celebrate the 175th anniversary of this important date,  Lange & Söhne presented a few weeks ago 3 watches in limited series that pay tribute to Ferdinand Adolph Lange. And of course, the choice went to 3 watches from the 1815 collection, the number corresponding to the year of the watchmaker's birth.

Given the particular context that links them, the 3 watches share some common points. Due to their 1815 origin, they offer dials with Arabic numerals. They then have honey gold cases, original dials and their movements are decorated in a specific way. On the other hand, they are distinguished between them by their degrees of complexity. The simplest watch is the 1815 Thin Honeygold. However, it is just as interesting to present as the other two pieces, the 1815 Rattrapante Honeygold and the Tourbograph Perpetual Honeygold.


The 1815 Thin Honeygold embodies a new approach to Lange & Söhne's simple watch: it is an 1815 without a second hand. In fact, the Saxon manufacture applied the recipe used with the Saxonia Thin to the 1815 collection. I find the result very relevant and attractive. The removal of the second hand has two consequences:

- the first is that the 6 is no longer cut. It is therefore the first time that an 1815 dial offers the 12 digits in their entirety (no six-eater as we would say). The result is visually very interesting because this small detail modifies significantly our perception of the dial. It now appears much purer and more balanced.
- the second is that the watch is thinner, the case being 6.3mm thick for a 38mm diameter. It does not reach the performance of the Saxonia Thin which remains the thinnest Lange & Söhne watch but the sensation it gives is to offer similar proportions to the Saxonia Thin 37mm, the latter having a thickness of 5.9mm.

  
I was very pleasantly surprised by this removal. The dial is harmonious and the watch, given its dress style, does not suffer from the absence of a visible animated element. Lange & Söhne took care to keep a reasonable diameter and I think the 38mm is a good choice. The watch appears larger than it is and a larger diameter would have made the dial too empty and inert.

The dial is moreover different from those usually found in the 1815 collection. It is an enamelled dial on a copper base. I particularly liked the color of this dial which is not too intense white and which blends well with the subtle hues of the honey gold case. The concept of enamel dial is well suited for simple watches without opening or particular complications. I prefer enamel dials to be as pure as possible. The numerals are in dark grey and this color also contributes to the overall harmony. As for the peripheral graduation (the famous railway), it plays as always an important role because it is an integral part of the 1815 style. It also gives a welcome element of sophistication in this uncluttered context.


The case is classic in its execution and faithful to the characteristic elements of the 1815 collection: the shape of the lugs and the crown, alternating between brushed and polished parts, we are on familiar ground. Its originality lies in its finesse and its material. Honey gold is an alloy that I consider very dynamic. Depending on the light conditions, its rendering can be close to that of white gold or pink gold. I am always surprised by this capacity of transformation. In a way, the reflections of the case compensate for the lack of real dial animation. Finally, the hands are also made of honey gold and the whole composed of the case and the hands bring warmth to the dial.

The movement that animates the 1815 Thin Honeygold is the manually wound L093.1 caliber that is also used by the Saxonia Thin 37mm or 40mm. Its frequency is 3hz and its power reserve is 72 hours, which is a good performance, especially considering its thinness (2.9mm). On the other hand, the finishes of the 1815 Thin Honeygold caliber are specific: the Glashütte stripes of the 3/4 plate have been replaced by a grained finish that I find very attractive and the engraving of the balance bridge is highlighted by a black rhodium plating. These details change the perception of the movement and it is amusing to see that the grained finish, symbol of the watchmaking tradition, gives a much more contemporary style to the movement. In any case, I really liked the presentation of the caliber, which takes advantage of this aesthetic evolution. It is basically a more pleasing movement to look at than the first generation movements of the 1815 because at the time the 3/4 plate covered the ratchet and crown wheel.


The 1815 Thin Honeygold surprised me very pleasantly in the end. It is above all an elegant and dressy watch, but its simplicity and the changing look of the case give it a certain aesthetic versatility. Its size seemed ideal to me and I never regretted the absence of a dynamic element on the dial side. On the other hand, the price of 33,000 euros may seem high compared to the price of the 3 hand 1815 (22,500 euros) or the Saxonia Thin 37mm (15,500 euros). But the assets of this 1815 are indisputable: the originality of the honey gold, the enamel dial and the particular finishing of the movement are to be considered. It is thus up to the customer to appreciate if these added values deserve this price difference. In any case, the result is very convincing and I was seduced by this watch that I clearly prefer to the Saxonia Thin from an aesthetic point of view. It's a matter of taste but the dial with Arabic numerals and the peripheral railway is in my opinion much more attractive because it better embodies the Lange & Söhne style.


The 1815 Thin Honeygold is available in a limited edition of 175 pieces.

Pros:

+ the finishing of the movement

+ the enamel dial

+ the changing reflections of the honey gold case

Cons:

- the price remains significant for a two hand watch in spite of its undeniable assets


More posts: 18151815 Rattrapante Perpetual CalenderSaxoniaSaxonia Thin

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Comments: view entire thread

 

Thank you very much for the fantastic review.

 
 By: Reuven Malter : January 19th, 2021-13:22
Do you think there is a chance we see this watch in a regular edition (rg case, silver dial, glashütter stripes) next year?

Wonderful review! Thank you!!

 
 By: DarrenKats : January 19th, 2021-13:27

Glad you like it !

 
 By: foversta : January 19th, 2021-13:53

A fine one, indeed.

 
 By: amanico : January 19th, 2021-13:45

Man, that is one of the classiest gentleman's watch.

 
 By: hoseachandra : January 19th, 2021-17:51
Pure and simple. And the honey gold hue is very subdued and old school. If I have that sum of money lying around much better spent on this than the overhyped Daytonas or even Aquanaut/Nautilus (no offense to the owners).

Great model, I like the enamelled dial.

 
 By: patrickh : January 19th, 2021-22:50
As you can see the enamelled dial also pops up under some light (at index 4) My ws taken yesterday in L&S Paris Boutique. Thanks to Mercedes & Gregory for their warm welcome to discover these new pieces of Art. Thanks for your review FX. Patrickh ...