I have handled this watch in person...

I think the misalignment is noted whenever the numbers aren't viewed "straight on," or perpendicularly. This is because the far right wheel for the minutes sits on a lower plane than the minute window on the left, which sits on a higher plane or closer to the sapphire glass. This height difference is fairly noticeable in person and honestly a little disappointing that both windows couldn't be placed on the same plane. I have handled the luminous zeitwerk as well, and the height difference is definitely less obvious with the black background behind the numbers.

Forgive me if the difference in height is common knowledge to everyone, and perhaps I am oversimplifying this, but that was my observation when I saw the watches in the metal...

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Zeitwork Digits Alignment...

By: chris4 : July 27th, 2010-08:40

I have been admiring the Zeitwork for sometime now, and a wonderful & innovative timepiece it is too. Really liking the looks, a very fresh take on the watch world. Now I dont know if its just my squiffy eyes, but when I have viewed various pics, sometime...

Is the

By: chris4 : July 27th, 2010-08:41

Nine not above the 4 in this one?...

Is the 9 not below the 5 here?..

By: chris4 : July 27th, 2010-08:42

Sorry to pinch another photo!...

And yet...

By: chris4 : July 27th, 2010-08:43

..It looks like the 5 and 2 are aligned perfectly in this one......

Not criticizing...

By: chris4 : July 27th, 2010-08:45

..heavens forbid, as I said it is a stunning timepiece, I ask the question out of possibly my ignorance, as I also said maybe its just the angle, or maybe ALS just want to a tad 'quirky' ...help me out on this one, quite intrigued....

It could be a couple different things...

By: patrick_y : July 27th, 2010-09:10

Three possibilities... 1. It could be the parallax of the viewpoint in the photos that is causing the digits to appear misaligned. 2. Also, about 10 seconds prior to the actual minute change, the minutes digit moves just a little bit, just before it jumps...

warning and falling down ( Abfall ) ...

By: COUNT DE MONET : July 27th, 2010-11:51

The point that it moves 6 second before the jump slightly is due to the huge forces that the anchor has to cope with on the right hand side. The rubin pallet of the right anchor slides into a groove of a wheel that is connected to the jumping mechanism ( ...

"Warning" is the premature, slight move of the minute digit.

By: COUNT DE MONET : July 27th, 2010-12:35

It is a concept that derives from big, striking clocks. Sorry, that I can only provide the German terms. Regards Moritz

Thanks Count for the very

By: moc : July 27th, 2010-13:51

informative post.Wow that is an explanation! If I may add a more direct and simple consideration:many consider the gap between the minute digits very big,I mean on the Zeitwerk the 2 minutes digit have quite a substantial step between them.You notice this...

Mo, it was just a thought, an idea of how ...

By: COUNT DE MONET : July 27th, 2010-14:13

... with some technical background facts and some assumption, based on some very basic principles. But you are right Mo : the window frame, the middle bar, does the trick optically in the Lange Big Date regarding the gap and the step between the digits. I...

I like the Zeitwerk too..

By: =RWK= : July 28th, 2010-22:22

and my eyes have also given me the same perception. Anytime all the digits are no absolutely square to each other and the frame, they are going to look misaligned. I think part of the solution is being will to tolerate slightly less then perfection. Just ...

I have handled this watch in person...

By: acnyc : July 30th, 2010-17:50

Take into account that the two disks are not at the same level.

By: foversta : August 1st, 2010-02:04

First digit disk is above the second digit disk. This difference can bring this visual feeling. Fr.Xavier