When I was presented with the opportunity to acquire the Lange 1 Singapore Time Zone five years ago, I couldn't let the chance slip
by. I was compelled to write a short
review, in part due to the limited information available about this edition,
but mainly because of the joy derived from finally having it on my wrist after
a decade-long journey.
This is an updated review following five years of ownership, which feels timely given the recent release of the revamped Time Zone.
30 pieces of this particular version of the Lange 1 Time Zone, reference 116.031B, were commissioned in 2005 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Sincere Watch Limited, the long-time Lange authorised distributor in Singapore. While it is not individually numbered and does not come with a LE engraving on the caseback, owners were provided with a certificate stating the limited number of pieces released.
The obvious differentiating factor of the Singapore Time Zone is the
replacement of Hong Kong by Singapore in the city ring. What is less obvious is the replacement of Caracas
and Rio de Janeiro by Santiago and Bueno Aires respectively in later versions
of the Time Zone.
The other differentiating factor is the combination of a rose gold case with a black dial, which is similar to the 'Kuala Lumpur' edition (reference 116.031C). The latter features an outsize date display in white fonts against black, compared to the conventional black against white in the Singapore edition. I previously confirmed with Lange that similarly, only 30 pieces of the KL edition were produced. Other 'Singapore' Time Zones in existence include:
- Ref 116.032B - Rose gold case with silver dial, 25 pieces produced, circa 2005
- Ref 116.025B - Platinum case with silver dial, 60 pieces produced, circa 2005
On to the watch itself: The richness of the black dial, made of solid silver with a galvanised, lacquer-like appearance, is wonderfully complemented by the accompanying dark brown strap. Despite the enormous amount of information presented, the display is evenly distributed and easy on my eyes, with the peripheral ring of 24 cities adding a layer of welcomed complexity to the simplicity of the Lange 1 layout. My only complaint is the difficulty in photographing the dark dial, and my amateurish pictures hardly does it justice.
The Lange 1 Time Zone is cased with a sizeable diameter of 41.9mm, and sits comfortably on the wrist with a thickness of 11mm. Weighing 121gm, it provides a comfortable and reassuring heft, and is secured with Lange's solidly crafted pin-buckle. While not the largest of watches in modernity, it makes my 1815 Chronograph , appears almost dainty in comparison at 39.5mm.
Being a member of the Lange 1 series, the Time Zone is blessed with
the hallmark features that made Lange 1 an icon: AUF/AB power reserve
indicator, subsidiary seconds with stop-seconds, and of course the patented
outsize date display, all neatly presented in an asymmetric layout in strict
adherence to the golden ratio. As with every Lange, the Time Zone is lavishly finished to an
exceptional degree, with the added pleasure of having two hand-engraved balance
cocks adorning the traditional three-quarter plate with four screwed gold
chatons. The L031.1 calibre comprises
417 parts with 54 jewels, with a Nivarox balance spring beating at a frequency
of 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour and a power reserve of 72 hours. Sitting in a sea of untreated German silver
which ages like fine wine, the movement is a sight to behold through the
sapphire crystal display caseback that Lange arguably popularised.
Despite the presence of a city ring, the Lange 1 Time Zone is not a world-timer in the vein of Patek Philippe’s 5130 or Vacheron Constantin’s Patrimony Traditionelle World Time, which simultaneously display 24 and 37 time zones respectively. But when viewed in the context of how world-timers are meant to facilitate the reading of home and local time with ease, the Lange performs exceptionally well, perhaps even more so than its illustrious peers. The dual time zones are innovatively displayed via primary and secondary sub-dials, and complemented with individual day/night indicators. Time zone selection is a breeze, with assuring solid 'clicks' while operating the 8 o’clock pusher at the side of the case. The simultaneous update of both time zone displays via the crown is another thoughtful design for the convenience of discerning travellers.
The Time Zone is not without its flaws. The aforementioned city ring can only be advanced in one direction from west to east, and not reversed. I was hoping that the next generation Time Zone would introduce an innovative solution for this, but unfortunately that was not observed for the 2020 release.
For all its technical wonders and artistic merits, the reason why owning the Singapore Time Zone feels exceptional is the long journey it took to be on my wrist. I was still an undergraduate grappling with tuition fees when the Time Zone was launched more than a decade back, and while I was deeply enamored, the closest I could get to it was from the pages of a glossy watch magazine. Having such an exquisite work of art on my wrist was a distant dream.
But every day since, I took steps in getting closer to making that
dream a reality. And to finally be able
to strap on the Singapore Time Zone in 2015 brings much joy to this
dreamer. It is of even greater
significance because 2015 is the year when I celebrated the 10th anniversary of
having met the love of my life, the arrival of our child, and the 50th year of
independence for Singapore, which proudly sits on the dial and which I am even
prouder to call my home.
In the five years of ownership since, the Time Zone has brought much
joy, accompanied me on many memorable occasions, and witnessed the blossoming
of my child. Watch wearing is ultimately
an emotive experience, and the Time Zone has continually invoked a very different
set of emotions compared to my other watches because of its uniqueness. And I guess there is no better day to post this review, because we celebrate Singapore’s
55th year of independence today.
Majulah, SIngapura!
P.S. My heartfelt thanks to ‘CR’ Craig, who generously shared his encyclopaedic knowledge of the various versions for the Time Zone when I was researching this in 2015. Thank you!