A. Lange & Söhne

As promised, on-wrist impressions from a new owner of the current model Lange 1 Moon Phase in white gold.

An immediate impression is the heft of the piece in the hand: it feels heavier than it looks - even for a Lange. Sure, the three-quarter plate is large and Lange always give you a lot of gold in their cases - but this watch is only 38.5mm in diameter and 10.2mm thick. I wonder if the 438 parts in the movement contribute to the heft too...? That's my sense. But, whatever its composition, it feels great!

Speaking of composition, another obvious strong impression is created by the dial and hands. Compared to their argente peers, all black-dialled Lange watches have such a strong visual presence anyway - and this piece is no different. The plateau at the centre of the main dial (technically, the chapter ring surrounding it appears to be slightly sunken, and is set off with circular graining) provides an energising visual contrast - more-so than on the standard Lange 1. The applied white gold hands and indices catch the light beautifully and really stand out against the dark dial - spectacular! The outsize date is there with Lange's custom Engravers font - I'm fine with the white background on this model: it's something else interesting to the eye and I feel that it visually counterbalances the moon top-third to bottom-third. And...the lume is a surprising guest on the dial when you first see it in the dark!

Then of course, there's the day / night indicator behind the moon phase. It is clever in its own right as it adds dynamism to the principal complication and I've also noticed how the blue coating unexpectedly changes hue in different lights and angles (I'm no photographer but you can see that in my first photo - quite stunning). "Interference effects absorb all non-blue spectra of incident light" according to Lange - after looking at it in several lights now, I'm wondering if maybe there really is some inherent magic to that (as opposed to it simply being a translucent blue coating...)? 

The most-often talked-about features of Lange moon phases are the use of a solid gold disc and the 122.6 (or better, on some calibers) year adjustment interval and, obviously, they are each impressive features. But my favourite feature has always been that most Lange moon phase discs are continuously-driven (off the hour wheel). To me, the fact that the moon phase indicator is continuously in motion - just like the real moon - is very intellectually satisfying! And, it also means you can set the moon phase to the minute (though the push-pin adjuster advances the disc in fixed increments so it's a notional capability to some extent).

I am of course enjoying all Lange's usual features and finissage of its L121.3 caliber. The eight - a propitious number, surely no coincidence - screwed gold chatons are a visual delight as is the hand-engraved half-bridge for the balance. Great to know it has a Lange proprietary balance spring - I have seen the machine they make them with on a Manufactory tour - and the free-sprung balance is technically entrancing too, as are the two serially wound barrels. There's a design purity to this movement: this one simply is "a three-quarter plate". And again: knowing there are 438 parts underneath it - all perfectly interacting. It feels very German, robust - reminds me of how the L041.2 in my Richard Lange makes me feel (that caliber even more so).

A delightful and truly stunning watch. Not too much going on - but also not too little. Clearly a Lange 1 - thank goodness - whilst yet being a little visually distinctive. And bold dressed in black with persistent white gold highlights - and the occasional flash of brilliant blue!

Working from home days are suddenly a lot more enjoyable for me. Plays on through the weekend so far too - that's a good sign.

Best regards,  aviya.

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