A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Homage to Walter Lange

The SIHH 2017  was marked by the announcement of the passing of Walter Lange, who was much more than the instigator, with Günter Blümlein, of the rebirth of Lange & Söhne. Walter Lange was a spiritual guide, a link between the brand's past and its present, and a great vector of passion and knowledge for the next generations. Nothing pleased him more than passing on his knowledge to the young watchmakers during their training phases in the different workshops of the manufacture. He also embodied a certain idea of horology, a discreet and efficient watchmaking, highlighting the accuracy of mechanisms and the precision of displays. In the end, it would have been simple  for Lange & Sohne to create a superlative and complicated watch dedicated to this remarkable personality. But the best tribute that could be rendered to him was to concretize one of the ideas that were close to his heart: a limited edition watch featuring an invention by Ferdinand Adolph Lange dating from 1867 and consisting of a jumping and independent central second hand which can be stopped and restarted with a pusher.

We must pay a big compliment to the Lange & Söhne team for having taken the decision to carry on this project. Let's be clear: this watch is primarily aimed at collectors by offering a complication that could be described as subtle and that requires the expensive development of a specific movement. I'm not even sure that the release of this limited series is financially wise. But there are reasons that make us forget the cold and logical way of thiking. The strict respect of the project defined by Walter Lange was the only possible way, without compromise or diversion and Walter Lange deserved such a tribute.




The whole interest of the 1815 "Homage to Walter Lange" lies in its ambiguity. It appears both simple and complex. At first glance, it looks a lot like a simple 1815. I find on its dial all the elements of the usual design of the 1815 collection: the Arabic numerals, the peripheral railway, the Alpha hands ... but very quickly two important details appear and confirm that we are not facing a 1815 like any other: the central second hand and the pusher at two o'clock.

The central second hand is rarely used at Lange & Söhne: only the Richard Lange had previously one. But the central hand of the 1815 "Homage to Walter Lange" is special: it is not only a jumping one but it can also be stopped and restarted thanks to the pusher at two o'clock. The advantage of such a complication is to allow the measurement of very short times and accurately to the second thanks to the perfect positioning of the second hand in front of the graduations of the peripheral scale. The second hand can also be used permanently as a classic watch with a dead-beat second hand (or jumping second in the terminology of Lange & Söhne). In this case, the owner of the watch, if he is rigorous, will ensure to synchronize this central second hand with the small second at 6 o'clock, a task which can be helped by the stop-second of the latter. On the other hand, neither of the two second hands can be reset. I wish it could be done with the central second hand through the pusher, like a single-pusher chronograph, to make this complication more practical. In any case, once synchronized, the ballet of the two second hands is very pleasant to observe.




The diameter of the case is 40.5mm is the same than the Richard Lange one. The 1815 "Homage to Walter Lange" is therefore larger than the simple 1815 that is only available today with a diameter of 38.5mm. The size is ideal to take full advantage of the animation provided by the jumping central hand. The side pusher is well integrated and it doesn't affect the traditional understated elegance of the 1815.

The L1924 movement is a mirror effect of what is happening on the dial side: it is simple and complex at the same time. In fact, it offers an unique show, like a kind of simplified chronograph. It certainly does not have the majestic and tangled rendering of the chronograph movement but it is nonetheless very attractive and at least original.

3 elements stand out clearly:
- the bridge of the central second hand which reminds us the one found on the Richard Lange movement
- the column wheel linked to the start and stop mechanism of the central second hand
- the wheel located between the bridge of the second hand and the balance bridge which stores the energy necessary for the operation of the second hand and allows to block it before it makes its jump every second.



The movement, consisting of 253 pieces, has a 3hz frequency and a power reserve of 60 hours. It is obviously finished according to the standards of the brand, that is to say with a flawless execution. However, it is more its architecture and relief effects that catch the eye. I really like the elements in the foreground that define the technical specificity of the piece.

Lange & Söhne  pays tribute once again to Walter Lange by forgetting its usual calibers nomenclature to define the reference of the movement: 1924 is indeed his year of birth. The day and the month (the 29th of July... like mine!) are found in the references of the versions of the watches, all of which start with 297. But that's not all. Indeed, the numbers of pieces available also symbolize key dates in the history of the manufacture:
- the 90 pink gold watches recall that Lange Uhren GmbH was established on the 7th of December, 1990, the official date of the brand's rebirth,
- the number of yellow gold watches evokes the 27 years that separate the unveiling of this limited series from the creation of the company,
- finally, the rebirth of the brand took place 145 years after the foundation of the Manufacture what defines the number of watches available in white gold.



The star of the SIHH 2018 was for Lange & Söhne the Triple Split taking into account its technical content and the complexity of the split-seconds mechanism. However, it is perhaps this 1815 "Homage to Walter Lange" which is perhaps the most striking piece. Because of its sentimental context, of course. And also thanks to its execution and its originality behind a very classic design. I must confess that I personally would have liked Lange & Söhne to be more daring from an aesthetic point of view to display the central second hand with a more spectacular visual rendering. The watch remains visually very close to a simple 1815. But it is also its strength: it is totally faithful to the spirit of Walter Lange and thus, without compromise or unnecessary evolution. In any case, I had a lot of pleasure to wear it, especially when I compared the behavior of the two second hands.



Finally, Lange & Sohne provided further proof that this watch was really special. Indeed, a piece unique featuring a stainless steel case and a black enamel dial will be auctioned by Phillips on the 12th of May in Geneva. The proceeds from this sale will be donated to Children Action, a Swiss charity that helps children through projects around the world. This auction will also be an excellent indicator of the collectors' perception of the value of Lange & Söhne. A stainless steel Lange remains very rare and the context of the 1815 "Homage to Walter Lange" makes it very desirable in the eyes of the fans of the brand.

Pros:
+ an uncompromising tribute watch that totally respects the spirit of Walter Lange
+ the simultaneous behavior of the two second hands
+ the architecture and the finish of the movement
+ an original and rare complication

Cons:
- the second central hand can't be reset
- I would have liked a little more daring design but it is so faithful to Walter Lange's wishes that it is better to keep it as it is