A. Lange & Söhne RICHARD LANGE Ref. 232.026

Kong · 2013-04-02T05:54:58Z

Explore the A. Lange & Söhne RICHARD LANGE Ref. 232.026 Special Boutique Edition in white gold with blued steel hands. Discover its design, movement, and collector debate.

Kong

WPS member · A. Lange & Söhne forum

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Kong introduces the A. Lange & Söhne RICHARD LANGE Special Boutique Edition, a white gold variant with blued steel hands, available exclusively at Lange boutiques. This edition revives the tradition of scientific observation watches, paying homage to Richard Lange's contributions to precision watchmaking, particularly his work on balance springs.

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RICHARD LANGE – The observation watch for the wrist

Right on time for the start of spring, A. Lange & Söhne presents a special edition of the RICHARD LANGE in white gold and with blued steel hands. From April 2013, this new variation is available exclusively at the boutiques of the traditional Saxon watch brand.

The new RICHARD LANGE in white gold in the A. Lange & Söhne Boutique Dresden.

In 2006, A. Lange & Söhne revived the grand tradition of scientific observation watches with the launch of the RICHARD LANGE. They were once indispensable in navigation and as precision instruments for scientists. Reduced to the function of exact time measurement, the new boutique edition of the three-hand watch with sweep seconds comes in a white-gold case for the first time, with the familiar diameter of 40.5 millimetres. Hands in blued steel over an argenté-coloured solid-silver dial assure excellent high-contrast legibility of the time.

Eminently legible thanks to blued steel hands: The RICHARD LANGE in white gold

The RICHARD LANGE pays tribute to Ferdinand A. Lange's eldest son. During his entire life, the long-tenured technical director of the manufactory focused on evolving precision watchmaking on the basis of scientific research. The balance spring is a manifestation of what is no doubt his greatest achievement. In 1929, he recognised that the addition of beryllium to the nickel-steel alloy made hairsprings less susceptible to temperature fluctuations and simultaneously more elastic. Richard Lange's insight, for which a patent was granted in the following year, resulted in a quantum leap in precision and expedited the development of a timepiece category that defines itself in terms of accuracy: the observation watch.

The RICHARD LANGE was inspired by the characteristic traits of its historic predecessor and re-interprets them with contemporary panache. With its white-gold case and the exquisite finissage of the movement, it is a very accurate observation wristwatch that befits our era. This special edition of the RICHARD LANGE is available exclusively through the A. Lange & Söhne boutiques. Only a few pieces can be handcrafted per year.

RICHARD LANGE Ref. 232.026

Movement
Lange manufacture calibre L041.2, manually wound, crafted to the most exacting Lange quality standards, decorated and assembled by hand; precision-adjusted in five positions; plates and bridges made of untreated German silver; balance cock engraved by hand

Movement parts 199

Jewels 26

Screwed gold chatons 2

Escapement Lever escapement

Oscillation system Shock-proofed glucydur balance with eccentric poising weights, superior-quality balance spring manufactured in-house, frequency 21,600semi-oscillations per hour, precision beat adjustment system with lateral setscrew and whiplash spring

Power reserve 38 hours when fully wound

Functions Time display in hours, minutes and sweep seconds with stop seconds

Operating elements Crown for winding the watch and setting the time

Case dimensions Diameter: 40.5 millimetres; height: 10.5 millimetres

Movement dimensions Diameter: 30.6 millimetres; height: 6.0 millimetres

Crystal and caseback Sapphire crystal (hardness 9)

Case White gold

Dial Solid silver, argenté

Hands Blued steel

Strap Hand-stitched crocodile strap, black

Buckle Lange prong buckle in solid white gold

Press Release

This message has been edited by Kong on 2013-04-03 18:42:55

Key Points from the Discussion

The white gold case and blued steel hands offer excellent legibility, a significant improvement for those who found the platinum version difficult to read.
The sweeping central seconds hand, while aesthetically pleasing, raises questions about its practical accuracy for an 'observation' watch, given past experiences with unpredictable rates.
Some collectors feel this boutique edition is a 'downgrade' from the platinum version due to the use of white gold, and suggest a black or slate dial would have made it more distinctive.
The absence of movement pictures in the press release, despite claims of 'exquisite finissage,' is noted as a point of contention.
A honey gold version is a desired alternative for some, as they feel the white gold doesn't sufficiently differentiate itself from the platinum model.
A. Lange & Söhne has historically avoided slate dials due to concerns about poor readability, which explains why a dark dial option for this white gold version was not pursued.

The Discussion

amanico

Apr 2, 2013

When they write their press release? Honestly, I am very dubitative with this special boutique edition. What is special, here? The white gold case instead of platinum? They downgraded the watch with a less noble material. The heated blue hands for a better legibility of Time? Those who own the platinum version will appreciate. If, at least, they had released it with a black dial... This would have been a minimum. Weird, curious... Best, Nicolas

sanro

Apr 2, 2013

I still drool when I see this dial with blue hands. Legibility is an issue for some of us. And the blue hands over silver dial do not only solve the legibility aspect but are also a beautiful combination that reminds me of my gone 1815. Will the platinum version owners be upset? Maybe, although the production of this SE will probably be so limited it should not be a major issue. Let's remember that the same was done with the Lange Time Zone 1 (a special edition in white gold with blue hands) and

BluNotte

Apr 2, 2013

Without a doubt i would recommend it highly to anyone who does not own a RL yet and would like something a little more exclusive. Heck, i would get it myself were the case to be in Pt. Tschuss Stephen

foversta

Apr 2, 2013

As a stand alone watch, it is gorgeous. As a part of the Richard Lange line, I think it is a missed opportunity. The use of the WG case would have been the perfect context for a slate/black dial to propose something really different. I think that I didn't ask enough for a WG case/dark dial version, I think I only asked for it 75 times. :) Fx

colton_d

Apr 2, 2013

If it had been a WG Slate or WG black dial combination, I would be booking my flight to the Palm Beach boutique today! Alas, my mind is still yet undecided which RL will be the one I call my own. I am still antipating the 'real' photos you, or someone else close to a boutique posts soon. Best Colton

amerix

Apr 2, 2013

its appearance - although the expanses of empty space below the IX and III markings, more than in the Pt version, emphasize the largeness of the dial and therefore of the watch. but NOT for the smoothly running central seconds hand - if they had done that at 18000 bps I would have been more than impressed! My trouble is with the sweeping, central seconds. For me it has to show a greater degree of accuracy than that on a perhaps horologically more sensible subdial. When I still had my Pt RL - whi

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