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A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar Handwerkskunst

Press Release

Lange 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar Handwerkskunst

Nomen est omen

A. Lange & Söhne is relaunching its horological opus magnum with the two eponymous complications – it had its debut just last year – in a special Handwerkskunst edition limited to 15 timepieces. It leverages the entire spectrum of artisanal skills mastered by the eminent Saxon manufactory.

The Lange 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar Handwerkskunst combines two classic complications with the typical design of A. Lange & Söhne’s most famous wristwatch: the Lange 1 . Intelligently arranged around the time indications, the calendar displays with the patented peripheral month ring deliver a host of information at a single glance: date, day, month, leap year, and moon phase. A decisive asset: all perpetual calendar displays advance instantaneously. They are so harmoniously integrated in the dial architecture that it takes a second look to grasp the technical complexity of this horological masterpiece. To assure crisp legibility, the refined tourbillon mechanism with the patented stop function can be observed only on the caseback side.

The dial is crafted from solid white gold and in this special edition is decorated with a rare combination of tremblage and relief engraving techniques. The manual work involved extends into the realm of the smallest details: For the first time in a Lange timepiece, the blue numerals of the outsize date display are hand-painted.

The epithet Handwerkskunst also applies to the decorations of the manufacture calibre L082.1 without reservation. They are the traditional counterpoints to the avant-garde calibre design innovations. The relief-engraved tourbillon and intermediate-wheel cocks frame the tourbillon ensemble with the patented stop-seconds feature. The same free-hand engraving technique is used to decorate the large central rotor in 21-carat gold with a platinum centrifugal mass. Each of the three train bridges is embellished with solarisation. The specular polish on the upper side of the tourbillon cage is also a typical Lange quality hallmark. Four screwed gold chatons and a diamond endstone bearing for the tourbillion are the grand finale of Lange’s “Handwerkskunst” extravaganza.

A 41.9-millimetre platinum case is the fitting highlight of this composition of precious metals. The A. Lange & Söhne signature and the case and edition serial numbers on the caseback are hand-engraved. This exclusive collectors’ item will be presented in September 2013 at the “Watches & Wonders” Haute Horlogerie Exhibition in Hong Kong. It comes in a limited edition of 15 watches that will be available exclusively through the eleven international A. Lange & Söhne Boutiques.