A. Lange & Söhne Richard Lange Watch Review
The A. Lange & Söhne Richard Lange is named after the eldest son of the watch brand’s founder. It deliberately shuns numerous complications or artistic crafts, focussing on intelligibility and delivering notable accuracy. Angus Davies looks closely at an example of this ‘boutique only’ reference which is encased in white gold.
A. Lange & Söhne watch review
Modern-day cars are full to the gunwales with gadgets such as ABS, traction control, lane departure system, intelligent cruise control and even internet connectivity. Furthermore, drivers are now pampered with sumptuous seats, cosseting suspension and efficient air conditioning. However, despite all of these desirable accoutrements, many individuals leave their ‘weekday car’ on the drive and choose to spend their weekends driving a cherished classic. Although these period vehicles lack many modern-day motoring niceties, they provide a pure driving experience devoid of electronic nannying.
Watch complications
In the rarefied heights of Haute Horlogerie, ‘complications’ have a remarkable knack for seducing watch aficionados. Whether it’s a simple GMT, calendar watch, tourbillon or a chiming timepiece, a complication delivers additional functions over and above the mere indication of hours and minutes. However, similar to the aforementioned motor-themed examples, some consumers shun numerous subdials, rotating cages or Westminster chimes. Indeed, these purists prefer the unambiguous indication of just hours, minutes and seconds, coupled with notable precision.
Richard Lange
The A. Lange & Söhne Richard Lange delivers a pure form of horology. Its name honours the eldest son of Ferdinand Adolph Lange, founder of the eponymous watch brand. The model subscribes to the longstanding tradition of observation watches. These highly precise timepieces were used for exploration as well as for scientific measurement. A. Lange & Söhne was renowned for making observation watches. Indeed, in 1935, the company supplied a large observation watch No 83193 to the Zeppelin Yards at Freidrichshafen.
Chronometry
In terms of Richard Lange, he certainly helped to advance the field of chronometry, conceiving several inventions. In fact, he filed a total of 27 patents during his lifetime. Arguably his single biggest achievement was when he discovered that the addition of beryllium to hairsprings optimises their elasticity and resilience, conferring superior precision.
Today, the German marque honours Richard Lange with a collection of watches dedicated to the notion of precision or ‘chronometry’.
A. Lange & Söhne Richard Lange dial
The A. Lange & Söhne Richard Lange features a solid-silver dial. Described as ‘argenté-coloured’ (silver-hued), it exhibits a variety of shades depending on the available light source but proves beautiful at all times. Blued alpha-style hands impart the hour and minutes, conversing with Roman numerals positioned atop a slightly raised track.
A notable characteristic of this watch is that nothing is ostentatious or unseemly. An elegantly slender, central sweep seconds hand circumnavigates the dial. Its tip floats above a neat track, positioned to the edge of the dial. The track is marked with strokes of differing lengths and thickness as well as Arabic numerals.
The central sweep seconds hand features an open worked counterweight, yet another eye-catching and tasteful detail. The watch is equipped with a ‘stop seconds’ feature, allowing the wearer to pause the seconds hand and then synchronise the display with a reference clock or watch.
As I previously mentioned, the central dial area, marked with the company’s name and home town, sits slightly below the neighbouring hour track. This detail is subtle, something of a reoccurring theme throughout the overall composition.
And, well, nothing more. There are no elaborate textures, numerous depths, nor numerous indications. The remit is clear: hours, minutes and central seconds. Meaning is expressed free of distractions, with extraordinary intelligibility.
A. Lange & Söhne Richard Lange case
Housed in an 18-carat white gold case, measuring 40.5 mm in diameter, the dimensions of this Richard Lange model are wonderfully discreet. The scale of the watch head should suit most would-be wearers. Measuring just 10.5 mm in height, the watch will happily reside beneath a shirt cuff.
Despite the case being beautifully polished, I cannot help thinking that A. Lange & Söhne must possess a slightly masochistic streak. Allow me to explain. The bezel is highly polished and sits adjacent to the caseband which sports a brushed finish. The lugs are highly polished throughout. At the base of the caseband is a circlet of gleaming gold while the caseback is endowed with a brushed finish. Whenever a brand employs a combination of finishes, especially when placed in close proximity to one another, it necessitates more work than sticking to one type of finish throughout. Just for a moment, appraise the execution of this case and you will soon realise that there is nothing cursory about the A. Lange & Söhne Richard Lange. Everything is the product of time-consuming endeavour and the unwavering pursuit of perfection.
A. Lange & Söhne Calibre L041.2
Whenever I see an Aston Martin or a Ferrari, I feel an overriding need to look beneath the hood, eager to view the engine. Likewise, with a Lange, I want to examine the inner beauty housed within. Thankfully, the prestigious German firm has equipped the Richard Lange with an exhibition caseback inviting inquisitive eyes to examine each refined detail.
The hand-wound Calibre L041.2 upholds Lange’s reputation for making exquisite movements.
Unlike most Swiss movements, calibres from this region favour a three-quarter plate instead of using numerous smaller bridges as this provides a more stable form of construction. In this instance, the three-quarter plate is embellished with Glashütte ribbing, a type of decoration similar in appearance to Côtes de Genève. In addition, text is applied to the surface of the three-quarter plate in golden form. The movement is finished to an impeccable standard and is assembled by hand, twice! Anglage, perlage and mirror polishing all make an appearance.
Again, Lange doesn’t believe in making life simple for itself. Where most watch movements are made of rhodium-plated brass, the Manufactory uses German silver, also known as ‘maillechort’ for the plate and bridges. Plating can wear off over time, unlike German silver which will amass its years well and even acquire an attractive patina with time. However, one problem with German silver is that the watchmaker has to be extra careful as it can easily be marked during the assembly process.
Screwed gold chatons are a house speciality and this movement has two. Chatons date back to an era when real rubies, pushed into holes drilled into the plate, would break if the fit was just a tad too snug. The idea was the chaton, effectively a soft gold liner would accommodate the jewel without any risk of breakage. Today, rubies are synthetic and holes can be drilled to minuscule tolerances. However, despite the chatons now being unnecessary, Lange still chooses to use them. It demonstrates a degree of horological propriety only found at this level of watchmaking. Each chaton is retained with three thermally blued screws, destined to evoke a smile on many a purist’s face.
The balance cock is hand engraved. Should you have the privilege to visit Lange’s Manufactory, a member of staff will be able to look at the elaborate decoration and inform you which artisan was responsible for its creation.
A swan neck positioned on top of the balance cock provides a watchmaker with the means to adjust the anchor symmetry in order to mitigate any ‘beat error’.
A. Lange & Söhne has rejected the customary index-adjusted balance in favour of a free-sprung balance. With this latter system, a series of eccentric weights affixed to the balance wheel alter the moment of inertia, making the movement run faster or slower. This system is better than an index-adjusted balance as it delivers superior rate stability and the balance is less susceptible to positional influence. By placing the eccentric weights in-board, less air turbulence is generated which further enhances precision.
Not all of the eccentric weights affixed to the balance wheel are for timing, some are for ‘poising’. Consider a car wheel fitted with a new tyre. Once the tyre is inflated, the final step is to affix weights to the rim, thereby ensuring the wheel runs ‘true’. The poising weights, once adjusted, ensure the balance wheel runs true. Many brands drill the underside of the balance wheel to achieve the same result. This latter approach is quicker and cheaper, but the Lange system is far more elegant.
I’m mindful that any self-respecting watch aficionado reading this text is probably already feeling an overwhelming sense of acquisitiveness, however, it gets even better. The hairspring, also manufactured in-house, features an ‘overcoiled terminal curve’. This particular term is used to describe raising the outer curve of the hairspring upwards and reducing its curvature. By incorporating this detail, the hairspring breathes more concentrically, ergo delivering superior isochronism.
The balance has a frequency of 21,600 vph (3 Hz) and the movement contains 26 jewels. Assuming the watch is fully wound, it will run autonomously for 38 hours.
A. Lange & Söhne Richard Lange – closing thoughts
The A. Lange & Söhne Richard Lange is a wonderful horological curiosity. On one hand, its dial is clean and pure and seemingly simple. However, examine the movement closely and its complexity is manifest. It is this contradistinction between the views to the front and rear of this watch that I feel makes it a fascinating timepiece.
When appraising the dial, it’s not necessary to talk about readability, this quality can be readily seen. The case execution is sublime with the repeated juxtaposition of polished and brushed surfaces, positioned close together yet remaining discrete.
But the pièce de résistance is the beautifully appointed Calibre L041.2. This tour de force encompasses peerless finishing and a plethora of technical refinements. Indeed, I would argue that its specification has been masterminded by a purist, fussing over the minutiae and considering the smallest of details in an overriding quest for superior chronometry.
I will always enjoy driving a modern-day executive car brimming with accessories as such creature comforts ameliorate the stress of commuting to the office. Likewise, I will always appreciate a watch endowed with a myriad of complications.
The A. Lange & Söhne Richard Lange is a pure timepiece, solely dedicated to the indication of hours, minutes and seconds. It’s a watch dedicated to one task, namely the precise proclamation of time. This purity of purpose is something the Richard Lange shares in common with a classic car, albeit this is a product you can use every day.
Further reading
https://www.alange-soehne.com/
Technical specification
- Model: A. Lange & Söhne Richard Lange (boutique edition)
- Reference: 232.026
- Case: 18-carat white gold; diameter 40.5 mm; height 10.5 mm; sapphire crystal to the front and exhibition caseback
- Functions: Hours; minutes; central sweep seconds
- Movement: Calibre L041.2; hand-wound movement; frequency 21,600 vph (3 Hz); contains 26 jewels; power reserve 38 hours (when fully wound)
- Price on application