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.

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.

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.

Dresden	Shangai	Tokyo	Seoul
Töpferstraße 8	Huaihai (Middle) Rd 812	Mikuni Ginza Building, 619 Ginza	2 F, Lotte Ave., L 130 Namdaemoon- 2garo
Hong Kong	Lisbon	Abu Dhabi	Dubai
Shop G11, 1881 Heritage	Av. da Liberdade, 138 C	Avenue at Etihad Towers, Podium 2	The Dubai Mall, Ground Floor
Singapore	Palm Beach	Paris
2 Orchard Turn, #02-05A ION Orchard	252 Worth Avenue	19, rue de la Paix

When Ferdinand A. Lange, a Dresden watchmaker, established his watch manufactory in 1845, he laid the cornerstone of Saxony’s precision watchmaking. His precious pocket watches remain highly coveted among collectors all over the world. The company was expropriated after World War II, and the name A. Lange & Söhne nearly fell into oblivion. In 1990, Ferdinand A. Lange’s great-grandson Walter Lange had the courage to relaunch the brand. Today, Lange crafts only a few thousand wristwatches in gold or platinum per year. They are endowed exclusively with proprietary movements that are lavishly decorated and assembled by hand. In a period of little more than 20 years, A. Lange & Söhne developed over 40 manufacture calibres and secured a top-tier position among the world’s finest watch brands. Its greatest successes include innovative time-keeping instruments such as the Lange 1 with the first outsize date in a series produced wristwatch as well as the Lange Zeitwerk with its supremely legible, precisely jumping numerals. Meanwhile, both models have become icons of a brand rich in tradition.

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-resistant screw balance with eccentric poising weights, superior-quality balance spring manufactured in-house, frequency 21,600 semi-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
Price	:	26 500€