A. Lange & Söhne presents two new variations of the award-winning mechanical digital watch in platinum and pink gold. Because of the developed calibre L043.6, the distinctive timepiece now has an influence reserve doubled to 72 hours and gives even better comfort. The revolutionary design idea has been subtly reworked as effectively, enhancing its expressive fashion. Although the minute-by-minute development of the big leaping numerals could appear to be moved by magic, it’s exactly managed by a dependable calibre with seven patents.
In 2009, A. Lange & Söhne offered the primary ZEITWERK to the amazement of the world of horology. The unprecedented wristwatch idea options giant leaping numerals for the hours and minutes in addition to a constant-force escapement as a beat controller. To this very date, the clear, avant-garde show of time is peerless. It underscores the manufactory’s ambition to continuously redefine the bounds of technical feasibility. Firm founder Walter Lange repeatedly urged the necessity “to by no means stand nonetheless”. Following this maxim, the watchmakers at A. Lange & Söhne usually query standard ideas and pursue new progressive approaches to advertise the event of precision watchmaking.
Zeitwerk © A. Lange & Söhne
Historic inspiration: from the five-minute to the one-minute rhythm
This progressive method is intently intertwined with the custom of our manufactory. For the ZEITWERK, the grasp watchmakers at A. Lange & Söhne took their inspiration from the well-known five-minute clock on the Semper Opera Home in Dresden. On the time, court docket clockmaker Johann Christian Friedrich Gutkaes was commissioned to create it. He was requested to develop a time show that might be simply legible even from the rearmost seats. It was a problem that compelled Gutkaes to rethink the project. Opposite to all large-format clocks with fingers, he opted for a revolutionary resolution: a clock that displayed the time digitally in five-minute steps. In 1841, he accomplished the five-minute clock together with his co-worker Ferdinand Adolph Lange. The weird thought behind this clock was transposed to the ZEITWERK, regardless that it switches 5 occasions extra usually than its supply of inspiration, specifically as soon as per full minute.
Zeitwerk © A. Lange & Söhne
Hours and minutes at a look
The ZEITWERK has a patented mechanism with three leaping numeral discs that make a look on the watch a particular expertise. The hours and minutes are displayed from left to proper by large-format numerals which might be 2.9 millimetres excessive and a pair of.3 millimetres huge. The harmonious association on the curved time bridge and the scale of the shows guarantee very good legibility. Moreover, this aesthetically authentic and technically elaborate show endows the dial with vibrancy and verve as a result of the underlying mechanism switches the three numeral discs – one shows the hours, the opposite two show the items and the tens digits of the minutes – inside fractions of a second. Essentially the most thrilling occasion occurs on the prime of the hour when all three numeral discs are concurrently superior by one increment. With this exact choreography, the second turns into the occasion.
Mechanically digital: a recent complication
To create this lucid and progressive show, Lange’s designers questioned the standard ideas and guidelines of precision watchmaking afresh. This was mandatory, as a result of the problem of becoming the mechanism within the restricted dimensions of a wristwatch and on the identical time offering sufficient vitality to provide the synchronised switching steps was monumental. Some key figures make this impressively clear: As an example, the hour ring with a diameter of 30.0 millimetres extends to the outer circumference of the motion. As well as, there are two discs – the tens-minute and units-minute discs. Their diameters are 19.0 and 12.7 millimetres, respectively. Each discs are separated by a top distinction of merely 0.2 millimetres, which requires extremely exact settings by the watchmaker.
“To modify the discs of the leaping numerals mechanism to ahead on time each minute, the motion requires way more vitality than a basic time show,” explains Anthony de Haas, Director of Product Improvement. “Not solely are the numeral discs very heavy by watchmaking requirements, however in addition they need to be shortly accelerated and braked once more. This requires significantly increased forces than the uniform rotation of a pair of fingers of a lot much less weight. The best quantity of vitality is required on the prime of the hour when the motion advances all three discs on the identical time.”
Additionally, the incremental step have to be executed exactly after 60 seconds. This difficult operation is dealt with by the patented constant-force escapement. As a multitalented gadget, it even makes an additional contribution: It assures that the motion can be powered by a uniform quantity of power; this advantages charge stability.
Zeitwerk © A. Lange & Söhne
The calibre L043.6 – the second technology of a mechanical masterpiece
Whereas these challenges have been already intelligently mastered by the first-generation ZEITWERK, the brand new technology goes a step additional with the refined calibre L043.6.
Because of a patented barrel design with two mainsprings, it was attainable to double the ability reserve from 36 to 72 hours. Or, to precise it with different numbers: When totally wound, the ZEITWERK now has ample vitality to carry out 4,320 minute jumps or, extra exactly, 72 jumps with all three discs, 360 jumps with solely two discs, and three,888 jumps with just one disc. One other enchancment versus the predecessor mannequin is the simplified setting of the hour. A pusher at 4 o’clock can now individually advance the show, which is especially helpful when the time zone adjustments throughout a visit. The pusher is an inverted kind: Nothing occurs when it’s pressed however the show switches ahead when the pusher is launched.
The combination of a pusher for correcting the hour indication, first launched within the ZEITWERK DATE, required appreciable constructional effort. To allow the correction independently of the switching cycles of the time indication, a patented vertical clutch uncouples the hour ring from the leaping numerals mechanism every time the pusher is pressed. The setting of the minute indication in each instructions remains to be carried out with the crown at two o’clock.
In its second technology, the ZEITWERK additionally options an oscillation system with its personal steadiness spring and patented beat-adjustment system. It oscillates with a frequency of 18,000 semi-oscillations per hour (2.5 hertz). As with all the manufactory’s calibres, the artisanal finissage of the 451-part motion complies with probably the most bold Lange requirements. With a look by way of the sapphire-crystal caseback, connoisseurs can admire the hand-engraved steadiness and escape-wheel cocks, the solarised winding wheels, the 59 jewels, and the intricate, straight-grained remontoir bridge that accommodates two recessed, screwed gold chatons.
Zeitwerk © A. Lange & Söhne
Inimitable – in design as effectively
Watch fanatics usually discuss with the dial because the face of a timepiece. It not solely displays the designers’ aesthetic perceptions but in addition the abilities of the motion engineers. This is applicable specifically to the ZEITWERK: Its progressive technical idea is expressed by progressive design.
Essentially the most outstanding component is the time bridge product of German silver. The fabric, historically utilized by A. Lange & Söhne for body elements resembling bridges and cocks, makes it clear that it’s an integral element of the motion. Within the new ZEITWERK, it was subtly reworked to make extra room for the subsidiary seconds dial at six o’clock. Within the scale of the power-reserve indicator on the other facet, harmoniously positioned above the spherical of the time bridge, the final twelve hours at the moment are marked in pink to obviously point out that the stress of the mainsprings is steadily waning.
The sapphire bearing jewel for the ones- and tens-minute ring to the left of the 2 indications is a refined element that additionally builds a bridge to the motion. Typically, rubies are used for bearing jewels, however on this case, Lange’s watchmakers selected this colourless, clear valuable stone for aesthetic causes.
Two noble color variations
The brand new ZEITWERK has a case diameter of 41.9 millimetres and a top of 12.2 millimetres. It’s out there in two variations. It is available in pink gold with a black dial and a time bridge product of untreated German silver. The platinum version has a rhodié dial product of strong silver. The time bridge is black rhodiumed. Color-matched fingers spherical out the harmonious design. The pink-gold mannequin has a black alligator leather-based strap whereas the platinum model is paired with a dark-brown alligator leather-based strap.
