Last April, A. Lange & Söhne, the pinnacle of German watches, unveiled the new Oduseus and Grand Lange 1 in Japan at Watches and Wonders 2022. This time, I would like to deliver the impression and the state of the event.
In addition to the presentation of the new model by A. Lange & Söhne’s head office CEO Wilhelm Schmidt and others, a business presentation by regional brand CEO Yamazaki was also given.
At this event, the new model will be reproduced in an unprecedented form so that the atmosphere of Watches and Wonders can be shared with markets around the world. That is the “Giant Holo Watch” produced as the first attempt. It is a nice attempt to experience the elaborate decoration of the movement and the sound of repeaters, even for models that are manufactured in very small quantities and rarely appear in stores.
Unfortunately, there was no sample exhibit of the new Richard Lange Minute Repeater at the Japan event, but instead it was shown at the Giant Holo Watch.
Odysseus
Ref.363.117. TI (40.5 mm diameter, 11.1 mm thickness). Water resistant to 12 bar. Automatic winding (Cal.L155.1 DATOMATIC). Limited to 250 pieces worldwide. Limited to boutiques. 7,095,000 yen (scheduled to be released in June 2022)
One of the new works exhibited at the Japan event is Odysseus’ latest work, which appeared in 2019 as a new product family for an active lifestyle, and the company’s first titanium model.
As you know, titanium has great merits as a watch material because it is lightweight and less likely to cause metal allergies, but it was once avoided in luxury watches due to its unique texture and difficulty in processing. However, due to recent advances in processing technology, the accuracy of finishing has improved, and the number of high-end brands that are actively adopted has increased.
The titanium-spec Odysseus is also indistinguishable from the stainless steel model due to its elaborate finish, but it’s still surprisingly light when you actually get it. Since Odysseus itself has a heavy exterior, it will be a great benefit. Its light fit is suitable for a model for an “active lifestyle”. The price is more than double that of stainless steel specifications, but the competition will be inevitable.
Grand Lange 1
Ref.137.038. K18WG (41 mm diameter, 8.2 mm thickness). Waterproof for everyday life. Manual winding (Cal.L095.1). 5,896,000 yen (scheduled to be released in May 2022)
Another new release this year is the new version of Grand Lange 1. The well-proportioned dial layout remains the same, but the proportions of the case have been revamped, and the thickness has been reduced from the conventional 8.8 mm to 8.2 mm. If you ask only the numerical value, you may think that it is only 0.6 mm, but the difference is clear when compared with the existing model. In addition to the greatly improved fit, the slim promotion gives the impression that it is even more elegant.
A. Lange & Söhne’s new work, which has been brushed up with a focus on improving the fit, is about to launch. If you are interested, please check the actual machine at the boutique.
[Contact]
A. Lange & Söhne TEL.0120-23-1845
https://www.alange-soehne.com/
Sentence ◎ Daisuke Horiuchi (Editor)