A. Lange & Söhne: Odysseus White Gold

Launched on 24 October 2019, exactly 25 years to the day after the debut of the first new-era timepiece collection by Walter Lange and Günter Blümlein, it was obvious that the ODYSSEUS was designed for people who wish to wear their Lange watch in any situation.

The second model of the new ODYSSEUS family combines a 40.5 mm white-goldcase with a grey dial. White-gold handsand notched baton appliques assuregood legibility against the darkbackground. The numerals of theoutsize date and the letters of the large format day display stand out in white ongrey. With a height of 2.4 mm,they are easily readable even in poorlight conditions. Like the hour andminute hands, the hour markers areluminous. The embossed groovestructure beneath the applied hourmarkers and the subsidiary secondsscale enhances the textured effect ofthe dial. It contrasts against the glossymatt inner surfaces of the main and subsidiary dials. The red 60 on the bevelled argenté- coloured flange ring with the printed minute scale provides a subtle colour accent. 

The tapered buttons for correcting the day and the date are arranged above and beneath the crown. They accentuate the prominent shape of the three-part white-gold case. The finissage of the case and the lugs is characterised by the interplay of brushed surfaces and polished chamfers. Integrated straps are available in hand-stitched leather or black rubber. The latter features air ducts on the inside for superb wearing comfort. 

The watch is powered by the L155.1 DATOMATIC manufacture calibre developed exclusively for the ODYSSEUS. Its name stands for the combination of a date mechanism and automatic winding. To guarantee high rate accuracy regardless of external factors, the balance operates at a frequency of 28,800 semi-oscillations per hour (4 hertz). Recessed poising screws minimise air turbulence that could affect the rate. The movement has a maximum power reserve of 50 hours. The skeletonised and partially black-rhodiumed central rotor with a centrifugal mass in platinum assures dependable energy delivery. 

In line with Lange’s philosophy, all parts are lavishly hand-finished and the movement is assembled twice. Many artisanal details can be discovered with a glance through the sapphire-crystal caseback. They include the German silver plate decorated with Glashütte ribbing, the wave pattern engraved on the balance bridge, and the screwed gold chaton above the escape wheel. (Price € 39.500)