The A. Lange & Söhne 1815 collection pays homage to the birth year of the brand founder, Ferdinand Adolph Lange, who established the watchmaking industry in Glashutte.
For 2014, two new models have been introduced within the collection: the 1815 and the 1815 Tourbillon. The basic three-hand 1815 is available in white, pink, or yellow gold. The 1815 Tourbillon is available in pink gold or platinum (limited).
The 1815, which is currently available in a 40 mm by 8.9 version (white, pink, and yellow gold), will now be available in a slightly smaller 38.5 mm by 8.8 mm size. However, according to A. Lange & Söhne, one will not replace the other — both sizes will sell alongside each other.
Apart from the new case, including a new stepped bezel, everything else is the same: hand-wound Lange caliber L051.1 three-quarter plate movement, solid silver argenté dial, 188 components (including 23 jewels and 5 screwed gold chatons), 55-hour power reserve, balance cock engraved by hand, black Arabic numerals, blued hands and so on.
The other introduction within the 1815 line, the 1815 Tourbillon, which was presented in a sleek 39.5 mm by 11.1 mm case, and is available in pink gold or platinum (limited to 100 pieces). The 1815 Tourbillon, for the first time ever, combines the brand’s patented tourbillon stop second mechanism (invented by Lange in 2008) with the patented zero-reset system (invented by Lange in 1997).
Inside, is the hand-wound Lange caliber L102.1, which runs at 3Hz, has 262 components (20 jewels, including 1 diamond endstone, and 3 screw gold chatons), is equipped with a superior Lange balance spring, 72-hour power reserve, balance bridge engraved by hand, untreated German silver, hand-decorated and precision adjusted in five positions.
The solid silver argenté features black printed Arabic numerals and blued hands. The diameter of the tourbillon dial aperture has been increased from previous models to 13.2 mm, allowing a better view, and highlighting the double patented 60-second tourbillon mechanism. The solid gold or platinum crown, allows the tourbillon seconds to be stopped, and instantaneously reset to zero, for precise one-second time setting.
The white gold and platinum models come on a hand-stitched black crocodile strap, with a matching pin buckle. The yellow and pink gold models come on hand-stitched reddish-brown crocodile straps.
The 1815 is $24,800 for pink (Ref. 235.032) and yellow gold (Ref. 235.021) and $26,00 for the white gold (Ref. 235.026). The 1815 Tourbillon is $164,100 in pink gold (Ref. 730.032) and $201,300 in Platinum (Ref. 730.025, Limited to 100 pieces).
Watch the full explanation, from Lange Director of Development, Anthony de Haas, below.
