A. Lange & Sohne 1815 Annual Calendar Rose Gold 238.032
The Annual Calendar has often been described as a 'middle complication', not quite being prestigious enough to warrant the moniker of a 'grand complication', yet more complex than simple calendars. But don't let that fool you - Lange's 1815 Annual Calendar is no middle child.
Just looking at the dial. you can appreciate the complexity of the complication. While it doesn't account for the leap year, an annual calendar is still able to track the day, date, and month, only requiring manual adjustment once a year in February (which is helpfully provided for in the form of the date advancing pusher at 2 o'clock).
The other thing you have to understand about this watch is that unlike other brand which reserve a higher level of fit and finish for its more expensive watches, Lange goes all out in terms of finishing every single one of its models. Flip the watch over and you'll be greeted with the hand-engraved balance cock, swan neck regulator, thermally blued screws on the gold chatons, anglage on the plates - we could go on. The case isn't neglected either, with contrasting brushed and polished surfaces.
A. LANGE & SÖHNE
From the ashes of the Cold War, A. Lange & Söhne's relaunch in 1994 reintroduced the world to both the brand and the concept of fine German watchmaking. When its first four watches debuted, they formed the crest of a resurgent wave of high-end watchmaking. This period marked the high tide of the watchmaking renaissance that began in the late 1970s as a response to the Quartz Crisis. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Lange has since gone from strength to strength, building up a highly-focused range of watches that show off its signature complications and Teutonic aesthetics.
While other brands look to their own history for inspiration, Lange takes a broader view. The brand prides itself in being a thought leader, being one of the first manufactures to produce an in-house manually wound chronograph from scratch a full decade before Patek Philippe. At the same time, Lange also draws design cues from its surroundings, with the most famous example being the 'outsized date' window being inspired by the Five-Minute Clock at the Semper Opera House in Dresden.
This unique combination gives Lange a unique position. While the brand is part of a large luxury group and produces more watches than the highly-revered independent watchmakers, Lange collectors are arguably more passionate than their contemporaries who focus on other brands. The brand's positioning as a challenger while adhering to traditional watchmaking created an alluring combination that managed to excite even the most cynical of collectors, and continues to do so over 25 years after its revival.
LessThe Annual Calendar has often been described as a 'middle complication', not quite being prestigious enough to warrant the moniker of a 'grand complication', yet more complex than simple calendars. But don't let that fool you - Lange's 1815 Annual Calendar is no middle child.
Just looking at the dial. you can appreciate the complexity of the complication. While it doesn't account for the leap year, an annual calendar is still able to track the day, date, and month, only requiring manual adjustment once a year in February (which is helpfully provided for in the form of the date advancing pusher at 2 o'clock).
The other thing you have to understand about this watch is that unlike other brand which reserve a higher level of fit and finish for its more expensive watches, Lange goes all out in terms of finishing every single one of its models. Flip the watch over and you'll be greeted with the hand-engraved balance cock, swan neck regulator, thermally blued screws on the gold chatons, anglage on the plates - we could go on. The case isn't neglected either, with contrasting brushed and polished surfaces.
A. LANGE & SÖHNE
From the ashes of the Cold War, A. Lange & Söhne's relaunch in 1994 reintroduced the world to both the brand and the concept of fine German watchmaking. When its first four watches debuted, they formed the crest of a resurgent wave of high-end watchmaking. This period marked the high tide of the watchmaking renaissance that began in the late 1970s as a response to the Quartz Crisis. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Lange has since gone from strength to strength, building up a highly-focused range of watches that show off its signature complications and Teutonic aesthetics.
While other brands look to their own history for inspiration, Lange takes a broader view. The brand prides itself in being a thought leader, being one of the first manufactures to produce an in-house manually wound chronograph from scratch a full decade before Patek Philippe. At the same time, Lange also draws design cues from its surroundings, with the most famous example being the 'outsized date' window being inspired by the Five-Minute Clock at the Semper Opera House in Dresden.
This unique combination gives Lange a unique position. While the brand is part of a large luxury group and produces more watches than the highly-revered independent watchmakers, Lange collectors are arguably more passionate than their contemporaries who focus on other brands. The brand's positioning as a challenger while adhering to traditional watchmaking created an alluring combination that managed to excite even the most cynical of collectors, and continues to do so over 25 years after its revival.