A. Lange & Söhne (Lange) has introduced the RICHARD LANGE JUMPING SECONDS with a new pink gold dial housed in a white gold case. Originally launched in 2016 with a solid silver dial housed in a platinum case, it is the fourth version of this model and joins the lineup which presently includes a version with a black dial housed in a white gold case. The collection is named after Richard Lange – the eldest son of Adolph Lange and the brand’s founder.
“With numerous discoveries and patents, he (Richard Lange) decisively contributed towards the advancement of precision watchmaking. In his capacity of watchmaker, inventor, and engineer, one of his most important achievements was the development of a metal alloy for watch springs, still widely used today in precision watchmaking.”
Key Features
Functions and Operation
Image: The Richard Lange collection is the brand’s interpretation of chronometry, one where the term “Chronometer” is never used on the dial. Neither does the brand believe in any external certification such as COSC. Notice the triangle-shaped aperture between the overlapping hours (left) and minutes (right) subdial. It turns to red 10 hours before the power reserve is depleted, hence serving as a reminder to wind the watch.
Regulator style hours and minutes display. Jumping seconds with stop seconds and patented ZERO-RESET mechanism. End-of-power reserve indicator.
Crown at 3 o’clock for winding and time setting.
“In the RICHARD LANGE JUMPING SECONDS, the spotlight is on the smallest of the three units of time, the seconds, as well as on superior rate accuracy – thanks to the eponymous jumping seconds, the constant-force escapement that assures the delivery of a uniform amount of energy and the ZERO-RESET mechanism for resetting the seconds hand to zero.”
Dial
Image: This is the fourth Lange watch with a pink gold dial. The black and red markings and rhodium finished hands contrasts well with the pink gold dial. Deceptively simple on the outside, yet incredibly complex inside.
Dial is made from 750 pink gold. Hour and minute hands are made from 750 gold. Seconds hand is made from steel. All feature a rhodium finish.
“The largest of three time circles is allocated to the seconds while the two smaller ones positioned below on the left and right indicate the hours and minutes. Additionally, a triangular indication at the intersection between the hour and minute circles switches to red ten hours before the power reserve is depleted, thus delivering a reminder to soon rewind the watch.”
Image: Chronometer No. 93 – the inspiration behind the RICHARD LANGE JUMPING SECONDS. (Image credit: Langepedia website.)
The dial arrangement of the RICHARD LANGE JUMPING SECONDS was inspired by chronometer No. 93 – a pocket watch crafted by Johann Heinrich Seyffert “a gifted Dresden watchmaker who in the late 18th century established the fundamentals of precision timekeeping in Germany and also inspired Ferdinand Adolph Lange. The famous explorer and natural scientist Alexander von Humboldt was among his renowned customers ‒ he was accompanied by a Seyffert chronometer on his legendary expedition to Latin America.”
Movement
Image: Notice the hand engraved balance cock and the free-sprung balance wheel (left side) and the ZERO-RESET mechanism (lower right side). Notice other signature Lange features such as the plates and bridges made of untreated German silver, screwed gold chatons, blued screws, and beautiful finishing throughout. Like all Lange calibres, L094.1 is assembled twice.
Powered by Lange manufacture calibre L094.1, a manually wound movement that drives the hours, minutes, jumping seconds with stop seconds and ZERO-RESET mechanism, and end-of-power indicator.
“Crafted to the most exacting Lange quality standards, decorated and assembled by hand; precision-adjusted in five positions; constant-force escapement with remontoir spring crafted in house; plates and bridges made of untreated German silver; balance cock engraved by hand.”
Diameter: 33.6 mm. Thickness: 6.0 mm. Parts: 390. Jewels: 50. Screwed gold chatons: 8. Frequency: 21,600 vph or 3 Hz. Power reserve: 42 hours.
Left: Remontoir spring of the constant-force escapement. Right: The rotating star – “mounted on the escape-wheel arbor beneath a transparent bearing jewel” – controls the jumping seconds mechanism. Notice the free-spring or variable inertia balance wheel with eccentric poising weights. Notice the ZERO-RESET mechanism’s arresting spring (above the balance wheel, towards the right side).
Movement features: Lever escapement. Free-sprung and shock-resistant balance wheel with eccentric poising weights. Lange manufactured superior-quality balance spring. Precision beat adjustment system with lateral setscrew and whiplash spring.
Both images: A closer at the ZERO-RESET mechanism (left) and its multi-disc clutch below the triangle-shaped tip of the bridge (right). Notice the ZERO-RESET mechanism’s arresting spring in both images.
“Beneath the dial of the RICHARD LANGE JUMPING SECONDS, three game-changing mechanisms interact, their respective functions perfectly complementing each other: the constant-force escapement, the jumping seconds mechanism and the ZERO-RESET mechanism. The constant-force escapement assures that the watch is powered with a constant force during the entire power reserve, resulting in superior rate accuracy. To supply the required energy, an impulse is generated every second. This impulse is also used for the jump of the seconds, exactly 60 times per minute. The ZERO-RESET mechanism is equipped with a multi-disc clutch: when the crown is pulled, the seconds hand instantly jumps to the zero position, making time setting with one-second accuracy possible.”
Case
Image: Notice the brushed finish on the side of the case. The dimensions are incredibly compact given the complexity of the movement.
Case is made from 750 white gold. Diameter: 39.9 mm. Thickness: 10.6 mm.
Dial and caseback feature a sapphire crystal, with a Mohs hardness of 9. Water resistant up to 3 bar or approximately 30 metres. Watch comes with a dark-brown hand-stitched alligator leather strap fitted to a prong buckle made from 750 white gold.
“The RICHARD LANGE JUMPING SECONDS pairs comprehensive precision with individual elegance. On the one hand, it offers superb rate accuracy as well as quick and precise settability; on the other, our watchmakers succeeded in integrating the complex mechanisms in a confined space, thus enabling a flat architecture of elegant proportions. The ensemble of colours – the case in 750 white gold and the pink-gold dial with contrasting black markings – represents a distinguishing feature of the watch.” – Anthony de Haas, Director Product Development at A. Lange & Söhne.
Our Thoughts
Those who have read my coverage on Lange will notice I praise the brand a lot. It is among my favourite watch brands. The story of the brand’s rebirth in the early to mid-90’s, coupled with its exceptional watchmaking and impact on the Swiss watch industry (especially the Holy Trinity of Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, and Vacheron Constantin) earned them the distinction as the trinity’s fourth member. Watches from the brand’s collections “compete” with AP, PP, and VC – especially those from the Saxonia, 1815, and Odysseus collections. Where the Lange 1, Richard Lange, and Zeitwerk collections are concerned, they seldom have an alternative – especially where their regular catalogues are concerned.
Image: A gem of a watch from Lange. Its price is a relative bargain for the abundance of horological complexity contained in its movement.
The RICHARD LANGE JUMPING SECONDS is a phenomenal interpretation of a chronometer – the likes of which you are unlikely to see from another mainstream brand. This is the sort of watchmaking independent watch brands love to experiment with. Watches with jumping seconds are rare. Arnold & Son’s DSTB 42 is an example of a watch with true-beat or jumping seconds mechanism.
The Richard Lange collection is not the brand’s most popular. Unveiling the RICHARD LANGE JUMPING SECONDS with a new pink gold dial brings a bit of spotlight back to this watch – and hopefully to the entire collection. It is a watch that deserves to be celebrated.
Please click here to read our coverage on the newly unveiled 1815 TOURBILLON with a jet-black grand-feu enamel dial.
Additional Details
Name: Richard Lange Jumping Seconds
Reference: 252.056
Price: United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED) 417,000 (includes taxes)
Limited edition of 100 individually numbered pieces.
Please visit the brand’s website and Instagram page for more information.
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