Aiming to add a new chapter to the success story of the most acclaimed LANGE 1 collection, the famous watchmaking company A. Lange & Söhne proudly released its completely novel Lange 1 Daymatic watch. This is the first self-winding model in the prestigious watch family, equipped with a newly developed self-winding movement, available in pink or yellow gold or even in platinum.

The year of 2009 is the 15th year of the LANGE 1, a unmistakable sign of A. Lange & Söhne. As one of the most commended wristwatches of all times, the collection features its off-centre dial arrangement and the patented outsize date display. Before 2009, this most successful series of A. Lange & Söhne comprised six highly distinctive models, for which the manually wound movement with a twin mainspring barrel for a power reserve of three days visualized by a progressive power-reserve indicator forms the instantly recognizable design icon. Now comes the even more beautiful self-winding Lange 1 Daymatic model, coming for the beginning of a new era.

The exceptional Lange 1 Daymatic is unique for mirroring the dial layout of the original Lange 1 model. The signature off-center hour / minute timezone is now on the right side. It is a very humanized design for those who wear their timepieces on the left wrists that when they pull back their sleeve, the first thing they will see is the most important information: the time. On the top left is the patented outsized date window which was located on the right right in the original model. A useful retrograde day-of-week display takes the place of the power-reserve indicator which a self-winding watch does not require. Two push pieces on the side of the case are used to adjust the date and day-of-week display.

With a careful look, I know the new LANGE 1 watch is innovative in every respect. The case in yellow or pink gold, or platinum features a generous diameter of 39.5mm, 1mm lager than its predecessors. The displays are harmoniously arranged on the solid-silver dial. The centre of the outsize date and the arbours of the day-of-week and seconds hands are on the same vertical axis, which is the baseline of an isosceles triangle whose tip lies exactly in the middle of the main dial. Though there are still no photos of the watch’s caseback, the German watch manufacturer claimed that the exquisitely decorated movement is a self-winding calibre L021.1, which was developed from the ground up, with a heavy central rotor delicately embossed with the “A. Lange & Söhne” signature.

In a word, the Lange 1 Daymatic watch has made many impressive innovations, compared to its progenitor. Simultaneously, it preserves the clean and elegant look. It is sure to be the star attraction in SIHH 2010.

Kevin also publishes articles about Luxury Watches at watchestrends blog.