This year, A. Lange & Söhne has decided to add two new 18K pink gold models to the successful 1815 Chronograph collection. Endowed with column-wheel mechanism, a flyback function and a pulsometer scale, the two new watches are available with black —ref. 414.031— or silvered colored —ref. 414.032— dials. While the black dial version is a very nice watch, there is something about the silvered colored dial model that we absolutely love.
The A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Chronograph is the perfect choice for purists in search of a technically flawless stopwatch that is reduced to the quintessential functions. The slender chronograph sweep seconds hand is activated with a pusher at 2 o’clock. It indicates the time with a resolution of one-fifth of a second. The flyback function allows instant consecutive measurements when the pusher at 4 o’clock is pressed, the chronograph’s seconds and minute counter hands jump to zero and then immediately restart to take a new measurement. Today, Lange crafts only a few thousand watches in gold or platinum per year and they are endowed with in-house movements that are lavishly decorated and assembled by hand. Up to date, Lange has released 62 in-house calibres developed since 1994 securing a top-tier position among the world's finest watch brands.
About the Watch
Fitted with an 18K pink gold case measuring 39.5 mm in diameter and 11.0 mm in thickness, the new Lange 1815 Chonograph is all about flawless aesthetics and classic watch appeal. Its solid silver dial with a silvered finish features a bi-compax chronograph layout with a 30-minute chrono register at 3 o'clock and running seconds at 9 o'clock. Its peripheral pulsometer scale is reminiscent of a classic pocket watch function typically used by doctors for heart rate measurements. The scale is graduated by measuring the time it takes to count 30 heartbeats. On the 1815 Chronograph, the scale is graduated from 40 to 200 beats, where once the chronograph gets activated, its hand will indicate the heart rate in beats per minute.
Additionally, Arabic numerals and the railway-track minute scale are hallmarks of the 1815 watch family that has combined classic design and mechanical ingenuity with optimized functionality since 1995. Rounding out the elegant look of this chronograph, blued hands take the center stage against its 'argenté' backdrop. While the black dial model sports a black alligator strap, this silvered dial reference is delivered on a reddish-brown alligator strap both fitted with pin buckles matching the metal of the case.
The Movement
The new models of the A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Chronograph are powered by the manual wound calibre L951.5 with a power reserve of 60 hours and a freely oscillating balance spring paired with a cam-poised balance. The sapphire-crystal caseback reveals salient hallmarks of the lavishly finished chronograph movement. Among other things, it exposes the column wheel that controls the chronograph functions, the levers of the flyback mechanism and the snail of the precisely jumping minute counter. The hand-engraved balance cock also complements the typical quality features of this watch.
On the Wrist & Pricing
On the wrist, the A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Chronograph wears true to its size and with utmost classic wrist presence. A great looking watch that features all the design cues that have made A. Lange & Söhne an horological force in less than 25 years. For the money, it really doesn't get any better and when it comes to watches from the masters of German watchmaking, this is a perfect Lange and a cornerstone piece to own.
Sticker Price €40,500 Euros —approximately $51,500 USD. For more info on A. Lange & Söhne click here.
