A mechanical watch with a digital time display
Ferdinand A. Lange was a dedicated master of watchmaking that laid down the foundation for his German manufactory in 1845. Some years prior, during his training with the celebrated court watchmaker Johann Friedrich Gutkaes, the young Lange assisted in the creation of the famous five-minute clock that still currently stands above the stage of the Semper Opera House in Dresden. The timepiece was uniquely constructed as the traditional hands, hours, and minutes were presented in a digital display. The minute display of the clock jumps forward once every five minutes, which is the function from which the name of the watch was derived.
It was from the same mechanism that the Lange Zeitwerk was inspired. The timepiece was presented in 2009 and displays the time horizontally from left to right. The Lange Zeitwerk is comprised of three discs, one for the hours, which is displayed on the left-hand side of the dial, and two for the minutes, which are placed on the right hand side of the dial. A special escapement integrated between the barrel and the balance released the energy for the minute display to jump instantly every 60 seconds. The dial of the watch is also fitted with a power reserve at the 12 o’clock marker and a small seconds subdial at the 6 o’clock marker. The watch is powered by the patented calibre L043.1, which is the mechanism responsible to the precise jumping of numerals.
A. Lange & Söhne has leapt into a new era of watch design with their jumping hour mechanism. The Lange Zeitwerk case measures 41.9-millimeters and is available in yellow gold (Ref. 140 021), white gold (Ref. 140029), rose gold (Ref. 140032) or platinum (Ref. 140025). It simply goes without saying that the timepiece is distinguished by contemporary designs and remarkable functionality.