For 15 years, the Lange 1 Time Zone has been one of the most elegant travel watches on the market. But even it, after 15 years, is starting to show its age. There’s no shame in getting a little work done, which is why A. Lange & Söhne has now released its latest, improved (and horologically improved) Lange 1 Time Zone.
First, the Time Zone isn’t strictly a world time zone, despite the fact that all 24 major cities are arrayed around the edge of the dial. Instead, it’s a very useful way to set a second time zone dial at 5 o’clock and keep track of the city it’s set to.
Due to the asymmetrical layout—a hallmark of the first four Lange watches when they were relaunched—you can’t really use it any other way except by counting down around the edge. That works, it’s just a little inelegant. The same can’t be said for the rest of the watch.
In addition to the second time zone dial, there’s a local time display at 9 o’clock, a power reserve display at 3 o’clock, and an oversized date at 12 o’clock. It even includes a nifty little ring-shaped day/night indicator and a daylight saving time indicator. For a lot of watches, that’s too much information. Somehow, it not only fits, but looks good. More importantly, it works, too.
Both the second time zone and the corresponding city ring can easily shoot forward an hour (as if you’re driving east), ensuring it doesn’t get out of hand by a minute. Even more impressively, both dials are linked to each other, so the wearer can easily switch the time zone from small to large. It’s a nice little (and seemingly complicated) touch if you’re planning on staying near your destination for a few days.
In terms of metal, the time zone is pure Lange. In the rose gold version, the restrained silver and gold dial, which lends a certain classical sophistication to the Love Island look, helps to simplify the various indicators throughout the watch, coupled with its generous 41.9mm case size.
The new watch will also be available in white gold with a black dial and yellow gold with a champagne dial. While we haven’t seen pictures of either version yet, we’d love to get our hands on it eventually – but with a limited edition of 100 pieces, that’s easier said than done. At least the white gold and rose gold versions are unlimited.
The biggest difference between the new Time Zone and the 2005 original, however, lies not in appearance but in the movement. Replacing the older L901 caliber wholesale, the L141.1 offers a 72-hour power reserve (albeit with a single barrel) and is a horological masterpiece of German silver, Glashütte stripes, and a hand-engraved balance wheel. Even by Lange’s lofty standards, it’s lovely.
Price and specifications:
Brand: A. Lange & Söhne
Model name: Lange 1 Time Zone
Ref: 136.021 (yellow gold); 136.029 (white gold); 136.032 (rose gold)
Case/dial: 41.9 mm diameter x 10.9 mm height, yellow, white or rose gold
Movement: Calibre L141.1, manual winding, 33 jewels
Frequency: 21,600 vph (3 Hz)Power reserve: 72 hoursFunctions: Home time and second time zone, each with an annular day/night indicator; subsidiary seconds with stop seconds; city ring with daylight saving time display for adjusting second time zone; oversized date for home time; UP/DOWN power reserve indicatorStrap:
Brown (Ref. 136.021), dark brown (Ref. 136.029) or reddish brown (Ref. 136.032) Hand-stitched crocodile leather
Price: 52,200 euros for the limited edition in yellow gold; 49,200 euros for the white and rose gold versions, limited to 100 pieces in yellow gold
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