Lange&Söhne is introducing the Odysseus Chronograph. Limited to 100 pieces, the Odysseus Chronograph 463.178 is a boutique exclusive. Price on request
Four years after the introduction of the Odysseus in 2019, A. Lange & Söhne is presenting today, on occasion of the Watches & Wonders 2023 exhibition in Geneva, the new Odysseus Chronograph.
With a total of 13 manufacture movements, chronographs have been among the most coveted A. Lange & Söhne models since 1999 but it is only with this model that the Saxon watchmaker adds a self-winding chronograph to the range.
To retain the characteristic dial design of the Odysseus, the brand developed a customised movement that positions both chronograph hands in the centre, the minute counter with a lozenge-shaped tip as well as the red chrono seconds hand. As a consequence, the totalisers, which are conventionally arranged at 3 and 9 o’clock, could be dispensed with, and the style-defining positions of the outsize date and day of the week could be maintained.
Owing to the expansion of the measuring range from 30 to 60 minutes, the Lange developers succeeded in introducing new fields of application for the chronograph. Additionally, it is endowed with an innovative, dynamic reset-to-zero function.
When the reset-to-zero button at 4 o’clock is actuated after a time measurement, a short but impressive spectacle ensues: while the minute counter jumps back to its starting position in the conventional way, the red chrono seconds hand covers the entire distance travelled beforehand within a fraction of a second ‒ one full revolution for each measured minute.
If the minute counter has not reached the 30-minute mark yet, the two hands move anti-clockwise. If the minute counter has passed the 30-minute mark, both hands will advance to zero clockwise. At high speed, the chrono seconds hand performs a full revolution for every minute required to reach the full hour.
To assure safe and easy operation of the chronograph, the Lange product developers equipped the specially sealed, tapered buttons with a novel dual function. In the normal position of the screw-down crown, the buttons at 2 and 4 o’clock are used to operate the chronograph functions: start, stop and reset to zero. When the crown is pulled, the date and day of the week can be corrected with a newly developed mechanism.
The three-part 42.5 mm x 14.2 mm case is crafted from stainless steel and water resistant up to a pressure of 12 ATM corresponding to approximately 120 metres / 200 feet. Its lines, just like those of the integrated stainless-steel bracelet, are highlighted by the alternation of satin brushed surfaces and polished chamfered edges. The safety deployant buckle is equipped with a precision adjustment mechanism for adjusting the length.
The black dial of the Odysseus Chronograph is multi-layered, creating a striking sense of depth. The inner surface features a textured finish, while the notched baton appliques, made of white gold, and the subsidiary seconds scale are underlaid with concentric circles.
A palladium-colored flange ring, displaying a two-part minute scale, borders the dial. The fractions-of-a-second scale is positioned on the outer circumference, while the minutes and seconds scale is arranged further inside.
The number 60 at 12 o'clock and the chrono seconds hand are highlighted in red to add dynamism to the ensemble. The hour and minute hands, which have the typical Lange lancet shape, as well as the baton appliques, are filled with a luminous substance for better readability in low-light conditions.
The large displays for the date and day of the week contribute to the distinctive look of the timepiece.
The L156.1 DATOMATIC calibre ‒ the manufactory’s first self-winding chronograph movement ‒ features a skeletonised and partially black-rhodiumed central rotor with a centrifugal mass in 950 platinum for efficient winding. When fully wound, the mainspring barrel guarantees an autonomy of 50 hours.
The balance, which beats at a frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour), is suspended beneath a hand-engraved balance bridge that features a stylized wave pattern, alluding to the water resistance of the watch.
The exquisite hand-made finishes of the movement can be appreciated through the sapphire-crystal caseback.
A limited edition of just 100 pieces, the new A. Lange & Söhne Odysseus Chronograph ref. 463.178 is a boutique exclusive. Price is available upon request, but it should be around Euro 145,000. alange-soehne.com
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