In addition to having the longest name of any wristwatch I went hands-on with this year, the A. Lange & Sohne Lange I Tourbillion Perpetual Calendar Handwerkskunst might also be the single most impressive – if nothing else, it is simply jaw-droppingly beautiful.
Yes, my love for Lange is well documented, and I will continue to make no apologies for that. After my experience at the Napa Valley Akademie this past September, I gained a new appreciation for the exactitudes of German manufacture, the “no bullshit” spirit and authenticity of the brand, and the intricacy of the craftsmanship that goes into the minute details of each of their timepieces. When it comes to high-horology manufacture, A. Lange & Söhne has my rapt attention. And this piece, the second to bear the Handwerkskunst nomenclature, may just be their most astounding creation yet combining what Lange does best in the movement with German hand-applied decoration.
For starters, I’ll say right off that like its predecessor, the white Gold Zeitwork from 2012, this isn’t the kind of timepiece that will suit everyone’s palette. Aside from the technical aspects (which I’ll get to in a moment), this piece features an incredibly ornate dial design that will go unappreciated by many timepiece enthusiasts. And that’s OK. From a design standpoint, this is a serious departure from the traditionally stark design of Lange’s regular line, and wasn’t designed to resonate with everyone…just 15 lucky souls who crave something beyond “normal” luxury.
In fact, the base watch is rare enough as it is. All "Handwerkskunst" by A. Lange & Sohne take an already desirable watch from their collection and make it a more limited edition, the "hand-worked art." This one starts as a Lange 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar, and if that piece alone is enough for you there is absolutely no shame in that.
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