Four years ago, with the ODYSSEUS, the A. Lange & Söhne watchmakers launched their first sporty-elegant timepiece. Now, in a brand first, A. Lange & Söhne introduces a new self winding chronograph to the Odysseus collection.
To this day, designing and building a chronograph calibre is considered to be one of the greatest challenges in precision watchmaking. Only a few manufacturers possess the knowledge and ability to develop and craft a similarly complex movement. With a total of 13 manufacture movements, chronographs have been among the most coveted A. Lange & Söhne models since 1999.
A. Lange & Söhne developed a customised moment specifically for the Odysseus Chronograph, one that positions both chronograph hands in the centre – the minute counter with a lozenge-shaped tip as well as the red chrono seconds hand that use an outer track to time both the seconds and minutes elapsed. As a consequence, the sub-dials found on conventional chronographs are no longer needed and the style-defining positions of the outsize date and day of the week could be maintained.
In addition to this, the Odysseus Chronograph has a unique and innovative reset-to-zero function. When the reset-to-zero button at 4 o’clock is pressed after timing is finished, 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. In simple terms, if 10 minutes has elapsed on the chronograph, the red seconds hand does a full 10 revolutions of the dial to reset to zero. This action is quite cool to look at, and something you won’t see on many, if any, other chronographs on the market today.
The other very unique function A. Lange & Söhne has given the Odysseus Chronograph is the buttons at 2 and 4 o’clock. Traditionally used to stop, start and reset the chronograph function, A. Lange & Söhne have given this dual functionality. Whilst the crown in pushed in, the pressers, which are partially hidden in the case act in the traditional sense. However, pull the crown out one position and the day and date can be adjusted. Just another unique function of this newly developed movement.
Staying true to the style, A. Lange & Söhne have given the Odysseus a multi-faceted dial that is sports and the luxury that A. Lange & Söhne is known for. The inner surface of the black main dial is nicely textured and the notched baton appliques made of white gold contrast perfectly for ease of use. The subsidiary seconds scale are underlaid with concentric circles and a palladium-coloured flange ring with a printed two-part minute scale frames the dial.
The scale for the fractions of a second is positioned on the outer circumference, while the scale for minutes and seconds is arranged further inside. Printed in red, the number 60 at 12 o’clock and the red chrono seconds hand accentuate the equally elegant and dynamic appearance of the Odysseus Chronograph.
And you can tell it’s an A. Lange & Söhne by the layout of the day on the left in the 9 o’clock position and panorama styled date at 3 o’clock – a unique styled mark of the brand that is common across the Odysseus range, and other collections within.
The Odysseus Chronograph is powered by the L156.1 DATOMATIC calibre ‒ the brand’s first self-winding chronograph movement. The attribute DATOMATIC is derived from the words “date” and “automatic”. A skeletonised and partially black-rhodium central rotor with an outer mass in 950 platinum delives power to the movement. When fully wound, the mainspring barrel delivers a maximum power reserve of 50 hours. The oscillation system is designed to ensure consistent accuracy, and to this end, the balance, which beats at a frequency of 28,800 semi-oscillations per hour (4 hertz), is suspended beneath the balance bridge. This itself is hand-engraved with a stylised wave pattern alluding to the water resistance of the watch and the possible applications in sports settings.
Another aspect of the movement, which sets A. Lange & Söhne apart is the assembly of the movement. The L156.1 DATOMATIC calibre is assembled twice to ensure maximum precision. Many unique, traditional elements are incorporated, for example bridges and plates made of untreated German silver, the hand-engraved balance bridge or the gold chatons secured by blued screws. Additionally, all components, even those that are no longer visible once the movement is fully assembled, are, for the greater part, elaborately finished by hand. This can be admired through the sapphire-crystal caseback of the Odysseus Chronograph.
The Odysseus Chronograph is a true sports watch. Crafted from stainless steel and at 42.5mm, it’s water resistant to 120m/10bar, its easy to read dial and sports style bracelet means it’s ready to go whenever you are, for whatever you are doing.
Reference: 463.178
Specification
- Case: 42.5 millimetres; height: 14.2 millimetres in stainless steel
- Dial: Brass, black with hours and minutes hands in white gold. Subsidiary seconds: white gold; 60-minute counter: rhodiumed steel, red chrono seconds hand: aluminium; baton appliques: white gold, luminous
- Crystal: Sapphire crystal
- Water Resistance: 120m (12BAR)
- Movement: Lange manufacture calibre L156.1 DATOMATIC®, self-winding, decorated and assembled by hand; precision-adjusted in five positions. 516 parts, 52 Jewels, and vibrating at 28800 vph / 4Hz.
- Power Reserve: 50 Hours
- Bracelet: Stainless steel with safety deployant buckle with precision adjustment mechanism
