Times flies. This year, the Zeitwerk celebrates its 10th anniversary. To mark this special occasion, A. Lange & Söhne is introducing an all-new model which has a very simple but crucial complication to the collection. This is the new A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Date. Hard to imagine, but this is actually the first Zeitwerk watch to feature the date complication.

A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Date SPECIFICATIONS

Brand: A. Lange & Söhne
Model: Zeitwerk Date
Dimensions: 44.2mm diameter, 12.3mm thickness
Case Material: White gold
Crystal/Lens: Sapphire crystal
Frequency: 2.5Hz
Power Reserve: 72 hours
Strap/Bracelet: Hand-stitched dark brown alligator
Price & Availability: Pricing not yet confirmed.

ANALYSIS

Actually, there is a good reason there has never been a Zeitwerk with a date display. Ask yourself: where would you put it? One of the things that makes the Zeitwerk so distinctive is its unique dial configuration, specifically the “time bridge” where the hours and minutes are displayed in a digital format from left to right. With the time bridge dominating the dial, where else would you put the date display so that the harmony of the dial wouldn’t be ruined?

The solution might be obvious now that it is in front of you: have a date ring around the dial. And that is exactly what Lange has done. However, this being Lange, and because Lange only does things the proper way, they are using a small red marker that sits under the date ring to indicate the date instead of a simple date pointer. And in doing so, the symmetry of the dial is retained and cluttered.

Needless to say, this approach increases the complexity of the movement. To begin with, the date, like the hour and minute displays, must jump instantaneously on the hour at midnight. Further complicating things is the small matter of adjusting the date and time. A corrector at 8 o’clock is used for advancing the date, while a pusher at 4 o’clock allows owners to advance the hour. Non-date Zeitwerk watches don’t have this pusher because it wasn’t necessary to adjust the time so precisely. At 7am or 7pm, it doesn’t matter – it’s the same for any watch with no date displays. However, the Zeitwerk Date needs to take this into account, otherwise, the date wouldn’t advance correctly. Hence, the pusher to help owners adjust time more quickly. The folks at Lange think of everything.

The end result is quite spectacular. The Zeitwerk Date retains the signature look of the Zeitwerk watches but adds a much welcomed date function that doesn’t throw off the distinctive look of the Zeitwerk watches too much. Oh, and that movement looks spectacular too.

SUMMARY

The Zeitwerk Date is a logical evolution of the Zeitwerk collection. And as you would expect, Lange has taken great care to ensure that the perfect harmony and symmetry of its Zeitwerk watches remain untainted. In short, the execution is thoughtful and exceptional. I fully expect the Lange faithful to lap this one up. The A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Date pricing is not yet confirmed. Learn more at alange-soehne.com.

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