A new addition to the A. Lange & Söhne watch family

Launching at Watches & Wonders 2023, the Odysseus Chronograph is the latest addition to the A. Lange & Söhne watch family, following the success of the original Odysseus launched four years ago. This new model showcases a sporty-elegant design, combined with the brand's renowned craftsmanship and attention to detail.

The Odysseus collection

The Odysseus Chronograph comes after 2019 when they introduced the Odysseus, a timepiece that redefined the sporty-elegant category and showcased several innovative features. One of the notable advancements in the first Odysseus was the development of a unique movement specifically tailored for its novel applications, the L155.1 Datomatic calibre. It was custom-made to meet the specific requirements of the watch and allowed the Odysseus to take a distinctive and unconventional approach. The contemporary appearance of the watch focused on openness, lightness, and prominent features. Furthermore, the narrow bezel of the watch allowed for a larger dial, enhancing readability and creating a visually appealing aesthetic. The lancet-shaped hands and the typical Lange displays for the date and day of the week further contributed to the watch's excellent legibility.

The Odysseus successfully ventured into uncharted territory as A. Lange & Söhne demonstrated their ability to combine technical innovation with modern design elements, creating a timepiece that stood out within the sporty-elegant watch category without compromising on the values of exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail that the brand is known for.

The introduction of the Odysseus Chronograph showcases the brand's expertise in the realm of short-time measurement and their continued exploration of uncharted territory. Designing and constructing a chronograph calibre is widely regarded as one of the most significant challenges in the field of precision watchmaking, requiring exceptional knowledge and craftsmanship. After all, A. Lange & Söhne is among the select group of manufacturers with the expertise and capability to develop and craft such complex movements. Since 1999, they have produced a total of 13 in-house chronograph movements, which have become highly sought-after models among watch enthusiasts. By introducing a chronograph calibre in their latest Odysseus, A. Lange & Söhne demonstrates its dedication to mastering intricate horological complications and offering exceptional timepieces to their discerning customers.

Intricate details

From the outlook, the Odysseus Chronograph features a prominent three-part robust and elegant steel case designed to withstand pressures up to 12 bar, making it suitable for sports and leisure activities. A notable aesthetic detail is the hand-engraved balance with a stylized wave pattern. This pattern is a symbolic reference to the said water resistance of the watch. The case is crafted with matted surfaces and accentuated edges through chamfering, creating a captivating interplay of light. This design element extends to the lugs and links of the solid stainless-steel bracelet, further enhancing the watch's aesthetic appeal.

The dial is architecturally designed to create an illusion of depth, a characteristic shared with previous Odysseus models. The inner surface of the black main dial boasts a textured surface, while the notched baton appliques made of white gold and the subsidiary seconds scale feature concentric circles. A palladium-colored flange ring with a printed two-part minute scale frames the dial. The scale for fractions of a second is positioned on the outer circumference, while the scale for minutes and seconds is arranged further inside. The number 60 at 12 o'clock and the chronograph seconds hand are highlighted in red, adding an elegant and dynamic touch to the overall appearance. The watch's hands continue the distinctive Lange lancet shape, which is slightly more prominent in this collection. They are also luminous, ensuring visibility in low-light conditions, as are the inner surfaces of the baton appliques. The large displays for the date and day of the week contribute to the timepiece's unique appearance.

Overall, the modern and digital aesthetics of the timepiece are inspired by the historic Five-Minute Clock in the Dresden Semper Opera, a masterpiece of Saxon watchmaking closely linked to the history of A. Lange & Söhne. This clock, created in 1841 by Court Clockmaker Johann Christian Friedrich Gutkaes, displayed the time digitally, which was uncommon for that period. Gutkaes was not only a master to apprentices but also the father-in-law of Ferdinand Adolph Lange, the founder of Glashütte precision watchmaking.

"The Odysseus Chronograph transports the contemporary and one-of-a-kind design of the watch family to a new technical dimension. It meets all the requirements of a stopwatch suitable for many fields of application, without relinquishing the hallmarks of Lange precision watchmaking,” says Anthony de Haas, Director of Product Development.

A. Lange & Söhne has a longstanding tradition of meticulous attention to detail in the construction and finishing of their movements. The L156.1 Datomatic, which powers the watch, is no exception and it undergoes a two-step assembly process to ensure the highest level of precision. Bridges and plates are crafted from untreated German silver, which not only provides strength and stability but also develops a distinctive patina over time. The balance bridge features hand engraving with intricate patterns and the gold chatons have been meticulously secured with blued screws.

Furthermore, even parts that are not visible receive elaborate hand-finishing. This includes intricate polishing, bevelling, and texturing of various surfaces.

Horological innovation

One of the key highlights of the Odysseus Chronograph is the newly developed L156.1 calibre, which marks the first automatic chronograph movement from A. Lange & Söhne. This movement is meticulously crafted and exquisitely finished, as per the brand's perpetual commitment to precision watchmaking. The chronograph function of the Odysseus Chronograph is particularly innovative and dynamic.

To retain the characteristic dial design of the Odysseus, the movement has been developed such that it 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, Lange 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. Conversely, 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.

Lange have also taken special care to ensure the safe and user-friendly operation of the chronograph. To achieve this, they have incorporated a novel dual function into the specially sealed and tapered buttons. In the normal position of the screw-down crown, the buttons located at 2 o'clock and 4 o'clock are utilized to operate the chronograph functions, which include starting, stopping, and resetting the chronograph hands to zero. This configuration allows for easy access and intuitive operation of the chronograph feature. However, when the crown is pulled out, it enables an additional function related to the correction of the date and day of the week. A newly developed mechanism is employed to facilitate the adjustment of these calendar indications. This mechanism ensures that the user can make precise and accurate corrections to the date and day without compromising the integrity of the chronograph mechanism.

The term "Datomatic" in the calibre name is derived from a combination of "date" and "automatic," highlighting the watch's automatic winding system and its inclusion of a date function. The movement features a skeletonised and partially black-rhodiumed central rotor made of platinum. This rotor is equipped with a centrifugal mass that ensures efficient winding of the watch.

“The Odysseus Chronograph symbolises the pioneering spirit of the manufactory, to explore previously undiscovered fields, to overcome obstacles and to implement innovative technical solutions,” says Lange CEO Wilhelm Schmid. “Inventiveness and creativity, two A. Lange & Söhne key areas of expertise, will continue to break the mould in traditional precision watchmaking.”

To maintain exclusivity and rarity, the Odysseus Chronograph is released as a limited edition, with only 100 watches available. Each timepiece is encased in stainless steel, further emphasizing the watch's sporty yet elegant aesthetic.