Introducing: The A. Lange &?Sohne Zeitwerk Minute Repeater With Blue Dial

April 24, 2020

The Zeitwerk Minute Repeater is a really important watch for A. Lange & Sohne, both technically and symbolically. It was the brand's first dedicated striking watch when it was released in 2015, and it caused quite the uproar of excitement too. It utilized technology that was originally developed for the brand's absolutely insane Grand Complication, but now paired with the company's distinctive Zeitwerk and its digital time display. It looked unique, and its decimal repeater system (which chimes out hours, ten minute increments, and then minutes instead of the usual quarter-hours in the middle) felt intellectually coherent with the precise personality of the rest of the watch. It showed that not only could Lange do a minute repeater, but that it could do a minute repeater in its own way, unlike any that had been seen before.? Since then, Lange has released two other variations on the chiming watch: The Zeitwerk Striking Time and the Zeitwerk Decimal Strike, each of which offers a different take on the striking complication itself. For this new model, though, Lange is going back to basics. This is the OG Zeitwerk Minute Repeater from half a decade ago, but in new, beautiful blue livery. The deep blue dial sections offer a great ground for the contrasting silver bridges and the white hour and minute discs, and the white-gold case keeps everything sleek and modern looking. You also get to see the hammers and gongs right on the dial, with the former wrapping around the large, wing-shaped bridge. While this is a watch that has been around for a few years, it's a watch that doesn't get talked about nearly enough, and this new execution C my personal favorite yet C should bring some attention back to where it belongs. This watch is a limited edition, and only 30 total pieces will be made. The pricing is set at 449,000 (including VAT) for the brand's home market in Germany, and prices for export markets will be set in local currency at the time of import, varying based on currency fluctuations. Initial Thoughts I've always been a big Zeitwerk fan. Back before I was writing about watches and obsessing over watches full time, in my college internship days, I was working for a company in London and remember seeing the original Zeitwerk on a client's wrist in a meeting. It blew me away. I had no idea what I was looking at, but I knew it had to be something special. I started asking questions that the owner was only too happy to answer, and my love of Lange was in full flight. Lange has added other complications to the Zeitwerk, but this "basic" decimal minute repeater feels like the best fit to me. It keeps with the extremely precise display of the Zeitwerk and gives the watch two non-hand-based time displays in one. That's pretty cool, no??The movement that powers all of this, the caliber L043.5, is absolutely stunning too. The architecture of the Zeitwerk caliber is crazy, and the finishing is top-notch on every component. Even in the world of superlative Lange movements, this one is something special. Now, as far as this execution goes, I cannot wait to see this in the metal. White gold and iridescent blue is a time-tested combination that a lot of people like, and for good reason. This is so handsome and so strong looking, while having a little bit more interest to it than the standard black dial. It carries a hefty price tag, sure, but I still see die-hard Lange collectors phoning up their ADs sooner rather than later to get their names on the list. The Basics Brand: A. Lange & SohneModel: Zeitwerk Minute RepeaterReference Number: 147.028FDiameter: 44.2mmThickness: 14.1mmCase Material: White goldDial Color: Deep blue and solid silverIndexes: Digital display with Arabic numeralsLume: NoneWater Resistance: 30 metersStrap/Bracelet: Hands-stitched blue leather strap with white gold deployant buckle The Movement Caliber: L043.5Functions: Hours and minutes with digital display, running seconds, power-reserve indicator, decimal minute repeaterDiameter: 37.7mmThickness: 10.9mmPower Reserve: 36 hours (without the striking mechanism activated)Winding: Hand-woundFrequency: 2.5 Hz (18,000 vph)Jewels: 93, three of which are in screwed gold chatonsTotal Components: 771 Pricing & Availability Price: 449,000 (including VAT)Availability: ImmediatelyLimited Edition: 30 piecesFor more, click here.