A. Lange & Söhne | Double Split

A. LANGE & SÖHNE

DOUBLE SPLIT

Text by OPENERS

When the "Double Split" by A. Lange & Söhne debuted in 2004, it stunned watch enthusiasts worldwide. What appeared to be a split-seconds chronograph based on the masterpiece "Datograph" was, in fact, equipped with a level of ingenuity characteristic of the manufacture.

A conventional split-seconds chronograph features two chronograph seconds hands on the center. This model, however, boasts two hands not only for the seconds but also for the 30-minute counter at the 4 o'clock position. This means it's possible to measure intermediate times not just in seconds, but also in minutes, and to time two or more events simultaneously.

Through the sapphire crystal case back, one can admire the exquisite beauty of the in-house developed manual-winding movement, "Cal. L001.1." The dynamic interplay of the two column wheels and operating levers is a sight that is sure to move any observer.

Furthermore, every detail is executed with utmost luxury, from the German silver bridges and gold chatons to the hand-engraved balance cock. The hairspring is also manufactured in-house by Lange, making this a truly dedicated creation that allows one to fully appreciate the profound allure of mechanical watchmaking.

Manual winding. 21,600 vibrations per hour. 38-hour power reserve. Case diameter 43mm. Platinum case. Crocodile strap. 3 ATM water resistance. ¥13,545,000.

BRAND HISTORY
In the early 19th century, during the zenith of the Kingdom of Saxony's prosperity, Ferdinand Adolph Lange trained as a watchmaker under Friedrich Gutkaes, a renowned watchmaker to the Dresden court. The brand's history began with the watch workshop he established in the suburbs of Dresden.

Adolf Lange not only devised techniques still revered today, such as the three-quarter plate, but also developed numerous tools essential for component manufacturing. By imparting his methods for producing individual parts to his apprentices, he laid the foundation for the brand within a single generation.

While maintaining family management, the company produced pocket watches and wristwatches utilizing the manufacturing techniques of court watchmakers, growing into a top European watch brand by the early 20th century. However, A. Lange & Söhne's operations were temporarily interrupted by World War II. After the war, the company was nationalized as a state-owned enterprise in the former East Germany, and the illustrious name of A. Lange & Söhne lay dormant in history.

Yet, in 1990, with the reunification of East and West Germany, Walter Lange, the great-grandson of the founder, magnificently revived the region's watchmaking heritage. He poured the technical prowess and decorative artistry cultivated since the Kingdom of Saxony era into wristwatches, successively unveiling supreme masterpieces such as the "Lange 1" and "Datograph."

The company continues to demonstrate an unbridled spirit of innovation, perhaps best described as Saxon tenacity, exemplified by patents for the outsize date display using two discs and the zero-reset mechanism for precise second synchronization. Today, A. Lange & Söhne has re-established its status as one of the world's finest watchmakers, continuing to reign as an object of admiration for watch aficionados in the 21st century.

FOUNDED: 1845
FOUNDED IN: Dresden, Saxony, Germany
KEY COLLECTIONS: Lange 1, Datograph, Double Split, Richard Lange, Saxonia, Cabaret, Arkade
INQUIRIES: A. Lange & Söhne 03-3288-6639

Official Website: http://www.lange-soehne.com/