From the Lange 1 to the Zeitwerk, A. Lange & Sohne offers its unique perspective on technical innovation

Among the best examples of this innovative approach to movement construction is the Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar. Ordinary classical perpetual calendars come with a litany of sub-dials and a flurry of hands placed all over the dial, resulting in a predictable design at best and a busy design at worst. But in creating its first perpetual calendar watch, A. Lange & Sohne thought far outside the box and reconsidered how the Lange 1’s dial layout could actually contain day, date, month, moon phase and a leap year indicator. Obviously the date is already sorted, with the signature outsized date remaining well in place. Next, the manufacture cleverly repurposed the power reserve indicator, changing it to fulfil the role of a date display. The moon phase was neatly sequestered within the small seconds, and the leap year in a discreet triangular-shaped window at six o’clock.