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Thread: Quite a special incoming

  1. #1
    Grand Master learningtofly's Avatar
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    Quite a special incoming

    Well, I’ve had a couple of incomings over the past month or so, but given that I spend my weekdays up in Newcastle right now I’ve not really had a chance to take any photographs of them until this weekend. in fact, I hadn’t unpacked my lights for the best part of a year as it’s such a palaver, but I decided it was worth the effort. So, to the first of them…

    A Lange & Söhne 1815 Up/Down Special Edition

    A Lange & Söhne was originally founded by Ferdinand Adolph Lange in Glashutte, Germany in 1845. However, the original ALS (along with the other Glashutte-based watch houses) was nationalised and ceased to exist in 1948, following the occupation by the Soviet Union after World War II. In fact, it wasn’t until 1990 that the current A. Lange & Söhne trademark was re-registered, when Lange Uhren GmbH was founded by Walter Lange, the great-grandson of Ferdinand Adolph Lange.

    The number 1815 is a significant date in the history of ALS, as its the year Ferdinand was born in Dresden; now, the number represents a family of watches that pays a tribute to that legacy. The range consists of models with complications such as the chronograph, annual calendar, tourbillon, and perpetual calendar. However, the 1815's all take their DNA from pocket watches (for which ALS was known prior to its nationalisation) by using traditional elements like railway minute track, Arabic numerals and club-shaped markers on the 15-minute intervals. The company has always had a history of innovation, and in fact a particular Patent – no. 9349 – was granted to ALS on 18 May 1879. The subject was a “device in pocket watches for recognising whether the watch is wound or unwound and for indicating how much time remains before it reaches the totally unwound state.” This was, in fact, the official moment that ALS’s characteristic UP/DOWN power-reserve indicator was born.

    Looking at this watch (and in addition to the UP/DOWN power-reserve indicator) the blued hands, the recessed central segment, the Arabic numerals and the railway-track minute scale were all inspired by historic pocket watches. A top-mounted wheel train on the caseback side of the Calibre L051.2 movement and two additional screwed gold chatons are manifestations of the mainspring barrel that was enlarged with the 1815 and delivers power for three days. Also, because this is ALS, who have an obsessive attention to detail, the movement features a stop mechanism, which means that when the watch does eventually lose all of its stored energy, the seconds counter stops precisely at zero.

    One thing that I didn’t know is that every ALS watch is effectively unique, because each movement that comes out of the manufacture with one component which is hand engraved; so, apart from the famous three quarter plates, gold chatons, and 245 individual parts, this one also features ALS’s individually hand-engraved balance cock. This tradition of engraving the balance-cock goes way back to the pocket watches but - when ALS relaunched in the 90s - they continued with it and because the engravings are done by half a dozen different craftsmen at the manufacture, each one looks different.

    Anyway, the specification of the Calibre L051.2 movement…

    Number of movement parts: 245
    Number of rubies: 29
    Number of screwed gold chatons: 7
    Power reserve: 72 hours when fully wound
    Oscillation frequency: 21600 bph
    Beat-adjustment system: Screw balance
    Movement measures: diameter 30.6 mm; height 4.6 mm

    Finally, then, to this particular special edition, limited to just 25 numbered watches in rose gold and another 25 in white gold. It marks 25 years since the reborn manufacture released the first of it's watches back in 1994 and also celebrates the association with Wempe (another brand that was nationalised back in the day), who were tasked with selling them all through their own dealerships. As special/limited editions go... well, it really is special, and it really is limited!





    Last edited by learningtofly; 12th April 2020 at 10:41.

  2. #2
    Craftsman
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    Beautiful watch, I really like their complication watches. Congrats on the purchase

  3. #3
    Breathtaking watch beautifully captured in those pictures Tony.

  4. #4
    Pictures not showing for me in TapaTalk (though is one in thread listing view).

  5. #5
    Master blackal's Avatar
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    Ooh - that is classy.

  6. #6
    Master sish101's Avatar
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    That is a thing of beauty and an interesting write up.

    Sent through the ether by diddling with radio waves

  7. #7
    Craftsman
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    That’s phenomenal


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  8. #8
    Master Rocket Man's Avatar
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    That really is special.

    If I won the lottery then an 1815 up/down would be the first watch I'd buy.

    Congratulations on a wonderful incoming.

  9. #9
    Master
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    Dream watch. Congrats.

  10. #10
    Master watch-nut's Avatar
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    Tony. That’s terrific. A manufacturer that really thinks about how they want to display the movement. The back of the watch is as stunning as the front. Real art, I can see why you’ve moved away from vintage for a while, I say a while because you’ll be back

    It’s a lovely thing. Congrats

    Dave

  11. #11
    Master ozzyb123's Avatar
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    Holy.


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  12. #12
    Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Rocket Man View Post
    That really is special.

    If I won the lottery then an 1815 up/down would be the first watch I'd buy.

    Congratulations on a wonderful incoming.

    Me too :)

    stunning watch, wear in good health as they say!

  13. #13
    Grand Master Chris_in_the_UK's Avatar
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    Now that is very nice Tony!.
    When you look long into an abyss, the abyss looks long into you.........

  14. #14
    The Lange Up/Down is one of the iconic Lange designs. And this looks a very 'warm' variant being in rose gold. Frankly, an absolutely superb all round watch. Fits well into your collections!

  15. #15
    Master .olli.'s Avatar
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    Very nice indeed, that movement looks pretty spectacular!

  16. #16
    Master
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    It certainly is very beautiful. Nice one Tony.

  17. #17
    Grand Master Dave E's Avatar
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    That is a rather pretty thing.
    Dave E

    Skating away on the thin ice of a new day

  18. #18
    Master
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    That's a beauty Tony. Many congratulations and I hope it's a keeper :)

  19. #19
    Master Thewatchbloke's Avatar
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    Nice choice Tony, I do admire L&S

  20. #20
    Master
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    Saw this in the flesh at Bond St Lange, it really is stunning, great taste!

  21. #21
    That is indeed very special. Lovely choice👍

  22. #22
    Master
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    Back's even nicer than the front

  23. #23
    Master ozzyb123's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bondurant View Post
    Back's even nicer than the front
    Often the case in life :)


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  24. #24
    Lovely watch and great pictures as always. I was very tempted by this but had already bought the 'bog standard' white gold version that is available to all and sundry and couldn't really have both, and on balance, the white gold will get worn more.

  25. #25
    Master
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    Pure class Tony! Been eying one of these for a while. Then spent the funds elsewhere sadly!

  26. #26
    Master SeanST150's Avatar
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    Simply stunning.

  27. #27
    Craftsman
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    Dress watches aren't usually my thing but that is stunning.

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  28. #28
    Superb


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  29. #29
    Very, very nice

  30. #30
    Master Tazmo61's Avatar
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    A stunning watch with a beautiful movement .

  31. #31
    Master
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    Very nice, congrats.


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  32. #32
    Craftsman
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    Aw man, read all that with growing excitement then the pics don’t work in TZ-UK app. Which is odd as your grand seiko thread pics are fine. But congrats anyway!


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  33. #33
    Master
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    Cracking photos of a superb watch, not necessarily to my taste but of an undeniable quality. I love the attention to detail.

    Thank you for the history lesson and for the further information.

  34. #34
    Grand Master learningtofly's Avatar
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    Thanks all - comments appreciated. I wore this to go out to lunch yesterday, and it felt like a very special watch.

  35. #35
    Master raptor's Avatar
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    Class

  36. #36
    Craftsman
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    That's a thing of beauty, hope it gets used.

  37. #37
    Craftsman ajdh's Avatar
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    That's a stunning watch, well worth getting the lights out for. Great photos.

  38. #38
    Master hhhh's Avatar
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    Superb watch and photos Tony.

    Time for another beer methinks.

  39. #39
    Master
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    Beautiful watch. Congrats

  40. #40
    Journeyman
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    Jeez - what a beauty

    Wear in good health

  41. #41
    Craftsman
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    That is a stunner. Great photos too.

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  42. #42
    Master
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    Quite something, and great photos too as usual!

  43. #43
    Master Skier's Avatar
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    That's a beautiful classy looking watch. I believe watches as stunning as this redefine 'dress watch' as anyone would happily wear that with a DJ etc. Enjoy Tony; I hesitate to ask you if it's a definite keeper given some of the beautiful watches you've owned over the years.
    Last edited by Skier; 4th November 2019 at 22:35.

  44. #44
    Grand Master Carlton-Browne's Avatar
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    That looks fabulous Tony. As you know, a bunch of us made it to visit Lange earlier in the year, and the one watch from that day that I would have pocketed was the Auf/Ab.

    In the Sotadic Zone, apparently.

  45. #45
    Grand Master Raffe's Avatar
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    Beautiful piece, every Lange is a piece of art (with the exception of the Odysseus). Congratulations!

    Which one will be your second one?
    Someone who lies about the little things will lie about the big things too.

  46. #46
    Journeyman
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    THAT is a truly beautiful watch.

  47. #47
    Master
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    Absolutely stunning watch Tony, don’t know what’s nicer the front or the back 🤔

  48. #48
    Craftsman
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    Congratulations!


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  49. #49
    Without a doubt, that is the exact configuration of my grail watch.

    Congratulations and wear in good health.

  50. #50
    Master Nono's Avatar
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    That's a stunner. Since I don't wear suits, I would rock that on denim shirt and Red Wings any day of the week. Fantastic shots as well!

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