Since it was founded in 1845, A. Lange & Söhne has held the key tenets of traditional watchmaking close to its heart. But while respecting and building upon its centuries of craftsmanship and expertise, it continually looks for ways to improve, enhance and reinvent. 

The Zeitwerk, launched in 2009, is a case in point. The first mechanical wristwatch to display the time digitally, it’s become a mainstay of the brand’s collections thanks to its unusual, but highly legible, dial layout. The latest addition to the line continues in this inventive spirit, combining the distinctive design with A. Lange & Söhne’s proprietary honey gold, as well as incorporating a clever luminous numerals display. 

The movement to achieve this unconventional timekeeping has been reworked for the Zeitwerk Honeygold Lumen, with the new calibre L043.9 doubling the power reserve of its predecessor to a substantial 72 hours. Setting of the time is now even more seamless, with the integration of a new pusher at 4 o’clock allowing the hour indicated to be switched separately. And this focus on practicality extends right down to the numerals. The light-permeable coating of the dial allows the numbers not currently exposed to absorb enough UV light to glow in the dark, ensuring easy reading whether day or night. 

The refined aesthetic of the watch, limited to 200 pieces, has also been dialled up a notch with the use of honeygold. This 18ct gold alloy is both more hardwearing than the conventional alternatives while retaining a luxurious, warm lustre, used across the case as well as sophisticated finishing touches on the hands of the power-reserve indicator and subsidiary seconds. 

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