A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Annual Calendar Rose Gold

Description

• Perfection from Saxonia

In the refined and exacting world of haute horlogerie, few names command the respect and admiration of connoisseurs quite like A. Lange & Söhne. The 1815 Annual Calendar, reference 238.032 E, stands as a particularly eloquent testament to the Glashütte-based manufacture’s mastery of both functional complication and aesthetic purity. First introduced in the Saxonia line in 2010, the annual calendar complication joined the 1815 collection in 2017, further affirming Lange’s commitment to precision and timeless design.

Housed in a 40 mm rose gold case with classic, balanced proportions, this 1815 remains faithful to the understated elegance that defines the collection. The polished rose gold contrasts beautifully with the finely grained and slightly opaline solid silver dial, punctuated by printed Arabic numerals, a nod to 19th-century pocket watches. Blued alpha hands enhance both legibility and vintage charm, while the railway-track minute scale underscores the technical rigour so characteristic of Lange.

At the heart of this timepiece lies its annual calendar complication, less intricate than a perpetual calendar, yet infinitely more practical than a standard calendar, requiring adjustment only once a year at the end of February. The layout is exceptionally legible: day and date are shown at 9 o’clock, the month at 3 o’clock, and a refined moon phase display takes center stage at 6 o’clock, sharing space with a small seconds that brings visual balance and harmony.

Powering the watch is the in-house calibre L051.3, visible through the sapphire caseback. It features Lange’s signature three-quarter plate made of untreated German silver (maillechort), hand-finished with Glashütter Streifen (Glashütte stripes), polished bevels, thermally blued screws set in gold chatons, and a swan-neck regulator mounted on a hand-engraved balance cock. Equipped with a Nivarox balance spring and screw balance, it beats at 21,600 vibrations per hour and offers a 72-hour power reserve from a single barrel. Lange’s two-stage assembly process ensures unparalleled mechanical precision.

This 2021 example is offered in excellent condition, complete with its original box, papers, and accessories. A watch for the discerning collector who values function, tradition, and flawless execution, a masterpiece among annual calendars.