The New A. Lange & Söhne Cabaret Tourbillon Honeygold

A. Lange & Söhne revisits one of its most distinctive designs, the rectangular Cabaret, and reinforces the model’s role by pairing the brand’s proprietary Honeygold alloy with a black-rhodiumed dial, a combination seen earlier in the Tourbograph Perpetual Honeygold, thus highlighting the importance of the watch.

First introduced in 1997, the Cabaret stands apart in Lange’s otherwise mostly round-shaped collection (except the Arkade). Its elongated proportions and geometry made it a distinctly Saxon interpretation of Art Deco design, with the signature outsize date. The model reached technical significance in 2008 with the Cabaret Tourbillon, the first wristwatch to feature a stop-seconds mechanism for a tourbillon, allowing precise time-setting, something long considered incompatible. Discontinued in 2013 and briefly revived in 2021 as the Cabaret Tourbillon Handwerkskunst, the Cabaret now returns, looking no less interesting and warmer than the platinum Handwerkskunst edition.

The case is faithful to the original Cabaret proportions, measuring 29.5mm by 39.2mm, with a thickness of 10.3mm. Now in Honeygold, an alloy known for its increased hardness, pale yet warm hue and reserved for very special releases, it offers a more subtle glow than conventional golds. The curved profile, stepped bezel, and sculpted lugs preserve the model’s architectural look and keep a balanced presence.

The dial is crafted in-house from solid Honeygold and is composed of three elements: the main dial and two subsidiary displays for the running seconds and the power reserve. All functional elements, scales, frames, and inscriptions are sculpted directly from the base material and stand 0.15mm tall. The dial is then treated with black rhodium, creating a dark, matte-like base. Then, the relief details are brushed by hand, revealing the warm tone of the gold against the darker background.

The Roman numerals and other hour indices are then applied, along with the frame for the outsized date aperture. The subdials are mounted from the back, and all this meticulous work results in a highly structured, three-dimensional dial with strong light contrast and a precise layout. At 6 o’clock, an aperture reveals the tourbillon, framed by black-polished components. The upper bridge and cage are polished to reflect light like a mirror at certain angles while appearing black at others. 

On the back, the calibre L042.1 fills the case with a shaped movement made to fit its rectangular case. Comprising 370 components, including 84 for the tourbillon, it is built with a three-quarter plate in untreated German silver with Glashütte ribbing. The screwed gold chatons, blued screws, and hand-engraved cocks are all present.

Along with the outsize date, the stop-seconds tourbillon remains the defining feature. When the crown is pulled, a spring halts the balance inside the rotating cage, allowing accurate time-setting to the second. Twin barrels provide a 120-hour power reserve, and the movement operates at 21,600 vibrations/hour.

The Cabaret Tourbillon Honeygold is worn on a dark brown alligator strap closed with a matching Honeygold buckle. The watch is a limited edition of 50 pieces and, like often with Lange, the price is upon request. For more details, please visit www.alange-soehne.com.