The New A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar Lumen

A. Lange & Söhne‘s main novelty for 2026 is the impressive Lange 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar Lumen, a 50-piece edition that weds the brand’s two complications to its pioneering Lumen technology for the first time. While the iconic Lange 1 retains its off-centred configuration, core functions and proportions, the watch is powered by a new and more complex calibre (L225.1), exposed on the dial and caseback. A spectacle to behold in low-light conditions, the semi-transparent sapphire dial reveals a host of meticulously finished components, while Lange’s special Lumen treatment lends a mysterious green glow to the indications.

A compendium of Lange’s mechanical prowess, the new model unites two powerful pillars of the Saxon manufacture’s repertoire: the Lange 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar and the Lumen phenomenon.

The Backstory

When Günter Blümlein and Walter Lange undertook the monumental task of reviving A. Lange & Söhne after Germany’s reunification, they had to come up with a model that would represent the past spirit and the way forward of this legendary Saxon watchmaking brand. The Lange 1, part of the four inaugural watches of 1994, with its intrepid asymmetric layout and outside date display, would become the quintessential face of the brand.

In 2012, the Lange 1 was upgraded with a sophisticated tourbillon and perpetual calendar complication combo – not an easy task given the distinctive asymmetric layout of the date and time displays. To incorporate the complications, Lange came up with solutions like the peripheral month ring indicated by a pointer at 6 o’clock, the retrograde day of the week indicator arching elegantly on the left side of the dial, the moon phases sharing space with the small seconds counter and the tourbillon tucked around the back.

Up until today, the Lange 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar has been consistently powered by the automatic calibre L082.1, a fully integrated perpetual calendar built around the tourbillon, featuring the brand’s patented stop-seconds mechanism and a 21k yellow gold rotor with a platinum mass. Neither its dimensions, 41.9mm diameter x 12.2mm thickness, nor its layout have changed over the last 14 years.

The second ingredient of the recipe is Lange’s “Lumen”, a concept born of Director of Product Development Anthony de Haas’ frustration at being unable to read his platinum Zeitwerk in the dark. The obvious fix was to apply luminescent material to the jumping numeral discs, but their frequent switching left almost no time for conventional charging. This led to the idea of using a tinted, semi-transparent sapphire dial that blocks most visible light while allowing ultraviolet light to pass through and charge the hidden discs beneath. As a result, the numerals glow faintly under the surface and then with full intensity the moment they jump into view. Debuting on the first Zeitwerk ‘Luminous’ in 2010, this patented system laid the foundation for what would become the “Lumen” family of references.

• Zeitwerk Luminous 2010
• Grand Lange 1 “Lumen” 2013
• Grand Lange 1 Moon Phase “Lumen” 2016
• Datograph up/Down “Lumen” 2018
• Zeitwerk Honeygold “Lumen” 2021
• Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold “Lumen” 2024

transparency & luminescence

The marriage of the Lange 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar to “Lumen” has charged the watch with a new personality. Viewed in daylight, the dark-tinted, semi-transparent sapphire allows UV rays to charge the various mechanisms of the displays and reveals a medley of meticulously finished parts, including the large plates decorated with perlage, the levers with straight graining, the toothed wheels, and the chamfered edges.

However, in the dark, the Lumen produces an intriguing green glow that amplifies the presence of the two numerals in the outsize date window. Now featuring a luminescent moon phase display with an integrated day/night indicator, the sky accompanying the moon’s precise cycles is studded with a multitude of luminescent stars. In addition to the glowing date aperture, the leap year display is coated with a luminescent compound, as are the hour and minute hands, the retrograde jumping weekday hand and the small seconds hand.

The New Calibre

Far more complex than the original calibre (685 vs ~500 parts, 74 vs ~62 jewels), energy for the new calibre L223.1 is generated by an 18k white gold rotor with a platinum centrifugal mass for a 50-hour power reserve, decorated with the A. Lange & Söhne signature in relief.

The one-minute tourbillon, secured by a diamond endstone in a screwed gold chaton, references Lange’s historical pocket watches. The tourbillon, combined with the in-house balance spring, ensures superior rate accuracy for the movement operating at 21,600vph. Fitted with a stop-seconds device activated by the crown, the balance comes to a standstill for precision one-second accuracy settings. All the calendar indications switch instantaneously but can be adjusted jointly or individually using the correctors on the case. Assuming the watch runs uninterrupted, the calendar indications will not require correction until 1 March 2100, while the moon phase cycle will require an adjustment only after 122.6 years.

Artisanal flourishes are deployed throughout, including the steel tourbillon cage and cock with their black polished finish, as well as the distinctive Glashütte stripes. Moreover, the tourbillon cock and intermediate wheel cock are hand-engraved with small stars and a shooting star.

Availability & Price

The platinum case, measuring 41.9mm across and 13mm thick, is decorated with gleaming polished surfaces and a brushed case middle. It is paired with an elegant black alligator leather strap with a deployant quick-lock platinum buckle. It is a limited edition of 50 watches, and, as is customary at Lange, the price is available exclusively upon request.

More information at alange-soehne.com.