A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Outsize Date, Now with Silver Dials

The Saxonia and the Lange 1 were two of the four pillars that trumpeted Walter Lange’s resurrection of the brand in 1994. The Saxonia was Lange’s answer to the classic elegant dress watch; the Lange 1, with its large ex-centred date window, would become Lange’s ambassador at large. The Saxonia Outsize Date appeared in 2018, with lustrous black dials (in pink or white gold cases) and the elegant symmetry that characterises many of the Saxonia family dress watches. The novelty for December 2020 is the introduction of a silver dial.

Silver dial

Like the existing models, the latest Saxonia Outsize Date models are also presented in 38.5mm 18k white or rose gold cases, with a height of 9.6mm, a polished bezel and brushed casebands. The novelty here is the argenté or silvery dials, a colour that illuminates the face of the watch. Compared to the black dial, the personality of the watch is far less austere and lighter, but still highly classic.

The dial is a study in symmetry and exquisite attention to detail. The iconic outsize date is positioned below the 12 o’clock marker and is counterbalanced by the small seconds sub-dial at 6 o’clock. The beauty of Lange’s outsize date lies in its generous proportions; the digits are about three times larger than those on a conventional watch and are arranged on two separate discs. Framed in either white or rose gold, the outsize date has a commanding presence. At 10 o’clock there is a pusher for rapid correction to the date.

Hours and minutes are displayed centrally with solid gold hands to match the case (the white gold model has rhodium-treated gold hands). The indices are also solid gold and applied directly to the dial with double batons at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock, and along with the simple markers of the minutes track, reinforce the symmetry of the dial. Other details like the same font used for the Arabic numerals in the date display and small seconds attest to the coherent design of the watch.

Automatic calibre L086.8

The Saxonia Outsize Date is powered by an adaptation of calibre L086.1, the motor behind the Saxonia Automatic family since 2011. Because of the incorporation of the outsize date feature, the modified movement has 286 parts as opposed to the 209 parts of the straightforward automatic. With just one mainspring barrel, the large central 21k gold rotor with ball bearings and a centrifugal mass in platinum ensures a sturdy power reserve of 72 hours keeping the hours, minutes, small seconds and jumping outsize date window in perfect sync.

As with most Lange calibres, the movement is secured in place by the classic three-quarter plate made of untreated German silver with Glashütte ribbing and features a manually engraved balance cock with floral motifs. Other refined finishings include perlage, circular and straight graining and blued screws.

Availability & price

The white gold Saxonia Outsize Date comes on a black leather strap, the pink gold on a brown leather strap, both with prong buckles in 18k white or pink gold. The retail price is EUR 23,600 for both variants.

More information at A. Lange & Söhne.