A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin Black Gold Flux

Named after the state of Saxony, the cradle of German precision watchmaking, the Saxonia was one of the four watches that heralded the rebirth of A. Lange & Söhne in 1994. Elegance and purity are bywords of this family that includes the ultra-slim Saxonia Thin, the thinnest A. Lange & Söhne watch in the collection. With Christmas just around the corner, A. Lange & Söhne revisits its classic thin time-only dress watch in a 40mm white gold case with a special black shimmering dial that sparkles with a captivating copper sheen. Meet the new Saxonia Thin Black Gold Flux.

Saxonia Thin

Since its debut in 2011, the Saxonia Thin has appeared in case sizes of 37mm, 39mm and 40mm. This model comes in the largest 40mm case size, but shares the same lean 6.2mm height as the 39mm model. Perhaps a wee bit on the large side for the strictest of watch purists, the ultra-slim case height and sophisticated presence of the Saxonia Thin earmark this watch as a classic dress watch. Two years ago, we saw a very similar Saxonia Thin model with a blue flux (aventurine) dial in a 39mm white gold case.

Cosmic shimmer

Although the brand refers to the material as black flux, the material embellishing the dial is more widely known as aventurine glass. The beauty of aventurine glass is its subtle sparkle produced by inclusions of copper and other materials, a technique practised by Murano glassblowers since the 17^th century. The dial of the Saxonia Thin starts life as a solid silver blank and is then coated with black gold flux containing copper spangles. To create the mesmerising sparkle, glassmakers have to introduce copper oxide while the glass is being heated, which in turn crystallises as the mixture cools off. To obtain a smooth, even surface, the aventurine has to be cast on the silver dial with extreme care. The result is a cosmic black background emitting a subtle coppery light when it catches the light.

The rest of the watch is classic Saxonia Thin with its minimalist dial, applied white gold baton markers and hour and minute hands. The narrow bezel allows wide vistas of the cosmic dial and the gentle camber of the lugs means the watch sits snugly on the wrist. Matching the black dial, the strap is made from shiny black leather with an elegant 18k white gold prong buckle. The Saxonia is the epitome of the elegance at A. Lange & Söhne, something we’ve explored in this video.

Calibre L093.1

The lean profile of the case responds to the ultra-thin 2.9mm thick manual-winding calibre below deck, the thinnest A. Lange & Söhne movement to date. Despite its compact dimensions, the movement offers a power reserve of three days. As with all Lange movements, it is assembled twice and manually finished to the brand’s exacting standards. Hallmark traits like the three-quarter German silver plate with Glashütte ribbing and the hand-engraved cock bridge can be admired through the sapphire caseback along with the bevelled and polished chamfers, the polished gold chatons, the blued screws and the spiralling pattern on the ratchet and crown wheels.

Availability & price

The Saxonia Thin Black Gold Flux is a special boutique edition and limited to 50 pieces. It will retail for EUR 24,500.

More information at A. Lange & Söhne.