Uniquely radiant ‒ even in the dark
A. Lange & Söhne confers the “Lumen” attribute on a range of timepieces that exhibit their captivating aesthetics even in the dark, thus delivering a striking design statement.
This is assured by the semi-transparent dials and luminous coating that make the displays and functions glow in the dark – and give the models a futuristic appearance.
How is the luminous effect achieved?
Watches with luminous displays require a source of light to optimally charge the luminous compound. When the “Lumen” models were developed, the technical challenge the engineers were confronted with was to continuously charge the luminous elements located under the dial with the energy of the incident light, although they are partially concealed by dial and movement components.
The A. Lange & Söhne product developers found the solution in a sapphire-crystal dial coated with a special, semi-transparent compound: it is only permeable to high-energy UV light while only part of the light waves of the visible spectre can pass through the coating. Thanks to this technology, the dial is graced with luminous displays, yet at the same time superb legibility is assured.
ZEITWERK “Luminous”
When the ZEITWERK made its debut in 2009, it showed the world a new face of time with its jumping numerals display. With a soft click and no delay whatsoever, the numerals display switches within a fraction of a second from one minute to the next, until the grand jump occurs at the top of the hour, when all three numeral discs instantaneously advance by one increment at the same time.
At the renowned “Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève”, the groundbreaking timepiece was awarded the highest prize, the “Aiguille d’Or”.
The ZEITWERK was further evolved when Lange’s product developers asked themselves how to make the exciting time event visible in the dark as well. Their ingenious concept of a patented semi-transparent dial coating resulted in the glowing debut of the ZEITWERK “Luminous” in 2010. Made of German silver, the black time bridge provides a prominent frame for the hour and minute displays, thus emphasising the striking design. The model was limited to 100 watches.
GRAND LANGE 1 “Lumen”
In 2013, the GRAND LANGE 1 “Lumen” placed one of the most renowned A. Lange & Söhne developments in the limelight: a partially semi-transparent sapphire-crystal dial reveals the mechanism of the first outsize date display that glows in the dark. The challenge the engineers were presented with when they developed the GRAND LANGE 1 “Lumen” was to assure maximum luminosity even just after the daily switching cycle. An exceptional solution was found: whereas the tens cross is coated with a white luminous compound and then printed with black numerals, the transparent glass units disc with black printed numerals rotates in front of a luminous background.
The outer ring and the surfaces of the displays for hours, minutes and the subsidiary seconds are crafted from blackened silver. The hour and power-reserve markers as well as the hour, minute, subsidiary seconds and power-reserve hands of the GRAND LANGE 1 “Lumen” are luminous. The model was limited to 200 watches.
GRAND LANGE 1 MOON PHASE “Lumen”
The GRAND LANGE 1 MOON PHASE “Lumen” was launched in 2016: it combines a large, richly detailed moon-phase display with the typical Lange outsize date. Both displays glow in the dark and offer ultimate legibility by day and night. Unlike all previous Lange models featuring a moon-phase display with a gold lunar disc, this model is endowed with a glass lunar disc. In a first step, the glass surface is treated with a special coating process; in a second step, a laser is used to cut out 1164 stars and the moon. A surface with a luminous compound behind the lunar disc causes the moon and the stars to glow in the dark. The model was limited to 200 watches.
DATOGRAPH UP/DOWN “Lumen”
Presented in 2018, the DATOGRAPH UP/DOWN “Lumen” is equipped with numerous technical assets: a flyback chronograph with a precisely jumping minute counter and a classic column-wheel construction, the outsize date and a power-reserve indicator represent the apex of engineering artistry. The beauty of the manually wound L951.7 calibre of the DATOGRAPH UP/DOWN “Lumen” consisting of 454 elaborately finished parts can be admired through the sapphire-crystal caseback. The aesthetic appeal of the calibre is reflected in the harmonious dial configuration with the characteristic outsize date and the two subsidiary dials that form an equilateral triangle. In this prodigious timepiece, the distinguishing triangle concept is a true eye-catcher ‒ even in the dark. For the first time, all visible functions of the dial are luminous in an A. Lange & Söhne chronograph. The model was limited to 200 watches.
ZEITWERK HONEYGOLD “Lumen”
ZEITWERK HONEYGOLD “Lumen” – every single one of these words is emblematic of the exceptional path that A. Lange & Söhne has taken in the realm of precision watchmaking. Since 2009, the revolutionary technical concept and trailblazing design of the ZEITWERK watch family have remained unrivalled. This new model version was crafted in honey gold (HONEYGOLD®), exclusively developed for A. Lange & Söhne timepieces. Various admixtures and a special heat treatment result in the particular hardness and the incomparable warm resplendence of the 18-carat gold alloy. The attribute “Lumen” refers to the custom-developed semi-transparent dial that renders the luminous jumping numerals display completely visible.
The combination of these unique characteristics makes the timepiece that was introduced in 2021 a one-of-a-kind watch ‒ in threefold respect. But not only that: a further evolved manufacture calibre provides a doubled power reserve of now 72 hours and breathes life into the watch. The model is limited to 200 watches.
DATOGRAPH PERPETUAL TOURBILLON HONEYGOLD “Lumen”
25 years after the launch of the DATOGRAPH, A. Lange & Söhne introduces a lustrous new interpretation: the DATOGRAPH PERPETUAL TOURBILLON HONEYGOLD “Lumen”. The timepiece combining a flyback chronograph with an outsize date, instantaneously switching perpetual calendar and tourbillon with stop seconds is available in Lange-exclusive honey gold (HONEYGOLD®), and as a “Lumen” version for the first time. Each complication alone already represents a horological masterpiece and makes this watch that comes in a limited edition of only 50 timepieces truly exceptional.
The evolved manufacture calibre L952.4 beats at the heart of this grand complication: it consists of 684 parts and is assembled twice. The classic column-wheel chronograph is equipped with a freely oscillating Lange balance spring as well as a Lange balance wheel with eccentric poising weights, assuring excellent rate stability across the entire power reserve of 50 hours.
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