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THE LANGE OUTSIZE DATE

The A. Lange & Söhne outsize date enables a date display with digits around three times as large as those in watches of comparable dimensions.

A large display in a compact space

With the outsize date, Lange succeeded for the first time in integrating a date display of this format in a wristwatch. The date is indicated in a gold frame with numerals that are about three times larger than those in watches of comparable dimensions. This innovation not only makes the date much more legible, it also simplifies the setting process because the date is not adjusted with the crown as is customary. Instead, it can be conveniently advanced day by day with a rapid-correction pusher.

The Lange outsize date mechanism

This is how the outsize date works

The outsize date consists of two separate display elements: the units disc and the tens cross. They revolve one above the other with a clearance of only 0.15 millimetres, which requires extreme dexterity during assembly. To correctly reproduce the date sequence, the disc and the cross must advance at irregular intervals. The ring-shaped units disc switches once a day, except at the transition from the 31st of a month to the 1st of the next month: then, it stands still for a day. The tens cross advances by one increment every 10 days. However, when the “3” is displayed, the cross advances after the 2nd day, because the “3” is needed only to display the 30th and the 31st of a month. To enable this irregular switching sequence, each display element is controlled by a programme wheel whose special toothing pattern assures that the date is advanced correctly.

1 Tens cross

2 Units disc

3 Base plate

4 Programme wheel of the units disc

5 Programme wheel of the tens cross

A disc and a cross

The programme wheel of the tens cross has four teeth. Two of them are close together so that the cross switches from the “3” to the blank field after only two days.

To make sure the “1” is displayed for two days at the transition from the 31st to the 1st day, two teeth were omitted in the programme wheel of the units disc.

The outsize date mechanism

Complications

Grand complications
Grand complications
Grand complications such as the tourbillon, perpetual calendar, rattrapante chronograph or the minute repeater belong to the top tier of precision watchmaking. Some A. Lange & Söhne watches combine several great complications and sophisticated technical solutions in one single watch.
Outsize date
Outsize date
The A. Lange & Söhne outsize date enables a date display with digits around three times as large as those in watches of comparable dimensions.
Chronograph
Chronograph
Chronographs and their manufacture movements have been flagship products of A. Lange & Söhne since 1999.
Calendar function
Calendar function
Lange models incorporate either annual calendars or perpetual calendars.
Moon-phase display
Moon-phase display
Most of our moon-phase displays reproduce the moon’s orbit with a precision of 99.998 per cent.
Power-reserve indicator
Power-reserve indicator
The UP/DOWN display reminds the owner to rewind the watch before it stops running.
Tourbillon watches
Tourbillon watches
The tourbillon improves the rate accuracy of a mechanical timepiece by overcoming the influence of gravity on the running of a watch.
Zero-reset mechanism
Zero-reset mechanism
With the ZERO-RESET mechanism, the movement stops and the seconds hand jumps to zero when the crown is pulled.
The fusée-and-chain transmission
The fusée-and-chain transmission
The fusée-and-chain transmission is one of the most effective complications when it comes to increasing the rate accuracy of a mechanical watch.
Constant-force escapement
Constant-force escapement
The purpose of a constant-force escapement in a mechanical watch is to provide the escapement with a consistent flow of power, regardless of whether the watch is fully wound or nearly unwound.
Striking mechanisms
Striking mechanisms
Watches with a minute repeater or other striking mechanisms make time audible. Given their horological intricacy, these models are among the most elaborate and rare timepieces in the realm of precision watchmaking.

Explore further

A. Lange & Söhne is reborn
A. Lange & Söhne is reborn
In 1989, Germany celebrated the fall of the Berlin Wall. Walter Lange immediately considers the establishment of a Lange manufacture in Glashütte and makes his dream come true.
The five-minute clock in the Semper Opera House
The five-minute clock in the Semper Opera House
A “respectable chronometer” unlike any the world had ever seen.
Lange classics
Lange classics
The LANGE 1 symbolises the rebirth of our manufacture and also laid the foundation for a unique design language. The configuration of its off-centre and asymmetrical dial constitutes a milestone in the world of precision watchmaking. Further creations followed that have not only become our very own classics ‒ they are also considered classics in the entire watch world.

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The A. Lange & Söhne salon in Zurich