The rules of fine watchmaking are nowadays comparable to those of the automotive industry: going from Formula 1 to supercar then to a model within everyone's reach. Or from haute couture to ready-to-wear. This is why seeing the most famous watchmaking house in Saxony, rebuilt from nothing the day after the fall of the wall, unveil a new Cabaret watch in the middle of summer is good news for lovers of real beautiful watches. Why? Because this extremely limited edition, at only 30 pieces, suggests that the rectangular watch formerly created by the brand will soon see new variations that are more affordable, in terms of price, for ordinary mortals who love beautiful watches. Admittedly, the iconic dials of the Maison's round case pieces, starting with the Lange 1 born in 1994,are already cult. But the rectangular shape of the Cabaret meets a real expectation of some fans of the Saxon manufacture.
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A. Lange & Söhne
While waiting for a more affordable model produced in a larger number of copies to be offered, nothing prevents dreaming while admiring this watchmaking work of art, with a movement made up of 370 components (including 84 for the tourbillon), mounted twice, as always at A. Lange & Söhne. This Cabaret Tourbillon Handwerkskunst (literally Craftsmanship in German) has a rectangular platinum case measuring 29.5x39.2mm, for 10.3mm thickness. Back in 2008: the Cabaret Tourbillon proposed, ultimate elegance and unnecessary in itself, to stop in an instant the balance inside the rotating cage - then, by pressing the crown, to make it resume its oscillations. By pulling on the crown, a complex lever mechanism was actuated, lowering a mobile V-shaped spring on the balance.The balance immediately resumed its oscillations when the brake spring was released, with a simple pressure on the crown. To achieve this again, this new Handwerkskunst Tourbillon is based on a manual-winding caliber L042.1 with double barrel, and therefore endowed with an enormous power reserve of 120 hours. Watchmaking art requires, the diamond pattern of the dial continues on the black rhodium-plated engravings of the tourbillon and intermediate wheel bridges. Patient manual work worthy of the standards of the house.Watchmaking art requires, the diamond pattern of the dial continues on the black rhodium-plated engravings of the tourbillon and intermediate wheel bridges. Patient manual work worthy of the standards of the house.Watchmaking art requires, the diamond pattern of the dial continues on the black rhodium-plated engravings of the tourbillon and intermediate wheel bridges. Patient manual work worthy of the standards of the house.
A. Lange & Söhne
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The three-part dial of this Cabaret is made of solid white gold, which is made in-house.
The inner area, with the typical Lange large date, is hand-engraved with a diamond pattern.
A patient example of engraving which does not forgive any error in its regularity… The motif is inspired by the six diamond-shaped gold hour appliques, oriented towards the center.
Just like the Roman numerals III, IX and XII, these are positioned on the outer part of the dial, a thin line decorated with a tremblage engraving visually separating the two areas of the dial.
A. Lange & Söhne
This dial is also coated with a semi-transparent enamel aimed at accentuating the depth of the engraving and providing different shades of metallic gray. Finally, the separate auxiliary dials, for the small seconds and the power reserve, traditionally identified by the mention “AUF / AB” at A. Lange & Söhne, are in rhodium-colored gold, their hands also in rhodium-plated gold.
