The New A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Date in Pink Gold

When A. Lange & Söhne first revealed the Zeitwerk in 2009, it marked a bold break from convention. A high-end Saxon watch that abandoned the familiar hands-on-dial format in favour of a purely mechanical digital time display, large jumping numerals for the hours and minutes, powered by an ingenious constant-force escapement. Since its introduction, the Zeitwerk has evolved into a small but distinct family, encompassing sophisticated variants such as the Zeitwerk Minute Repeater and the Zeitwerk Striking Time. In 2019, on its 10th Anniversary, the collection gained a practical complication with the launch of the Zeitwerk Date, adding a cleverly integrated date ring encircling the dial. This summer, Lange gives the Zeitwerk Date a fresh look with a warmer 18k pink gold case and a grey dial.

The core Zeitwerk model was seriously updated in 2022, and while the fundamentals remain unchanged, the latest colourway brings a touch of contrast to the modern, technical character of the watch. The pink gold case measures 44.2mm in diameter and 12.3mm in height — dimensions that make the Zeitwerk an assertive presence on the wrist, though its short lugs and curved profile help it sit comfortably. The polished bezel and brushed flanks are well-finished, highlighting the soft warmth of Lange’s proprietary 18k pink gold alloy. Water resistance is a practical 30 metres, sufficient for everyday wear.

The dial is made of solid silver and finished in an understated grey, providing a neutral backdrop that emphasises the crisp numerals and the signature time bridge in German silver. This bridge is part of the movement’s top plate and visually ties the twin digital windows and small seconds subdial into a coherent design. The power reserve indicator is positioned at 12 o’clock, providing valuable information without disrupting the symmetry. Hands for the seconds and power reserve are crafted from pink gold to match the case.

The Zeitwerk´s defining feature is its precisely jumping numerals mechanism. Zeitwerk displays the time digitally through two large windows: hours on the left, minutes on the right. Every 60 seconds, a constant-force escapement releases energy to switch the minute disc forward; at the top of each hour, the hour disc advances as well, an impressive feat, considering the torque required to move these relatively large discs instantaneously and in perfect synchrony.

The Zeitwerk Date expanded this concept with an intuitive date indication. Instead of a traditional date aperture or pointer, Lange added a peripheral glass ring that displays all 31 numerals around the dial’s edge. A red marker beneath the ring highlights the current date, advancing once daily at midnight. Pushers at 4 and 8 o’clock allow quick adjustment of the hour and the date without disturbing the time setting.

All these are orchestrated by the manually wound calibre L043.8, an in-house movement comprising 516 individual parts. This calibre operates at a frequency of 18,000 vibrations/hour and offers a 72-hour power reserve thanks to its twin mainspring barrels. The finishing is classic Lange: untreated German silver plates and bridges, hand-engraved balance cock, polished edges and blued screws, all visible through the sapphire crystal caseback.

The watch is worn on a dark brown hand-stitched alligator leather strap, closed with a matching pink gold buckle.  As for price, the new Zeitwerk Date in pink gold retails for approximately EUR 130,000.

For more information, please visit ALange-Soehne.com.