When it debuted in 2009, the A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk represented the enfant terrible of the horological world, with the — dare we say it — unprecedented timepiece combining digital functions with a mechanical movement. Defined by its jumping numeral display for the hours and minutes displays as well as its constant-force escapement used as beat controller, the Zeitwerk was the physical embodiment of the German luxury watch manufacturer’s commitment to continually innovate and question convention.
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The original design drew inspiration from the five-minute clock at the Semperopera in Dresden, Germany. Designed by court clockmaker Johann Christian Friedrich Gutkaes, the clock was commissioned to fit the brief of having a time display that would be easily legible from even the rearmost seats. Thinking outside the dial, Gutkaes decided against large-format clocks with hands, instead solving the problem with a clock that displayed the time digitally in five-minute increments. Built in 1841, this clock was the catalyst for the A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk, thought the latter switches five times more than its source material — namely, once per minute.
While having numbers update every minute isn’t a difficult feat, the mechanical nature of the functions is what sets the Zeitwork apart from the rest. The hours and minutes are displayed from left to right in large format numerals, with the symmetrical layout of the curved time bridge combined with the display size ensuring optimal legibility. Powered by a patented mechanism that comprises three jumping numeral discs — one to control the hours and the other two to handle the units and tens digits of the minutes — the highlight of the Zeitwork happens 24 times a day; at the top of the hour when all three numeral discs advance by one increment.
“To switch the discs of the jumping numerals mechanism to forward on time every minute, the movement requires much more energy than a classic time display,” explained Anthony de Haas, director of product development at A. Lange & Söhne. “Not only are the numerals discs very heavy by watchmaking standards, but they also have to be quickly accelerated and braked again. This calls for considerably higher forces than the uniform rotation of a pair of hands of much less weight. The greatest amount of energy is needed at the top of the hour when the movement advances all three discs at the same time.”
While the challenges of increased energy production and the preciseness of executing the incremental step after 60 seconds was handled by the patented three disc mechanism and constant-force escapement, the second generation Zeitwerk improves upon the initial design. The new in-house calibre L043.6 features a patented barrel design with two mainsprings, enabling the second generation Zeitwerk to boast a power reserve of 72 hours, double that of the first, and has simplified the setting of the hour (using the pusher at 4 o’clock).
Comprising 451 parts, the hand-finished movement includes 59 jewels and is slimmer than its predecessor. Visible through the sapphire glass caseback, wearers can admire the hand-engraved balance and escape-wheel cocks, solarised winding wheels, and the straight-grained remontoir bridge that houses two recessed, screwed gold chatons.
With a case size of 41.9mm, the A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk is available in two colour variations; pink gold with a black dial and a silver time bridge, and a platinium version with a rhodié dial made of solid silver and a black rhodium time bridge. Both versions feature colour-marched hands, with the pink gold watch accompanied by a black alligator leather strap and the platinum one presented on a brown alligator leather strap.
Explore the mechanically digital Zeitwerk timepiece via the A. Lange & Söhne website.
Words by John Deckard
