A. Lange & Söhne’s stunning new Odysseus Chronograph

The graphic sportiness of A. Lange & Söhne’s innovative Odysseus Chronograph

When A. Lange & Söhne launched the Odysseus watch in 2019, it was the brand’s first foray into sport watches. The Odysseus was also the first serially produced stainless steel watch that A. Lange & Söhne had ever made. A steel sport watch, while still a luxury timepiece, was new territory for the brand.

This year at Watches & Wonders, Lange introduced a chronograph into the Odysseus collection. Not surprisingly, it’s also a first for the brand - its first automatic-winding chronograph movement. The new L156.1 caliber was specifically developed for the Odysseus Chronograph. In true Lange style, this watch differs from standard chronographs both in form and function.

A. Lange & Söhne’s Odysseus Chronograph is evidence of the brand’s commitment to innovation.

“The Odysseus Chronograph symbolizes the pioneering spirit of the manufactory, to explore previously undiscovered fields, to overcome obstacles, and to implement innovative technical solutions,” says Lange CEO Wilhelm Schmid.

The L156.1 caliber features a unidirectional winding rotor in platinum and has a power reserve of 50 hours when fully wound. The uniqueness of the new movement is evident on the watch’s dial. Instead of being set in subdials, both the seconds hand and minute counter operate from the center of the watch. The seconds hand is red, allowing it to be read easily at a glance.

A. Lange & Söhne’s Odysseus Chronograph is evidence of the brand’s commitment to innovation. PHOTO COURTESY OF © LANGE UHREN GMBH

With this positioning of the chronograph hands, Lange was able to retain the 3 and 9 o’clock positions, which normally would hold a chronograph’s subdials. This allows the watch to keep oversized day and date indicators on the dial, a signature design feature for the brand. The chronograph’s buttons at 2 and 4 o’clock are sleekly integrated into the case design.

The new chronograph “meets all the requirements of a stopwatch suitable for many fields of operation, without relinquishing the hallmarks of Lange precision watchmaking,” says Anthony de Haas, Director of Product Development. Indeed, the dial design, made possible by the elimination of subdials, is unmistakably Lange.

A. Lange & Söhne’s Odysseus Chronograph is evidence of the brand’s commitment to innovation.

The Odysseus chronograph is a limited edition of just 100 individually numbered watches. What will we see next from the brand? “Inventiveness and creativity, two A. Lange & Söhne key areas of expertise, will continue to break the mold in traditional precision watchmaking,” says Schmid. Stay tuned.