UP CLOSE WITH THE A. LANGE & SÖHNE ZEITWERK DATE

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UP CLOSE WITH THE A. LANGE & SÖHNE ZEITWERK DATE

BERT BUIJSROGGEFEB 01, 2019

https://www.fratellowatches.com/a-lange-sohne-zeitwerk-date/

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ZEITWERK DATEWhite gold with dial in grey

Reference: 148.038
This model was introduced in 2019. The dial is crafted from solid silver, the time bridge from rhodiumed German silver. The hands are made of rhodiumed gold.Price: 89.000 €**Recommended retail price in Germany including VAT. Non-binding quotation, prices subject to change.

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The new approach to the mechanical digital watchThe jumping numerals mechanism


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Many attempts have been made to develop the perfect mechanical digital watch. But none of the different approaches yielded a dependable and easily legible solution. So Lange’s masters had to explore totally new avenues. The simplest approach at that time relied on creeping displays with continuously rotating discs. However, the legibility of such watches was seriously compromised due to tiny numerals, often displayed at an angle, and the very fine minute disc scale. Conversely, the jumping numerals mechanism arranges the minute numerals on two separate discs, which allows them to be much more generously formatted. As far back as the 19th century, digital displays were integrated in pocket watches, for example according to the Pallweber or Dürrstein principles. Because of technical constraints, the time was displayed vertically, with the minutes beneath the hours in a rather odd configuration. But the greatest weakness of this design was its susceptibility to wear: The considerable forces involved in the switching action caused noticeable scoring.

Mechanically sound thinking

Lange’s patented jumping numerals mechanism overcomes these weaknesses. As usual in digital watches, it displays the time from left to right. The long-term functional integrity of the design is assured by a fly governor that absorbs the surplus energy after every switching cycle.

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01 The German silver time bridge

02 Colourless sapphire-bearing jewel
03 Tens-minute disc with the numerals 0 to 5
04 Units-minute disc with the numerals 0 to 9
05 Hour ring with the numerals 1 to 12

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Functional principle

In the interest of optimised legibility, the hours and minutes are displayed in the same size on the same axis. The minutes are displayed with two discs. The units-minute disc (4) with the numerals 0 to 9 and the tens-minute disc (3) with the numerals 0 to 5 share the same axis. A constant-force escapement assures precise minute steps. Every 60 seconds, with a driving wheel and a pinion on the same arbor, these steps are transmitted to the disc configuration as instantaneous fifths of a revolution (72 degrees).

The abruptly jumping pinion engages with a wheel that carries the units-minute disc. In turn, this wheel engages with the wheel of the tens switching wheel. Connected with the switching staff, it carries a finger with a jewel on its underside. After every rotation of the units-minute disc – every ten minutes – the jewel engages with the six-tipped switching star of the tens arbor and advances it with the minute step of the units-minute disc from 9 to 0 by one-sixth of a revolution (60 degrees). This causes the tens-minute disc to move forward by exactly one numeral.

To prevent the inadvertent movement of the tens arbor outside the switching phase, the switching staff and tens arbor feature two positive form-lock safety elements. However, an additional safety element for the units-minute disc is not needed because it is directly connected with the control pinion of the constant-force escapement, which is immovable outside the switching phases.

After a full revolution, the tens arbor advances the large hour ring (5) with the numerals 1 to 12. For this purpose, it carries a wheel with merely one tooth that engages with the four-tipped switching star of the intermediate hour wheel. When the tens-minute disc transits from 5 to 0, the intermediate hour wheel is advanced by a quarter turn (90 degrees). In this case, too, a positive form-lock safety element between the tens arbor and the intermediate hour wheel assures that the hour ring cannot move inadvertently.

The exceptional construction calls for an innovative time-setting mechanism: When the movement is stopped by pulling the crown, the control lever of the constant-force escapement blocks the entire disc configuration. An innovative ensemble overrides this blockade; it deviates from the classic hand-setting mechanism.

The process of setting the time moves a roller across the tips of the contrate hub that is held by the driving wheel. Thereby, the arbor firmly connected to it rotates in accurately defined steps. This allows the indication to be adjusted incrementally in complete minute steps. The sapphire-crystal caseback reveals the hops of the roller along the contrate hub.

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The ZEITWERK DATE is A. Lange & Söhne’s first mechanical digital watch with a date function. However, due to the space occupied by the large numeral discs and the prominent dial with the time bridge, it was not possible to simply integrate a conventional date or even an outsize date. For this reason, our developers devised an unusual solution for this extraordinary concept. A peripheral glass date display with printed numerals from 1 to 31 circles the dial. A small colour segment on a ring beneath it always advances by one increment exactly at midnight. The current date is thus emphasised in red, providing a quick and intuitive reading. The date display can be adjusted with the button at 8 o'clock; the switching impulse is generated when it is released.

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The exceptional concept of a digital watch that has won multiple prizes was implemented with micromechanical perfection by A. Lange & Söhne when the ZEITWERK was introduced in 2009. Ten years later, the ZEITWERK DATE distinctively reveals its affiliation with the ZEITWERK family, given its striking face and the precisely jumping digital display. The unique mechanism that indicates the hours and minutes with jumping numerals advances the numeral discs within fractions of a second. In the ZEITWERK DATE, this function is handled by a newly conceived movement.



Digitisation L043.8

The lineup of technical innovations in the ZEITWERK DATE includes an additional button at 4 o'clock. It is used to separately advance the hour indication, thus solving a problem that originated in the date display in the first place. Since it calls for a time setting that is accurate to 24 hours, it would take too long to adjust the time via the crown – minute by minute. The integration of the hour button was associated with a considerable design effort. To enable the correction independently of the switching cycles of the movement, a clutch uncouples the hour ring from the jumping numerals mechanism each time the button is pressed. The switching impulse is generated when the button is released.

The new manually wound calibre L043.8 stands out with its clearly organised movement architecture. Still in place: the patented constant-force escapement that handles two tasks. As a remontoir device, it powers the balance with a uniform amount of force for the entire running duration. Additionally, it delivers the once-a-minute impulse for switching the three-disc jumping numerals display.

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The characteristic Lange hallmarks of the ZEITWERK DATE include the lavish finissage of the 512-part movement. A number of its components, for example the engraved ratchet wheel and the filigreed remontoir bridge, can be viewed through the sapphire-crystal caseback.



 
A very ingenious, and innovative, offering, from A. Lang & Sohne. Thanks Mike.
 
A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Date Watch Hands-On

For 2019, German A. Lange & Söhne finally introduces a refresh of the acclaimed Zeitwerk that helps make this mechanical digital watch ...
BY ARIEL ADAMS
FEB 08, 2019

https://www.ablogtowatch.com/a-lange-sohne-zeitwerk-date-watch-hands-on/

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For 2019, German A. Lange & Söhne finally introduces a refresh of the acclaimed Zeitwerk that helps make this mechanical digital watch both more modern and more practical. Since the first version of Zeitwerk, which was originally introduced in 2009, the 2019 ref. 148.038 Zeitwerk Date is the biggest update of the perennial favorite. Until 2019, newer versions of the Zeitwerk were either cosmetic variations or more complicated (and less practical) ones, with an hour-striker as well as a minute-repeater. The A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Date is no budget-minded product, but it does offer as much practicality as one might hope for in a cool, quirky, and technically interesting luxury wrist watch.

As the name of the Zeitwerk Date implies, the new complication here is a calendar that features a date indicator on the periphery of the dial. There is a fixed ring of 31, days with only one of them being “active” at any given time (colored in red). The red indicator moves under the cut-glass date indicator display and precisely jumps to the next spot at midnight. One of the pushers on the case is used to quickly adjust the date, if necessary.

 
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