The A. Lange & Shne Richard Lange Jumping Seconds was first introduced in 2016, as part of the Richard Lange collection, bringing together some of the best German watchmaking past and present. The dial design is inspired by a pocket watch originally made in the late 18th century, which is combined with a contemporary precious metal case, deadbeat seconds complication and Langes unmistakable movement finishing.

The Rebirth ofA. Lange & Shne

The name Lange has been tied to watchmaking and the Saxony area of Germany for centuries.In the 1800s,Ferdinand Aldoph Lange which is where the A in A. Lange & Shne comes from began his watchmaking journey under the tutelage of master watchmaker, Johann Christian Friedrich Gutkaes. Passed from father to son, the Lange name flourished, before encountering considerable obstacles during 20th century.The brand got caughtup in the turmoil caused by World War One, the financial crash of 1929, World War Two and was finally placedunder the rule of the Soviet Union. Thecompany was nationalised for the next 45 years, essentially spelling the end of the A. Lange & Shne name.

Years later, in 1990,the brand was resuscitatedby the great-grandson of Ferdinand Adolph Lange, Walter, and watch industry veteran, Gnter Blmlein.Blmlein, a Nuremberg native who grew up in post-War Germany, had previously overseen the resurgence of IWC and Jaeger-LeCoultre.This started the four-year journey that Lange and Blmlein would go on with their small team to bring the company back from the ashes, with the release of their first four models on the 24^thOctober 1994.The brand released four innovative models, all of the with their own distinctive visuallanguage, theArkade,Saxonia,Tourbillon Pour le Mriteand theLange 1.

The Jumping Seconds

A. Lange & Shne first introduced the Richard Lange family of watches in 2006, intended to focus on certain aspects of precision timekeeping. This willingness is apparent in their observation watches, which were specifically made for scientific expeditions and navigation. The overall theme of this collection is that it encompasses some of precision watchmakings most classic complications, all of which are designed to improve timekeeping.

One of the more obscure in horology, the Richard Lange Jumping Seconds incorporates a deadbeat seconds, rarely found in contemporary watchmaking. An interesting complication for the brand to take on, the original deadbeat escapement goes all the way back to 1675, when it was invented by Richard Towneley for use in regulator clocks at the Greenwich Observatory. The complication itself is demonstrated through the way the jumping seconds snap into position, contrary to the majority of mechanical watches where the second hand glides smoothly between passing seconds.

It features a remontoir d'egalit system, which provides constant force to the escapement. In precision terms, it provides as consistent energy to the balance as possible, for a better rate of stability. The remontoire d'galit in the Richard Lange Jumping Seconds is rewound once every second, and the advance of the remontoire drives the seconds hand in one-second jumps. It also incorporates a hacking-second and zero-reset mechanism, where the small seconds' hand stops and resets to zero when the winding crown is pulled out; a rare mini-complication in wristwatches, allowing for even more precise setting of the time. This is achieved using a heart-shaped reset-to-zero piece, similar to the resetting mechanism in chronographs.

A familiar Design

The dial design is based on a pocket watch originally made by Johann Heinrich Seyffert in the late 18th century, which was also used by Lange for the Richard Lange Tourbillon Pour Le Mrite. Having previously used the at Semper Opera Houseas the basis for its Lange 1 dial design, A. Lange & Shne have a history of looking to Dresdens watch and clockmaking past, for inspiration.

The deadbeats seconds occupies a central place, emphasised through the large seconds sub-dial. By comparison, the other subsidiary dials for the hours and minutes are placed below, with overlapping portions. So as to keep the indications legible, the hours on the left side feature bold Roman numerals, whereas the minutes on the left emphasise the 15-minute intervals in red. The power reserve indicator sits discretely between the two opposing subsidiary dials, in the the form of a triangle which switches to red when there is ten hours of power reserve remaining.

The Movement

The aesthetics of the movement are just as impressive as the mechanics, with chamfering and interior angles superbly hand-finished. Moreover, it features an artistic flourish, a balance-cock engraved by one ofLangesmaster engravers. In fact, it is said that each individual watchmaker's unique engraving style can be identified as a result. The bridges and plates are made fromGermansilver, an alloy of copper, nickel and zinc, with a warm silver tone that will develop a subtle patina over time. The use of this metal, along with the hand-engraved balance cock is a signature ofA. Lange & Shne.

TheA. Lange & Shne Richard Lange Jumping Secondshouses a manual-winding calibre L094.1, with a 42-hour power reserve. The movement is comprised of 390 components, with 50 jewels and eight screwed gold chatons the latter of which are a mark ofLanges traditionally Germanmovement. The watch has a constant-force escapement, with in-house remontoir spring, jumping seconds, stop-seconds and zero-reset mechanism, and the balance beats at 21,600 A/h.

The Set

ThisA. Lange & Shne Richard LangeJumping Secondsref. 252.032comes on our taupe grained leather strap, as well as itsoriginal Lange alligator strap and corresponding rose gold pin buckle. It is also accompanied by its original outer box, leather box, instruction manual and stampedGuarantee.

Closer look