The perfect travel companion

Travel is a luxury of which I never tire. It is exciting to visit faraway lands, embrace different cultures and sample unfamiliar gastronomic delights. However, sometimes there is reassurance found in the familiar.

An overseas sojourn can be complimented by the prosaic reminders of home. A cup of Earl Grey, afternoon tea with scones and cream and a British broadsheet have all mitigated any pangs I may have had of homesickness.

A loved travel companion can sometimes make foreign exploration seem less intimidating.

I have owned my A. Lange & Söhne 1815 for a few years and it is one of my most cherished possessions. However, now I think I have found a timepiece which was born for worldwide exploration, the Lange 1 Time Zone. It proffers the peace of mind of my 1815 but with the added convenience of a worldtimer.

The dial

A handsome dial crafted in solid silver reflects the wearer’s admiring gaze. The hours and minutes of the home time are cleanly displayed in the north-west region of the dial.

At 1 o’clock, the iconic outsize date, synonymous with the brand, sits proudly displaying the home time date. The pusher at 10 o’clock can advance the sophisticated date function which comprises of two discs working in concert.

An isosceles triangle forged in white gold is located at 5 o’clock. It points to the chosen city of your zone time on a city disc which encompasses the dial. The city disc can be advanced, time zone by time zone, using the pusher at 8 o’clock. The hours and minutes of the zone time are displayed on a small subdial, located adjacent 5 o’clock.

The home time display uses Roman numerals to convey the hours, whilst the zone time utilises Arabic numerals. The contrast works wonderfully and exhibits the talent Lange repeatedly demonstrates with its masterful designs.

Those frequent travellers who wish to read the time in fading light will appreciate the legibility of the hands, treated with Superluminova.

A useful function is the day/night indications, one located on home time and a second located on the zone time. The devil is in the detail. However, I would suggest that this watch is as virtuous as an angel in white. There is an honesty to all aspects of its beautiful face.

At the base of the home time display is a subsidiary seconds function featuring a charming blued hand.

Lange fans need not worry, the power reserve indicator found on several of the horological treasures from Glashütte is featured on the easterly aspect of the dial.

There is much information on the dial of this watch, but it never overwhelms the wearer with superfluous detail. All aspects of the aesthetics work in accord.

The case

A case diameter of 41.9 mm should prove a comfortable fit for the majority of potential owners. I adore the minimalist hue of the 18-carat white gold. It compliments the silver coloured dial perfectly. Moreover, the small flourishes of blue detail add visual interest without appearing garish or overtly extrovert. This is a tasteful timepiece.

The lugs and upper surface of the case are highly polished and provide pleasing contrast with the satin brushed sides of the caseband.

A. Lange & Söhne make some of the finest watch movements in existence and the sapphire case back indulges the connoisseur with a magnificent view of Teutonic art.

The movement

The L031.1 calibre has been breathed on by artisans from Saxony. There are many details which distinguish this movement as sublime horology.

A three-quarter plate, fashioned from untreated German silver is faithful to the high-end watchmaking of Glashütte. The German silver acquires a gold-coloured patina with time, ageing like a fine wine.

Glashütte ribbing features on the plate. Chamfering and polishing by hand differentiate this movement from mundane mass-market offerings.

Screws are blued, juxtaposed with numerous jewels, 54 to be precise. Screwed gold chatons respectfully pay homage to traditional watchmaking of the region.

All aspects of the finissage are distilled to perfection.

The impressive 72-hour power reserve is courtesy of the twin mainspring barrels. I am genuinely intoxicated by the heady cocktail of rarefied details found on this movement.

Conclusion

Life is short and, therefore, I see little incentive in writing about watches or other luxury items which I do not like. There is an opportunity cost in criticising items absent of merit and that is that I cannot devote time to waxing lyrical about the goods I admire. However, in some instances, I may point out an area which could be enhanced or a detail I would prefer to see.

In the case of the Lange 1 Time Zone, I see nothing I would change. This model seduced me on first acquaintance earlier this year at SIHH. This is no passing infatuation, my devotion shows no sign of abating.

This is a timepiece I would dearly love to own.

I can think of no better travel companion than the Lange 1 Time Zone.

Technical specification

• Model: Lange 1 Time Zone

• Reference: 116.039

• Case: 18-carat white gold; diameter 41.90 mm; height 11.0 mm; water resistant to 3 bar (30 metres); sapphire crystal to front and solid case back.

• Functions: Home time (hours, minutes, subsidiary seconds with stop seconds); zone time (hours, minutes) in conjunction with city ring; day/night indicators; outsize date for home time; power-reserve indicator.
  
  
• Movement: L031.1 calibre, manual wind; frequency 21,600 vph (3 Hz); 54 jewels; power reserve 72 hours.

• Strap: Black hand stitched crocodile leather strap on 18-carat white gold pin buckle.