Manufacturer: A. Lange & Söhne Year: Circa 2005 Reference No: 820.021E Movement No: 45'451 Case No: 146'818 Model Name: Saxonia Langematik Perpetual Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. L922.1, 43 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold A. Lange & Söhne pin buckle Dimensions: 38.5mm diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
Catalogue Essay
The A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Langematik collection was introduced in 2004 and was born during the height of the re-establishment of the firm. Having developed a reputation of executing timepieces to the highest quality retaining its traditional approach to watchmaking, whenever the Saxon-based firm releases a new model, they never fail to impress. Timepieces from the Langematik collection all share a common trait of bearing an in-house self-winding caliber with an off-centered SAX-0-MAT micro rotor.
The Saxonia Langematik Perpetual was one of the very first models launched in the collection featuring the firm’s signature large date display and a traditional perpetual calendar dial layout consisting of moon phases, 24-hour indication, leap year indication as well as a zero-reset function that enables precise timekeeping where the constant seconds hand returns to zero when the crown is pulled out for time adjusting.
A. Lange & Söhne’s case structure is a concrete example of differentiation on design. Constructed on three levels with alternating finishes as polished and brushed, it appears and feels heavily engineered. Implemented by Blümlein himself as another point of distinction from its Swiss counterparts, the lugs are notched and mirror finished at the base and screwed into the case. They do not flow through the case, but rather form its own structure and gracefully tapers towards the strap.
The present example in 18K yellow gold from circa 2005 belongs to an early example of the reference featuring a date adjuster at the 10 o’clock position. Powered by the beautifully decorated in-house cal. L922.1 with zero-reset function composed of its signature German silver, the impressive movement’s perpetual calendar is accurate up to the year 2100 if the watch is consistently running.
The combination of these intricate details and complications has resulted in a beautifully balanced champagne dial framed with an elegant yellow gold case. The present example is further distinguished by its exquisitely diamond-set bezel. Preserved in excellent condition, the timepiece is exemplary of the spirit of the German manufacturer.
Originally founded in 1845 by Ferdinand Adolph Lange in Glashütte, Dresden, Germany, the firm established an entire watchmaking culture and industry in Glashütte. The brand quickly became Germany's finest watchmaker, first creating dependable, easy-to-repair watches before going on to produce some of the world's finest complicated pocket watches, including Grande Sonnerie watches, tourbillon watches and Grande Complications.
On the final day of World War II, their factories were destroyed by Russian bombers, and in 1948 the brand was confiscated by the Soviet Union. Following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1990, Ferdinand's great grandson Walter Lange re-established the brand with the objective to once again produce top-quality luxury watches. Now part of the Richemont Group, its original vintage and modern creations are highly coveted by collectors. Key models from the modern era include the Lange 1, Pour Le Mérite Tourbillon and the Zeitwerk.
Ref. 820.021E A rare and attractive yellow gold and diamond-set perpetual calendar wristwatch with oversized date, small seconds, zero-reset function, moon phases, 24-hour indication and leap year indication
Circa 2005 38.5mm diameter Case, dial, movement and buckle signed