The first Zeitwerk Minute Repeater was in produced back in 2015 and it is still the world’s only watch that combines a mechanical jumping numerals display with a decimal minute repeater. The complicated timepiece – its assembly alone requires several months – has so far been available only in platinum. Five years after its debut, it now comes in a limited 30-watch edition in white gold with a deep-blue dial, announced at this year’s Watches & Wonders.
Furthermore, the timepiece features a new interpretation of the classic complication. Its striking mechanism sounds ten-minute intervals instead of quarter-hours with double strikes. As soon as it activates with the repeater pusher at 10 o’clock, it sounds the indicated time. At 7:52, for instance, the gong hammer on the left strikes the low-pitched gong seven times, once for every elapsed hour. Then, five double tones are struck for the elapsed ten-minute intervals, followed by the right-hand hammer with two high strikes, one for each elapsed minute. The design of the dial integrates the polished gongs and the black-polished gong hammers.
Pusher instead of slide
The Zeitwerk Minute Repeater features a unique pusher mechanism for triggering the repeater. There is no need for a slide to tension a separate spring. The absence of a large lateral opening in the case eliminated a source of acoustic disruption, thus improving the sound quality. In addition, the timepiece is water-resistant to as much as 3 bar.
Flawless craftsmanship
Composed of 771 parts, the manufacture calibre L043.5 is completed by hand. Three of the 93 jewels are set in screwed gold chatons. The hand-engraved balance cock – the artistic signature of all Lange watches – was given a design complement: the escape-wheel cock engraved with the same motif.
Edition 2020
Five years after its debut in 2015, the Zeitwerk Minute Repeater now comes in a 44.2-millimetre white-gold case with a matching deployant. The deep-blue dial in solid silver contrasts beautifully against the rhodiumed German silver time bridge. Limited to 30 watches, this edition is available exclusively at the A. Lange & Söhne boutiques.
Technical information
Movement:
Lange manufacture calibre L043.5, manually wound, crafted to the most exacting Lange quality standards, decorated and assembled by hand; precision-adjusted in five positions; three- quarter plate made of untreated German silver; balance and escape-wheel cocks engraved by hand; constant-force escapement; 771 parts. 93 jewels.
Power reserve:
36 hours when fully wound if the striking mechanism is not activated.
Functions:
Hours and minutes with jumping numerals display, striking mechanism with decimal minute repeater, subsidiary seconds with stop seconds, power-reserve indicator.
Case dimensions:
Diameter: 44.2 millimetres; height: 14.1 millimetres
Crystal and caseback:
Sapphire crystal (Mohs hardness 9)
Case:
White gold
Dial:
Solid silver, deep blue
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