You might be wondering if there was really a need for a standalone article on Odysseus Honeygold… Indeed, there is already a very in-depth review of the A. Lange & Söhne Odysseus I wrote back in 2021. However, I believe I have a special angle on this collection because right after my graduation in 2019, when I started working at A. Lange & Söhne, I was on the team to launch the Odysseus. I got to see the prototypes, the individual parts, the sketches… And from day one, it was obvious to me that it would succeed. Above all, it housed the undeniable A. Lange & Söhne soul in an era of sport-watch abundance. It was arguably the most important release from the brand within the last decade. The first serially produced stainless steel sports watch from A. Lange & Söhne… That alone says a lot.
The reactions were mixed at best. Most people did not even know about Wellendorff bracelets, hence seeing a Lange on a bracelet for the first time required a bit of adjusting. The design was an outlier, too. Against the Nautilus and Royal Oak’s fully integrated case & bracelet, the Odysseus kept the signature Lange lugs, and was built around them. As if that were not enough, the first series of Odysseus came with a “non-integrated” bracelet, which you could just pop off. It was not a fully-fledged sports-watch, still is not, but it was a sports-watch built around Lange identity, not the other way around. It was actually a “tribute” to early versions with Wellendorff bracelet references like 358.025, 101.325, etc., where the bracelet was welded into the case whilst preserving the lugs. To this day, it is not a mainstream design. But most importantly, it is characteristic. Thus, it has its lovers and haters, and that is better than being mediocre.
Many in 2019 who tried on the watch switched opinions following its release. Simply because it worked. The bracelet is wonderfully built and finished. It is comfortable, proportions are right, and the Odysseus itself is a “sports watch” you would expect exactly from A. Lange & Söhne.
Ever since, we have seen the Odysseus in white gold with a grey dial, titanium with an ice-blue dial, and finally Honeygold with a brown dial. The reference 363.150 is the first precious-metal bracelet Lange has ever produced / incorporated ever since 2010, and that alone is worth a very special mention. I think it signifies what is coming, but I’ll leave it here.
Introduced as a limited edition of 100 pieces, the Odysseus Honeygold measures at the classic 40.5 x 10.2 mm. It is tactile, heavy, present, and that hue is just painfully delightful. In classic A. Lange & Söhne construction, the case is three levels. The bezel is polished, the pushers on the band are sandblasted for a delightful contrast, and then polished again at the bottom. The lugs continue the “brushed” appearance of the pushers, forming a continuum—which further flows through the top parts of the bracelet links. The links are angled and polished at the edges, making every link pop under light.
The bracelet is constructed like a Lego set. All you need is a pair of wooden picks to remove or add links, and you are good to go. For further adjustments up to 7 mm, the Lange & Söhne engraved quick-adjustment slider is at your service.
The Honeygold’s tone is remarkable. I have had my chance to observe early pink / yellow gold A. Lange & Söhne watches on Wellendorff bracelets, and some later ones from the late 2000s. You can see the early tones here at the Langematik Guide. The early pink / yellow gold bracelets and cases are extremely saturated, while the later ones are a bit faded. The early ones are loud, and in my opinion, they are very special. Honeygold is the perfect sweet spot for those who want a subtle tone while not being overly saturated—i.e., for me. You note that at times, entirely depending on the light, it can be as pale as platinum, or as toned as pink gold. It is a delightful chameleon, one that is luckily not as endangered. It is hard to observe this show in just Honeygold case pieces; the Honeygold Odysseus, however, just puts it on a stage.
The Odysseus Honeygold’s dial follows the “precious metal” Odysseus design and departs from the original stainless steel variant. The center is flat/grained, while the hour and sub-seconds chapter rings are stamped with a separate pattern. Also, reference 363.150 is one of the very few A. Lange & Söhne watches to utilize a brown dial. The first example of brown was the Lange 1 Leon Martens Edition, which was recently sold at The Selection. With the Daymatic Honeygold, the Honeygold / brown dial coupledom seems to be another signature Lange pairing like white gold / grey, and platinum / argenté.
In line with the rest of the collection, the hands and markers are identical. The markers are thick and three-dimensional with carved centers for lume-filling, while the hands are broad. The dial sits quite deep in the rehaut, bringing an unexpected three-dimensionality to the Odysseus.
At the back, the Odysseus Honeygold carries the same caliber DATOMATIC L155.1. It is a slightly converted movement from the Saxonia Automatic’s caliber L086.1 with adjustments for a higher beat rate (from 3 Hz to 4 Hz) and stability. As with the Saxonia Automatic, my pet peeve is the extra-wide movement plate used to fill out the case back and balance the day / date wheel width. The movement plate often fades against the colorful German Silver plate, which is a view I do not appreciate. Further, the lack of gold chatons and blued screws is a big miss. The alibi “because of thickness” is something I would seriously take with a grain of salt.
The balance wheel is larger and held by a full balance bridge instead of the usual balance cock. The bigger the wheel and higher the frequency, the bigger the inertia, hence making it more resistant against shocks.
To be frank, there is not much to wax poetic about regarding the finishing of the movement. In comparison to the 222, Nautilus, or Royal Oak, is it much better? Yes. Could it be a few times better for the Lange standard we are used to? Yes. Is it a dealbreaker? I think not, but you decide.
Buying & Collectability Odysseus Honeygold 363.150
When introduced, Odysseus Honeygold came with a price tag of $110,000 + tax. That was heavy. In comparison, the steel was priced at 1/3 and honeygold pricing is often comparable with platinum.
Ever since; two things broke out.
- Lange & Söhne bracelets
- Limited A. Lange & Söhne watches
Being limited to 100 pieces, and delivered over 1,5 years, Odysseus Honeygold did not appear in the market much. The last public piece was sold at Langepedia.com / Selection and it went quite a bit over retail – which I can publicly also say, I paid quite a bit over the retail to the seller as well.
One important thing to note is, I think A. Lange & Söhne is going to introduce several honeygold Odysseus watches with different complications. I have no doubts that one day we are going to see the chronograph, and possibly a GMT in this metal. But I am pretty sure the “time-only” in honeygold is done.
The reference 363.150 changed hands only privately so far. I think very soon we are going to see a few at auctions. It is a unique watch, with a unique metal and design. It can only be a grail for many. Despite my principle of hating Lange watches with “mediocre” movements, this one pass that threshold for me to break it.
Thanks for your time and I would love to hear your owner experience. Please feel free to reach out!