A. Lange & Söhne Langematik Anniversary 302.025

Langematik Anniversary — 302.025

Some watches do not need a complication to be special. The Langematik Anniversary was created in 2000 to celebrate ten years of the reborn A. Lange & Söhne, and it remains one of the most attractive special editions the manufacture has ever made. Limited to 500 pieces, it takes a pocket watch template from a century earlier and modernizes it to perfection.

The beauty is in its simplicity. The dial is built on the Golden Section, with the central part following a ratio of 0.618 to the rest, and every element is rendered just thick enough to balance the white space. Then there is the white enamel itself, the first enamel dial on a modern Lange watch, paired with blued steel hands and a single red XII. Splashes of color are rare at Lange, and this is the best one the brand has done.

The platinum case measures 37mm by a slender 8.6mm, which is simply the right size. It slips under a cuff, wears effortlessly, and still keeps every signature Lange case detail, including the notched, mirror-polished lugs attached separately to the brushed case band.

Inside beats the caliber L921.7, Helmut Geyer's Sax-0-Mat. It is a self-winding movement with a solid gold, engraved rotor, 46 hours of power reserve and the zero-reset function that gives the caliber its name. Pull the crown and the balance stops while the seconds hand returns to zero, which makes setting the time precise.

This is a stunning piece that is overlooked behind the usual suspects, which makes it even more attractive to add to a collection.