A. Lange & Sohne

Since 2004, the brand has launched three generations of the 1815 Chronograph. The first generation, characterized by the original caliber L951.0 and the pulsometric dial, comprised the two references 401.026 in white gold and 401.031 in rose gold, both with white silver-plated dials. Production of the first generation was discontinued in 2008 and the second generation was introduced in 2010. In addition to the design update, which mainly affected the dial, which lost the pulsometer scale and received a new layout with larger counters, the second generation of the 1815 Chronograph is equipped with an upgraded caliber L951.5. Compared to the previous caliber, the power reserve has been significantly increased, from 36 to 60 hours, and the number of parts has been reduced from 320 to 306. The updated L951.5 also features an in-house free-sprung balance wheel and a hairspring that is also manufactured in-house. However, the most valuable asset again remained almost unchanged - the appearance of the caliber on the back. This model was produced in only two versions: Ref. 402.026 in white gold and Ref. 402.032 in rose gold, both with a white silver-plated dial. The second generation was discontinued in 2014. The third generation was launched in 2015 with the 1815 Chronograph Boutique Edition (Ref. 414.026) in white gold with blue markings on the white dial, which returned to the original scheme with an attractive inclined outer ring with logo and pulsometer scale. The case thickness has increased almost imperceptibly to 11 mm, while retaining the comfortable proportions of the case.

This 1815 Chronograph Ref. 823.029 in white gold with a white mother-of-pearl dial, which was launched in 2009, occupies a fascinating position between the first and second generation of the 1815 Chronograph. You don’t have to be an expert to recognize this. On the one hand, the white mother-of-pearl dial has the design typical of the second generation, i.e. it does not have a tachymeter and the logo on the outer ring, but 1/5-second markings on it; the logo is in the center of the dial; the sub-dials for the small seconds and the 30-minute counter are oversized. On the other hand, the Ref. 823.029 is the first-generation caliber L951.0 with a power reserve strictly limited to 36 hours by the Geneva stopwork on the barrel (just like the first-generation Datograph). The easiest way to distinguish the first-generation L951.0 caliber of the 1815 Chronograph from the L951.5 caliber is the presence of a screw balance, while the L951.5 caliber has a balance with eccentric weights. And, of course, the engraved caliber marking.

This 1815 Chronograph Ref. 823.029 is an extremely rare release among modern watches by A. Lange & Söhne, of which only three are said to have been produced. Of course, this A. Lange & Söhne watch was originally intended as a feminine, diamond-set design, which is why this model is sometimes referred to as the 1815 Chronograph Soiree – a fun incursion of a French-language term into the realm of German and English terms, typically Lange. However, we're inclined to think of this 39.5 mm 1815 Chronograph Ref. 823.029 as an interesting, diamond-sparkling, complicated mechanical dress watch with a high-end caliber that ranks among the best modern chronographs.

The hand-wound caliber L951.0 of this watch is manufactured according to the traditional pattern of a high-end chronograph from Lange and features a lateral clutch, control via a column wheel, a jumping minute counter and a flyback function. Particularly noteworthy are the orchestrated shapes and the high-quality finish of the numerous steel levers, the flat steel springs and the bridges made of untreated nickel silver, which has been given a beautiful gold-grey patina. The list of fine design details continues with four jewels in gold chatons attached with blued screws - a typical high-end feature for Lange wristwatches and pocket watches. Among the advantages of the caliber L951.0 are undoubtedly the large balance with regulating screws and a hairspring with Breguet overcoil, beautifully curved parts, especially the chronograph intermediate wheel lever, which has polished chamfers with sharp inner and outer corners, and the black polished steel parts – these are the caps of the escapement and fourth wheel pivots, a column wheel and a few others. The gold chatons are also highly polished. Overall, the meticulous finishing with straight grinding, Glashütte stripes, perlage, blued screws, polished chamfers, a swan-neck micrometer index regulator, engraved and gilded inscriptions in addition to those already mentioned makes the movement one of the best in its category, while the traditionally hand-engraved balance cock makes the watch one of a kind.