The Langematik reference 301.027 was produced between 1997 and 2004, featuring the self-winding Sax-o-Mat calibre L921.2.
It features a white gold case, 37mm across and just 8.5mm tall, that is classically restrained. The rounded bezel, with a facet that extends to the midcase, is polished while the rim of the display caseback features circular satination. On it are engraved details such as the brand mark, precious metal hallmarks and the place of origin. The caseback is secured by six screws. The midcase is horizontally satinated. The lugs, despite their conservative proportions, feature a faceted outer edge and are ever so slightly stepped from the case. They are polished all around.
Occupying the 19mm distance between the lugs is the bracelet that is every bit as much of an occasion as the watch itself. Crafted white gold by family-owned German jewellery house Wellendorff, it is a seven-link beads of rice-style bracelet. The one-piece end link meets the distance between the lugs exactly. The bracelet is constructed with four rows of rounded links held in place by three rows of rectangular links. The small size of the individual links means the bracelet articulates and drapes around the wrist very comfortably, while their solid construction gives the bracelet robust structure. The bracelet is secured by a signed butterfly-style clasp that is engraved with the country of origin and the Wellendorff hallmark.
The dial furniture is set against a rich black backdrop. The hours are marked by thin, long faceted markers with double markers and luminous plots for the quarter hours. These markers are smaller at 6 and 12 o’clock and while the former features twin rounded luminous plots, the latter has square plots like the other quarter hours. This is designed to help orient the eye even when consulting the time in the dark. To this end, the alpha-style hour and minutes hands are also filled with luminous material.
The oversized Arabic numeral at 12 o’clock is high polished, making it visually harmonious with the other applied hour markers. The space in between them features printed white minutes. The subsidiary seconds register follows a similar layout, but with Arabic seconds at intervals of 10. The alpha-style seconds hand is lacquered white. The Sax-o-Mat mark follows the curvature of the minutes chapter between 3 and 5 o’clock.
On display through the exhibition caseback is the self-winding calibre L921.2. It is the work of designer Helmut Geyer, who played a pivotal role in designing the five base calibres that formed the backbone of A. Lange & Söhne’s offering when the brand was relaunched. The L.921, first produced in 1997 and called the Sax-o-Mat, was the result of five years of research and development. It features a solid gold, bi-directional winding micro rotor topped with a platinum rim for added mass. The rotor is beautifully decorated, with frosted finishing and the de-bossed relief with “Sax-o-Mat” and the brand mark. The bridges, crafted from German silver, are decorated with striping with details such as the serial number, jewel count and brand mark engraved on it. The tip of the escape bridge, crafted from stainless steel, is black polished. The balance bridge, as is customary for the brand, is embellished with hand engraving. The baseplate is decorated with perlage.
However, one of the distinguishing details of the Sax-o-Mat, which the name alludes to, is the zero-second reset function. Pulling the crown to set the time springs the seconds hand to the zero position, the feature aimed at precision. The setup consists of a heart-shaped cam coupled with the seconds hand interacting with a twin set of levers, linked by a spring. Pulling the crown out mobilises one of the levers, with the rigid spring in between them causing the other one to reset the heart-shaped cam, thereby returning the seconds hand to the zero position. The two levers are also linked to a third tension spring, located in close proximity to the balance. When the crown is pulled out, this spring makes gentle contact with the balance, isolating it. Once the crown is returned to its original position, the balance is freed.
This Langematik comes with its original inner and outer boxes as well its instruction manual. In addition is the warranty paperwork from when it was first retailed in Japan. In this time-only iteration and on the Wellendorff bracelet, the reference 301.027 is true to the codes that guided the historic German mark's relaunch.
If sold within the United Kingdom, this A. Lange & Söhne Langematik will be subject to 20% VAT
