With the titanium Odysseus, A. Lange & Söhne presents a casually elegant timepiece for high-end technical and aesthetic expectations that offers exquisite watchmaking artistry and casual elegance in titanium. The new ice-blue colour and an exclusive surface structure adorn the dial of the brand’s first titanium timepiece in a 250-watch limited edition
The Odysseus is designed for ambitious individuals who want a watch that accompanies them in life’s most memorable moments. Its development is inspired by the concept of an artisanally perfected timepiece which is so robust and water-resistant that it can also be worn in leisure and sports settings. The large day and date display can be conveniently adjusted with the prominent tapered buttons; their distinctive design is now also a hallmark of A. Lange & Söhne’s first titanium watch.
The decision to craft the case and bracelet of the third Odysseus model in titanium is based on the special properties of the material. Titanium weighs about 43 per cent less than stainless steel, clearly improving the already high level of comfort of the Odysseus on the wrist. With a diameter of 40.5 mm and a height of 11.1 mm, the watch hugs the wrist almost unnoticeably. Moreover, titanium is extremely robust. When exposed to oxygen, it produces a very thin transparent oxide coating that protects the material against external factors and makes it corrosion-resistant. Its warm gloss is paired with a unique patina that comes to the fore in the Odysseus with a combination of polished, matte, and brushed surfaces. Like the stainless-steel and white-gold versions, the titanium Odysseus has a water-resistant case with a screw-down crown that can handle a test pressure of 12 bar.
In keeping with the other versions of the Odysseus family, the titanium edition, limited to 250 watches, also has a multi-part dial. In addition to the new ice-blue colour, it features its own surface structure, primarily showcased by the decor on the hour ring. Here, the fine guilloched grooves extend in gentle arcs to the hour markers, creating an embedded look. This amplifies the three-dimensional effect and doubles as an exclusive signature.
The motif reappears in circular lines on the scale of the subsidiary seconds dial. The irregularly structured inner surfaces of the main and subsidiary dials contrast with the uniform lines. The argenté-coloured flange ring with the minute scale forms a shadow gap and adds lucidity to the dial. Among the Arabic five-minute numerals in black, the red printed 60 stands out as a colour accent. The sporty nature of the watch is emphasised by prominent hour and minute hands with the Lange-typical lance shape. Just like the notched baton appliques, they are made of polished white gold and filled with a luminous compound.
For its first watch with a titanium case, A. Lange & Söhne has created a matching bracelet that forms a harmonious entity with the case. Like the stainless-steel bracelet of the first Odysseus, it is very comfortable to wear. Thanks to its precision-stepped, easily operable adjustment mechanism, the length of the closed bracelet can be changed by as much as 7 mm.
Specially conceived for sports and leisure activities, the Odysseus features a reliable and precise self-winding movement that matches the upscale expectations of a manufactory focused on craftsmanship in every respect. This is clearly reflected by the design of the L155.1 Datomatic movement that can be admired through the sapphire-crystal caseback. The name Datomatic comes from the words, “date” and “automatic”.
A skeletonised and partially black-rhodiumed central rotor with a centrifugal mass in 950 platinum delivers ample winding power. When fully wound, the watch has a power reserve of 50 hours. The oscillation system is designed for superb rate stability. For this purpose, the balance – it beats with a frequency of 28,800 semi-oscillations per hour (4 Hertz) – has been aerodynamically optimised with recessed poising screws and firmly suspended beneath the balance bridge. It is manually engraved with a stylised wave pattern, evoking the water-resistance of the watch. In line with Lange’s philosophy, all parts are lavishly hand-finished and the movement is assembled twice. This includes the German-silver plate decorated with Glashütte ribbing and the screwed gold chaton that marks the position of the escape wheel.
