Few complications command attention quite like the jumping seconds, which are typically displayed in mechanical timepieces as a continuous sweeping motion. The Richard Lange Jumping Seconds transforms the humble seconds hand into the star of the show, advancing in precise, mesmerizing jumps that speak to both technical mastery and visual drama.
Nine years after its initial debut, A. Lange & Söhne has unveiled a new iteration of this remarkable timepiece, limited to just 100 pieces and distinguished by an arresting combination of an 18K white gold case, this time with a warm salmon 18K pink gold dial. At 39.9 mm in diameter and just 10.6 mm thick, this latest edition maintains the elegant proportions of its predecessor while delivering mechanical complexity.
A Legacy Written in Seconds
The Richard Lange collection has always been about precision, paying homage to Ferdinand Adolph Lange's eldest son, whose contributions to watchmaking precision remain foundational to the craft. However, the Jumping Seconds takes this heritage to another level entirely, inverting the traditional time display hierarchy by placing the seconds hand in the largest subdial at 12 o'clock, while relegating the hours and minutes to smaller positions below. This time, the 18K pink gold dial, featuring a salmon-colored hue with black transfers, provides crisp legibility and contrast.
This unconventional layout isn't a mere aesthetic choice—it's a purposeful design rooted in horological history. The dial's configuration draws inspiration from chronometer No. 93, crafted by Johann Heinrich Seyffert in late 18th-century Dresden. Seyffert's work accompanied Alexander von Humboldt on his legendary Latin American expeditions, proving that precision timekeeping has always been about more than mere accuracy—it's about enabling human achievement.
Beneath the distinctive dial lies mechanical innovation. Three systems work in harmony: the constant-force escapement, jumping seconds mechanism, and the Zero-Reset function.
The constant-force escapement delivers uniform energy throughout the power reserve, ensuring consistent accuracy and precision. Every second, it generates an impulse that powers the dramatic seconds hand jump—sixty precise advances per minute, transforming timekeeping into a form of performance art.
The Zero-Reset mechanism employs a multi-disc clutch that instantly snaps the seconds hand to zero when the crown is pulled, enabling time-setting accuracy to the exact second. A thoughtful power reserve indicator turns red ten hours before winding becomes necessary.
The Movement Within
The 390-component calibre L094.1 represents the pinnacle of traditional German watchmaking, assembled twice to ensure perfection. In-house manufacturing of the remontoir spring and balance spring allows optimal component interaction. Through the sapphire caseback, observers witness this mechanical ballet—the rotating star controlling jumping seconds, the complex Zero-Reset lever system, and traditional Lange finishing, including a hand-engraved balance cock, screwed gold chatons, and the distinctive three-quarter plate in untreated German silver. This manual wound movement provides a power reserve of 42 hours while beating at a frequency of 21,600 vph.
Beyond Timekeeping
In an age of smartwatches and atomic precision, the Richard Lange Jumping Seconds argues for mechanical precision as an art form. Each second’s jump represents centuries of horological evolution, from Seyffert's chronometers to modern constant-force escapements. Completed with a dark brown leather strap and white gold prong buckle, the watch balances technical complexity with refined aesthetics.
This 100-piece limited edition offers more than luxury—it's a conversation between tradition and innovation, where every second truly counts and time itself becomes the ultimate complication.
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