When A. Lange & Söhne returned to the market in 1994, Walter Lange did not simply try to reproduce the watches of the past. The new manufacture took some elements of Saxon watchmaking – natural alpaca, gold chatons, hand-engravings – and used them to create completely modern movements. The Datograph of 1999 was probably the most convincing demonstration of this ambition and helped bring the mechanical chronograph back to the center of haute horlogerie.
Five years later came the 1815 Chronograph. It used the same mechanical setup as the Datograph but forewent the large date to achieve a more open dial and a slimmer case. The 401.031, with a black dial and a rose gold case, remains one of the most recognizable versions of the first series: an important chronograph that does not need to appear as such.
The simplicity of this 1815 Chronograph is almost deceiving. At first glance, the balance of the dial and the contrast between rose gold and black prevail; only upon closer inspection do the multi-level construction, the pulsometer scale, and the complexity of the movement emerge.
Reference 401.031 belongs to the first generation, introduced in 2004. The 39.5 mm case maintains classic proportions and wears more discreetly on the wrist than many contemporary chronographs. The reverse panda dial is one of the most successful in this series: the black tones down the presence of rose gold, while the silver-plated subdials and blued hands introduce a sharp, but never excessive, contrast.
The inclined outer ring houses the pulsometer scale, graduated for thirty pulsations. Further down are the chemin de fer minute track, the central part of the dial, and the two recessed subdials. This four-level construction gives a particular depth and makes the dial interesting from every angle.
The sapphire crystal case back fully reveals the manual winding caliber L951.0. The column wheel, lateral clutch, flyback return, and jumping minute counter occupy the space with rare three-dimensionality. Bridges in untreated German silver, gold chatons, blued screws, and the hand-engraved balance cock transform the movement into the most fascinating part of the watch. The caliber is composed of 320 parts, operates at 18,000 vibrations per hour, and has 36 hours of power reserve.
The timepiece is in splendid aesthetic condition and is fully functional.
It comes with a black strap, original Lange rose gold buckle, box, and international warranty. The document bears the corresponding case and movement numbers and is stamped by F.lli Pisa S.p.A., a historic authorized dealer in Milan.
