The evocatively named Zeitwerk (literally ‘work of time’ in German) bears numerals on rotating disks – one for the hours and two superimposed ones for the minutes – which are aligned to perfection so as to enable instant and particularly smooth readings. The most remarkable aspects of this display are the large size of the numerals, and above all the precision with which they advance. With each change, jumps are made in a mere fraction of a second, and are perfectly simultaneous when there is more than one at a time. The small seconds subdial serves to signal the transitions and to draw attention to the impressive visual effect. As an added bonus, a barely audible click can be heard with each minutes jump; a subtle reminder of the movement’s ticking. This mode of operation showcases the ingenuity and innovative capacities of the A. Lange & Söhne watchmakers. The highly distinctive ‘time bridge’ on the dial is not merely a frame designed to encompass the timekeeping functions: it is an authentic movement bridge brought to the surface and creating an intimate bond between techniques and aesthetics. As for the large knurled crown, strategically placed between one and two o’clock, it ensures an easy grip while imparting an upwards dynamic to the design.

The construction of the Zeitwerk predestined it to incorporate striking mechanisms, as it has done since 2011, starting with the Zeitwerk Striking Time which chimes quarter-hours and full hours. A. Lange & Söhne has subsequently created purpose-built watches, entirely in keeping with the digital display: the Zeitwerk Minute Repeater presented in 2015 strikes the minutes, ten-minute intervals and hours, while the Zeitwerk Decimal Strike launched in 2017 sounds ten-minute intervals and hours. The latter was introduced as a limited edition in honey gold, a proprietary Lange alloy. The Zeitwerk Date, fitted with a new calibre, was released for the model’s 10th anniversary in 2019. A peripheral date ring with a coloured segment rotates under a fixed ring made of glass and printed with the numerals 1 to 31. Two new executions were introduced in 2022, in platinum or pink gold. Both are powered by a second-generation Calibre L043.6, with an extended 72-hour power reserve and a mechanism for setting the hour separately using a pusher.