239.050, 1815 Thin 'Homage to FA Lange', Honeygold

A. Lange & Söhne introduced the 1815 Thin Honeygold ‘Homage to F.A. Lange,’ reference 239.050, in 2020 to mark 175 years since Ferdinand Adolph Lange founded his Glashütte workshop on 7 December 1845. One of three anniversary editions alongside the 1815 Rattrapante and Tourbograph Perpetual Honeygold, it was limited to 175 pieces. At 38mm by 6.3mm, it is among the slimmest watches Lange has ever built, to the extent that it even has its own thinner Lange strap. And, unusually for the 1815 line, it dispenses with a seconds display entirely in order to allow the enamel greater focus. It is a pinnacle a German time-only watchmaking, made by its details.

The dial of this edition is grand feu enamel on a copper base: powdered glass is applied in successive layers, each fired near 800°C until it vitrifies into a glossy white surface, after which the dark grey Arabic numerals and railway minute track are printed and fired again to fuse them permanently. This was Lange’s first time-only enamel dial since the Langematik Anniversary of 2001.

The case is Honeygold, a proprietary 18k alloy that is markedly harder than conventional gold and paler in appearance; Lange's development chief Anthony de Haas has noted that milling it wears out drill bits at the same rate as platinum. 

The manually wound calibre L093.1 is comprised of 167 parts and an impressive 2.9mm thin. Here, it has received finishing unique to the anniversary series. The German silver three-quarter plate, descended from F.A. Lange's 1864 invention, is frosted rather than striped with Glashütte stripes. Every engraving, including the hand-engraved balance cock, is filled with dark grey lacquer, recalling 19th-century Saxon pocket watches. Its style leans Glashütte pocket watch more than contemporary Lange. Collectors prize the details thinness forces: the crown and barrel ratchet wheels, hidden beneath the plate in nearly every other Lange, sit exposed here, circular-grained with bevelled, polished teeth–a finish distinct from the standard L093.1's radial graining. 

The 239.050 is heavily desired for its restraint, focus of detail, and utter elegance. It is an exercise in refining the basics continuously toward perfection, utilizing some of the most time-intensives techniques and materials possible. 

This 239.050 presents in great overall condition. The dial is flawless with no signs of wear. The case bears only very light signs of surface on the bezel, case middle, lug tops, and lug sides,. Its lug backs show scratches and signs of occasional strap changes. Its calibre L093.1 is running well in specification. It comes on its original brown strap, with full set and original Honeygold pin buckle.

This example is modelled on an average-sized 7-inch wrist.