414.028, 1815 Chronograph, White Gold

In 2004, the 1815 Chronograph finally debuted in the wake of long-standing wish for a thinner, more proportional chronograph from A. Lange & Söhne collectors. With a less busy dial thanks to no date aperture and proportionally more classical case, the 1815 Chronograph quickly became core to the brand’s complications. At 39.5mm and 11m thin, the 1815 Chronograph’s case landed much closer to ideals than the contemporary Datograph's 41mm and 13.1mm height. Importantly, the architecture of its calibre L951.5 remains visually just as dramatic. This is A. Lange & Söhne chronograph in its most pure iteration. This ref. 414.028 is the first black dial, white gold model made—a ‘Darth’ aesthetic which is arguably the most imposing 1815 Chronograph yet made. 

On the 200th birthday of founder Ferdinand Adolph Lange's birthday in 2015, A. Lange & Söhne gave the world something truly remarkable. It was the perfect occasion to introduce what would be the new generation of 1815 Chronographs. That initiative began with the 414.026 Boutique Edition. Two years later, the 1815 Chronograph received a black dial in this ref. 414.028. This generation sported a thinner font and larger subdials. However, the most important choice was a nod toward heritage in a beautifully executed pulsations scale, resumed from the first generation yet missing in the second. Quarter indices are marked by three dots, a shape inspired by 19th century Saxon porcelain work.  

Calibre L951.5 is a direct descendant of the original Datograph, without date mechanism. It is otherwise a comparable column wheel, lateral clutch (for aesthetic considerations), flyback chronograph executed in the contemporary German style which its predecessor set forth. Comprised of 320 components, each is finished masterfully. It sports German silver bridges, polished and beveled steel levers, a hand engraved balance cock, gold chatons, and heat-blued screws all for an unrivaled depth and drama. 

The 1815 Chronograph is captivating, encompassing the beauty of the L951 in its most elegant proportion ever. A. Lange & Söhne already had a winning formula in the Datograph. But the 1815 Chronograph exists because, in Glashütte, perfection isn't enough. Thin, with a pulsations scale and a ‘Darth’ Teutonic restraint, the ref. 414.026 is contemporary German chronograph design at its absolute best. 

This 414.026 presents in excellent overall condition. Its case is very strong with only very little signs of superficial wear. Its calibre L951.5 is running well in specification with all chronograph functions operating perfectly. It comes with its complete set on a brown alligator Lange strap and platinum pin buckle.

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