The moon is a fascinating celestial body that has been preoccupying astronomers for time immemorial. It is not only responsible for the tides, but also influences the life rhythms of numerous creatures and plants. For these reasons, many watch enthusiasts appreciate a moon-phase display. Since its restart, the manufactory in Saxony has presented twelve models with this complication. But never before has the moon phase been as prominently showcased as in the new GRAND LANGE 1 MOON PHASE. A spacious stage has been reserved for the popular astronomical indication on the dial. It provides vividly realistic proof of how closely the moon-phase display tracks the actual orbit of our planet’s companion. This is because the display is connected with the hour-wheel continuum. As a result, it is constantly in motion, just like the moon itself. The increments are so small they cannot be detected by the naked eye.

Additionally, the moon-phase display indicates the time that elapses from new moon to new moon with an accuracy of 99.9978 per cent. The average synodic month lasts 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes, and 3 seconds. For the sake of simplicity, most classic moon-phase displays round this cycle down to 29.5 days. The resulting deviation of 44 minutes and 3 seconds per lunation adds up to one day in merely two and a half years. The much more precisely calculated seven-gear trans­mission of the GRAND LANGE 1 MOON PHASE reduces the deviation per cycle to less than one minute. Once correctly set, and assuming that the watch runs continuously, the dis­play would only have to be corrected by one day every 122.6 years. Moreover, the display can be adjusted separately by using the push piece embedded in the case flank between 7 and 8 o’clock, for instance if the watch has not been wound up for a longer period of time.

The effort invested in the coating of the solid-gold lunar disc exemplifies the degree of perfection to which Lange’s product developers are committed. Their goal was to depict the nocturnal sky as magnificently as possible. The result of their intensive research and development work is a patented coating process, which, with its incomparably brilliant colours and crisp texture details, fulfils even the most ambitious aesthetic expectations. Interference effects – the superposition of waves – eliminate all non-blue hues of light falling on the watch. This creates an intense blue tone for the eye of the observer. A laser is used to cut out more than 300 stars of different sizes with extremely sharp contours, producing a miniaturised image of the galaxy.

Combining an off-centre dial, the outsize date and a lavishly finished manufacture calibre, the GRAND LANGE 1 MOON PHASE features all of the iconic hallmarks of A. Lange & Söhne’s most famous timepiece family. The considerable 72-hour power reserve was achieved with only one mainspring barrel. This is why the height of the movement is a scant 4.7 millimetres. The case in yellow gold, pink gold or platinum has a diameter of 41.0 millimetres. Endowed with a classic screw balance, a balance spring developed and manufactured in-house, a three-quarter plate made of untreated German silver, and lavishly hand-decorated movement parts, the Lange manufacture calibre L095.3 unites all of the classic features that prompt connoisseurs around the world to associate A. Lange & Söhne timepieces with Saxon watchmaking artistry and superior precision.