IntroducingA. Lange Söhne Saxonia Thin In Two New Onyx-Dialed Limited Editions (Live Pics)

A. Lange & Söhne released one of the best watches of the year at Watches & Wonders with the introduction of the 34mm 1815 with a simple hours, minutes, and seconds display. Despite the sizing, it seemed universally loved; however, the Saxonia Thin has a long-standing fandom, and there was a hole in the lineup for a larger dress watch. Today's release of a new pair of Saxonia Thin models, one in 750 Honeygold and the other in 950 Platinum, both with 925 silver dials capped with onyx, effectively fills that gap with two very attractive limited edition watches.

The watches measure 40mm by 6.2mm, which means that the 28mm-diameter manually wound Calibre L093.1 sits a bit small on the caseback view. At only 2.9mm thick, the movement still boasts a remarkable 72-hour power reserve and runs at 21,600 vph. The watch has 21 jewels, three screwed gold chatons, a shock-resistant screw balance, and a balance spring manufactured in-house. 

The movement was released in 2011 and, with such a substantial power reserve and proven reliability, there's really no need to replace or improve upon its success. And, as you can see, the watch remains incredibly thin.

These new Saxonia Thin models look stunning. A Honeygold case is always an attractive option for collectors, and even more so with the silver dial capped with black onyx. The platinum and onyx combo is also a solid option for someone who prefers a white metal option. Both watches are limited to 200 pieces and are priced around €45,000.

Interestingly, we see so few excellent black dial, gold cased dress watches on the market, especially when you consider that most collectors would tell you that's basically the ultimate combination in a vintage watch. Perhaps it's a bit heavy-handed in a modern context, but the combination of Honeygold and onyx stone is genuinely stunning. Tony de Haas, Lange's Director of Product Development, told me that the brand tried every combination of case material with the onyx dial before settling on these two. White gold was not quite special enough for this treatment, and Lange has previously made a black dial on a white gold Saxonia. But the Honeygold and platinum just worked in tests. The Honeygold case and black dial push the case color more toward white, but it still retains a hint of yellow and rose coloring. 

One of the special things about Honeygold, however, is how infrequently the brand uses the material. It seems like they're picking up some steam in recent years, with the Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Lumen and Honeygold Odysseus recently, but de Haas told me not to worry about overexposure. Honeygold is so hard to machine that there are limits to how many cases can be made, let alone the challenges of the Honeygold Odysseus bracelet. They also understand that some of the beauty of the material lies not only in how it interacts with color in different light, but also in its rarity. Don't expect to see the material used nearly this often in the future, but we can enjoy it while it's here.

Brand: A. Lange Söhne
Model: Saxonia Thin
Reference: 211.052, 211.062

Diameter: 40mm
Thickness: 6.2mm
Case Material: 750 Honeygold; 950 Platinum
Dial Color: 925 silver, faced with black onyx
Indexes: 750 gold, rhodiumed
Lume: None
Water Resistance: 30 meters
Strap/Bracelet: Alligator leather, black, glossy; prong buckle in material matching case

Caliber: Calibre L093.1
Functions: Hours, minutes
Diameter: 28mm
Thickness: 2.9mm
Power Reserve: 72 hours
Winding: Manual
Frequency: 21,600 vph
Jewels: 21
Chronometer Certified: No
Additional Details: Plates and bridges made of untreated German silver; balance cock engraved by hand

Price: Approximately €45,000
Availability: Now
Limited Edition: Yes, 200 pieces each

For more, click here.