Hands-on with the 2016 edition of the A. Lange & Sohne Saxonia Thin, with new face (live pics, specs & price)

This 2016 edition of the SIHH has been very productive for A. Lange & Sohne (again…). We’ve seen the stunning (yes, that’s an understatement) Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon, the poetical and kind of magical Grand Lange 1 Moon Phase Lumen, the very elegant and balanced Saxonia Moon Phase or the highly technical Richard Lange Jumping Seconds. Clearly, the Saxonian Manufacture didn’t disappoint this year. Besides these proper novelties, there was also an update of an existing watch introduced, a watch that may not be the most coveted creation of Lange but one that really has charm and a discrete elegance, the A. Lange & Sohne Saxonia Thin, which now features a new face.

As said in the introduction, the A. Lange & Sohne Saxonia Thin isn’t a proper novelty, as the previous edition of this watch was introduced at the SIHH 2011, as you can see here, in our dedicated article. However, we have to remind now the 2015 edition of the SIHH, where A. Lange & Sohne introduced a reworked collection of its classical watch, the Saxonia. All the simple versions, including the Hand-Wound, the Automatic and the Dual Time have been updated. Other specific watches, like the annual calendar or the perpetual calendar, are still relying on the old style. Finally, more recently, Lange introduced the Saxonia Moon-Phase (also including the new design). Thus, it was natural to see an evolution of the discrete, elegant and slim edition, the A. Lange & Sohne Saxonia Thin.

The evolution offered on the A. Lange & Sohne Saxonia Thin is only focused on the dial. The rest – case, movement, hands, crown, lugs… – remains identical, and we for one are not going to complain about it, as the Saxonia Thin was and still is a very desirable watch, even if it really “flies under the radar“. The main update concerns the indexes that, like the other Saxonia watches, are now longer, simple batons. Previously, the A. Lange & Sohne Saxonia Thin featured applied dots and batons (with a double dot and baton at 12). Now, the solid-gold baton hour markers have been slightly elongated and shifted closer to the bezel – and the gold dots have been removed. The dial then becomes much cleaner (maybe too clean for some) but also more modern. These indexes are made in the same gold as the case, faceted and polished to a mirror finish.

The A. Lange & Sohne Saxonia Thin is visually a very simple watch, which only shows two hands. The dial is as clean as you can expect from such a watch: logo, hands, indexes, provenance… that’s all. No complications, no extra functions (at least in terms of display), no unexpected inscriptions. It’s the essence of a dress watch. At 40mm on the other hand, it isn’t a small timepiece. Those looking for a smaller watch will have to go for the 35mm Saxonia Hand-Wound or the 38.5mm Saxonia Automatic. However, they won’t enjoy the thinness of the Saxonia Thin. As said, this 2016 is simply an update of the dial so the case remains equal, meaning that it only measures 5.9mm height. Together with the short and curved lugs, it makes the perfect combination to be worn under your cuff.

The A. Lange & Sohne Saxonia Thin is powered by the manually wound calibre L093.1, actually the thinnest movement of the Saxonian Manufacture. With a 2.9mm height, it isn’t the thinnest movement around but considering the architecture (3/4 plate), the result is still impressive. As every single movement made by Lange, it is finished with extreme care and assembled twice. The 167 components of this rather simple movement are all hand finished: polished beveled angles on the 3/4 plate (made in German Silver), screwed gold chatons, engraved cock bridge, circular graining on the main plate, sun ray pattern on the ratchet and barrel wheels… Simpler than a 295k Euros Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon for sure, but equally finished.

This movement might be thin, on the other hand it delivers 72 hours of power reserve – when most of the ultra-thin movement are only bringing 40h / 45h of energy. One regret concerns the balance wheel, that Lange could have updated with the new variable inertia version, like they did with the 2015 Lange 1. Instead, Lange still relies on a traditional system with lateral setscrew and whiplash spring. This is not a real issue but it could have had a bit of extra-attention to the movement.

This new A. Lange & Sohne Saxonia Thin will be available in 18k pink gold with a brown alligator strap or in 18k white gold with a black alligator strap. Both editions are priced at 20,800 Euros (inc. EU taxes). More details on www.alange-soehne.com.