The Saxonia Thin is perhaps the purest expression of A. Lange & Söhne’s formal DNA in a modern package. The small details are everything with this collection, and it’s one that the German brand approaches with a great deal of restraint. Since its introduction in 2011, there have been just nine individual references, each of them rendered in either white or pink gold. Today, that changes with the introduction of two new limited edition references to the collection featuring the use of platinum, and that oh-so-special Honeygold. To accentuate these materials, both of these watches get black glossy onyx stone dials for an ultra clean aesthetic.
Last year, A. Lange & Söhne celebrated the 30th anniversary of their modern identity, and 25 years of the Datograph in spectacular fashion. Never content to make predictable decisions, this year has been a bit different for the brand, but if there’s a theme to be found it might just be the expanded use of their proprietary material, Honeygold. We saw it come to the Odysseus earlier this year at Watches & Wonders, and it’s being deployed again within the Saxonia Thin collection. It might not sound like much, but it’s a material that’s only been used just over a dozen times since it was first introduced in 2010 in a trio of watches honoring ‘165 Years – Homage to F. A. Lange’.
Honeygold is an alloy that was originally conceived for its strength compared to other golds; the unique hue ended up being a welcome side effect that’s come to define it today. As observed in images, it’s a perfectly lovely material that you might have a hard time differentiating from pink gold. In person, it’s a different story. There is a subtle warmth here that feels like it’s maybe been in the same room as gold, but only a few times. It’s a material best experienced in daylight, though it takes on a range of personalities depending on the environmental lighting. It’s a perfect sweet spot for folks that may find yellow or pink gold a bit too ostentatious, but want something a little spicier than a white metal.
Of course, platinum has its own enviable qualities. Together, these two watches are the epitome of under the radar fireworks. The glossy black onyx dials are rich and luxurious as you’d imagine, especially when paired with the minimal dial design and thoughtfully executed case design, which includes a brushed mid section. The dials push the focal point to the metals themselves, and particularly highlight the complex nature of Honeygold.
Each of these watches uses the 40mm Saxonia Thin case, and at a mere 6.2mm thick, they are exactly that. They employ the manually wound caliber L093.1 with 72 hours of power reserve. The movement is visible through an exhibition caseback, though these are certainly the kinds of watches that could get away with something closed. Still, it’s hard to complain about the view. Both watches are limited to 200 units planned for production. A. Lange & Söhne