Introduced in 2015, the Zeitwerk Minute Repeater is the only watch in the world to combine a mechanical jumping numeral dial with a decimal minute repeater. The complicated watch – its assembly alone requires several months – has so far only been available in platinum. Five years after its debut, it now comes in a limited edition of 30 replica watches in white gold with a deep blue dial.
The Zeitwerk Minute Repeater presents a totally new interpretation of the classic complication. Its striking mechanism, sounding at ten-minute intervals instead of quarter-hour double strikes, is a compelling logical complement to the “digital” display of the time.
As soon as the striking mechanism is activated with the repeater pusher at 10 o’clock, the time sounds as indicated on the dial. You hear what you see. And you see what you hear. At 7:52, for example, the left-hand gong hammer strikes the low-pitched gong seven times, once for each elapsed hour. Five double tones are then struck for the elapsed ten minute intervals, followed by the right hammer with two high strikes, one for each elapsed minute. Polished gongs and polished black gong hammers are subtly integrated into the dial design.
Special design features.
In developing the striking mechanism, Lange’s engineers built on the basic principle of the jumping numeral mechanism in which the time is displayed by means of an hour ring and two-minute discs. This configuration allows to sample the number of chimes to be executed, separately for hours, ten minute intervals and minutes, directly on the snails that are connected to the mechanical dial elements. At the same time, the enlarged sampling surfaces improve the reliability of the chime mechanism. This ensures that the acoustic time always corresponds to the displayed time.
Push button instead of pin
The Zeitwerk Minute Repeater features a unique push mechanism to activate the repeater. Because the power of the chime mechanism is delivered by the main barrel spring, there is no need for a pin, common on minute repeaters, to tension a separate spring. The absence of a large lateral opening in the box eliminated a source of acoustic interruption, thus improving sound quality. And since a pusher, unlike a pin, can be sealed, the Zeitwerk Minute Repeater is water resistant to 3 bar.
harmonious sound
To achieve the best possible sound quality, the product developers carefully reconcile all relevant parameters, such as the body, the gong hammers, the gongs and the movement architecture with each other. The large white gold case offers a warm and reverberating sound. Patiently tuned by hand, the gongs generate pure, resonant tones in perfect harmony. best replica watches
Finesse in the details
The Zeitwerk Minute Repeater stands out with a number of refined technical features that optimize its performance in particular.
Since a switching action can cause mechanical conflicts while the repeater is running, the numeral disks are prevented from incrementing until the repeater sequence is complete. This can take up to 20 seconds. The delay also ensures that the digitally displayed time and the acoustic time are always the same.
For the same reason, the crown cannot be pulled out while the chime mechanism is active. Actuation of the repeater button disengages the loader wheel train from the ratchet wheel that drives the chime mechanism. This prevents the loader wheel train, including the ring gear, from rotating during the repeater sequence, which would cause unnecessary power loss.
Finally, when the power reserve falls below twelve hours, the chime mechanism can no longer be activated. This ensures that the repeater sequence is always executed in its entirety: the clock will not stop unexpectedly before the chime sequence completes. On the power reserve indicator, the 12-hour mark is identified by a red dot.
Jumping numerals mechanism
Jumping numerals mechanismWith their precise jumping-numeral dial, the Zeitwerk models represent uncompromising design purity. The display module, which consists of three discs, is arranged in such a way that the time, with large-format numerals, can be read naturally from left to right. With a soft click barely perceptible to the human eye,
the patented jumping numeral mechanism advances from minute to minute until, at the top of the hour,
all three numeral discs simultaneously jump forward in a precise increment. An exceptionally strong mainspring is required to handle these switching actions. It is equally important to ensure controlled deceleration of abruptly accelerated discs to rule out motion damage. This is done with a flight controller that absorbs excess power after each switching sequence.
constant force exhaust
Like all models in the Zeitwerk family of watches, the Zeitwerk minute repeater also features a patented constant-force escapement between the barrel
and balance that acts as a pacemaker for instantaneous advancement of the numeral discs in one-minute intervals. At the same time,
it makes an important contribution to speed stability by ensuring that the balance,
regardless of the state of charge of the watch and despite energy-intensive switching processes,
is powered with a constant amount of force throughout the entire duration. of the power reserve.
impeccable craftsmanship
Composed of 771 parts, the in-house caliber L043.5 is completed by hand with the utmost care and patience. Of the 93 rubies, three are set in screw-in gilt chatons. The hand-engraved cock of the balance wheel – the artistic signature of all Lange watches – received a design complement:
the hammer of the escapement wheel engraved with the same motif.
2020 Edition
Five years after its debut in 2015, the Zeitwerk Minute Repeater now comes in a 44.2-millimeter white gold case with a matching display. The deep blue solid silver dial contrasts beautifully with the rhodium-plated German silver time bridge. A hand-stitched blue leather strap highlights the elegance of the watch. Limited to 30 watches, this edition is exclusively available in the 33 A. Lange & Söhne replica boutiques.
