A. Lange & Söhne continue to develop its Odysseus collection with the launch of a new limited-edition reference in titanium. Not only is this A. Lange & Söhne’s sportiest timepiece ever, but it’s also the first titanium watch the brand has ever created.
A. Lange & Söhne Odysseus Titanium: What Is It?
The Odysseus was a coup d’état for A. Lange & Söhne when it was first released in 2019, as the first integrated steel sports watch the brand had ever made, receiving a somewhat polarised reception at launch. In the few years since it was shown to the collecting community, that initially polarised reception has shifted to an almost universal appreciation for its design and place within the brand’s catalogue.
Now in 2022, the German watchmaker has further accelerated the sportiness of the design thanks to a case and bracelet constructed in titanium, making it even more lightweight and wearable. In the ever-white-hot luxury sports watch market, this is a heavyweight new timepiece with a lightweight presence on the wrist.
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Case
The proportions of the case are much the same as its stainless steel sibling, measuring 40.5mm in diameter and 11.5mm thick. The case is a pleasure to view thanks to the complexity of its construction, and the level of finishing detail achieved by A. Lange & Söhne, with articulate case lines highlighted by perfectly polished and sandblasted surfaces. Made from grade 5 titanium that is around 40% lighter than stainless steel, the case also features a screw-down crown that guarantees the watch 120m of water resistance.
Dial
The dial of the Odysseus is a masterpiece of balance and proportion, with the day displayed via a window at 9 o’clock, while you’ll find the date at 3 o’clock. The seconds subdial is wonderfully oversized, taking up nearly half the dial, while the hands are filled with luminous material that underlines the sportiness of the watch.
Movement
Beneath the dial is the automatic, in-house Calibre L155.1 Datomatic, which is thankfully visible through the sapphire crystal caseback. Featuring a large engraved rotor, the German silver bridges that form the structure of the movement are stunning thanks to the impeccable finishing that A. Lange & Söhne is known and loved for. As with all watches from the German watchmaker, the visible balance cock is engraved by hand, making each watch unique.
Strap
The timepiece arrives on an integrated bracelet constructed from the same grade 5 titanium as the rest of the watch. Featuring rows of five links, it is secured with a folding clasp that boasts an innovative micro-adjust mechanism, as well as a system to remove the bracelet if you choose to swap it for a leather or rubber strap.
Verdict & Price
No matter which angle you look at it, the A. Lange & Söhne Odysseus in titanium is an extremely compelling piece of watchmaking, from the contemporary design of the case and bracelet to the lightweight luxury of its titanium construction. The price, however, is where a single eyebrow might twitch, even if just for a moment.
In titanium, the Odysseus arrives with an RRP of €55,000, which is significantly more than the €28,000 version in stainless steel and also more expensive than the €42,000 example in gold on a rubber strap. However, if money is no object, and you’re looking for a pinnacle in contemporary sports watchmaking, then you could do significantly worse than the A. Lange & Söhne Odysseus in titanium.
