Hands-On: A. Lange & Söhne Minute Repeater Perpetual Watch In Platinum
Photos by Jake Witkin
When you first pick up the A. Lange & Söhne Minute Repeater Perpetual, which was released at Watches & Wonders 2025, the weight hits you before anything else. It’s platinum, so of course it has presence, but there’s a gravitas that goes beyond metal. You’re holding a watch that combines two of the most respected complications in high horology, and somehow does so without looking or feeling overdone. A minute repeater is one of the most complex and revered watch complications, chiming the time on demand with a series of tones for hours, quarters, and minutes. Originally developed in the 18th century to tell time in the dark, it remains a showcase of traditional watchmaking mastery. Each mechanism can take hundreds of hours to build and tune by hand, with sound quality influenced by the case material and construction. Despite modern advances, the minute repeater remains a symbol of pure mechanical poetry. This is what is most striking in person: This is a complicated watch that doesn’t feel complicated. It’s a watch for those in the know, oh you surely know. A. Lange & Sohne is just one of those brands.
Despite what’s going on inside, this isn’t a watch that announces itself with unnecessary bulk. At 40.5mm wide and just 12.1mm thick, it sits well. If you’ve handled other minute repeaters or perpetual calendars before, you’ll know how rare that is. Most feel like they’ve got layers upon layers of mechanical architecture stacked high. Not this one. It’s dense, as platinum will do that, but it’s balanced. The weight feels centered, like it’s hugging the wrist rather than dragging down one side. It’s the kind of heft that quietly reminds you it’s special, not the kind that becomes a burden. Platinum is significantly heavier than stainless steel, with a density of approximately 21.45 grams per cubic centimeter compared to around 7.9 grams per cubic centimeter for 316L stainless steel. That makes platinum roughly 60% denser, which contributes to the noticeable heft of this watch. But in this case, the weight feels purposeful and refined, never overbearing. Paired with a high-gloss black alligator strap and a platinum deployant clasp, the whole package feels intentionally restrained and elegant, more quiet confidence than flash.
The dial is what you’d expect from Lange, but dialed up. High-gloss black enamel plays well with the white gold relief elements, giving off this quiet shimmer under light. The layout is intuitive and symmetrical: triple subdials at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock, the signature outsize date up top, and a moonphase complication that could double as jewelry. That moonphase deserves a closer look. It’s not just there for decoration; the 18k gold moons sit inside a field of stars, each one engraved by hand. Lange claims it only needs a one-day correction every 122.6 years, which basically means you’ll never have to touch it. Combine that with the leap year display, day/night indicator, and perpetual calendar functions, and you’ve got a dial that has everything you’ll need, yet is still easy to read.
Flip the watch over and you’ll see the in-house L122.2 fully on display. We’re talking 640 components. Hand-polished bevels, black-polished hammers, screwed gold chatons, it’s all there. The finishing is crisp, it almost feels like a digital render… until you see the slight shimmer of a hand-applied touch. But the movement’s real party trick is the minute repeater. Activating the minute repeater is akin to initiating a private concert. The chime resonates with a clarity and warmth that belies the density of its platinum case. Each note, low for hours, double for quarters, and high for minutes, rings out in a harmonious sequence, creating a melodious representation of time. This auditory experience is not just a function but an event, showcasing Lange’s dedication to acoustic excellence.
The repeater mechanism’s sophistication extends beyond sound. It intelligently omits unnecessary pauses, ensuring a seamless flow of chimes that feels natural and unbroken. Safety features, like locking the crown during chiming and a patented hammer blocker, reflect a level of overengineering that collectors will absolutely appreciate. Every strike is precise, intentional, and never rushed. Lange even has each watch hand-tuned by a master watchmaker to ensure pitch-perfect resonance, even after it’s cased.
This isn’t just a showcase of complications. It’s a lesson in how to integrate them. The A. Lange & Söhne Minute Repeater Perpetual in Platinum doesn’t try to do everything. It chooses two complications and executes them with a level of clarity and elegance that’s rare these days. It’s not flashy. It doesn’t scream for attention. In the realm of high complications, the A. Lange & Söhne Minute Repeater Perpetual distinguishes itself through restraint and refinement. While contemporaries like Patek Philippe’s Grand Complications or Vacheron Constantin’s Les Cabinotiers often embrace opulence and intricate designs, Lange opts for a quieter approach. No skeletonized bridges, no wild finishing flourishes, just smart, elegant design.
Even the way Lange showcases the movement feels deliberate. The German silver three-quarter plate emphasizes structural integrity over ornamental showboating. And yet, it’s all beautifully done. You get the sense that Lange isn’t trying to impress with flash. They’re impressing with discipline. It’s a piece made for people who understand what they’re looking at. Only 50 pieces will be made, and they’ll be boutique-only. Pricing hasn’t been disclosed, but let’s be real, if you’re shopping for one, you already know what you’re getting into. For more information, please visit the A. Lange & Sohne website.
