Downsizing With Two New A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Up/Down Models
With a collection as extensive as A. Lange & Söhne’s, it’s tough to pick favorites. A long string of highlights showcases the German marque’s incredible horological skill, making A. Lange & Söhne one of my most beloved watch brands. I love the combination of technical wizardry and the geometric approach to design. Because of this, if you ask me about my favorite Lange watches, I will drum up an entire list. Some are in the beautiful 1815 collection, including my grail watch. For its newest releases, A. Lange & Söhne extends this lineup with two new 1815 Up/Down models. As you can imagine, these piqued my curiosity.
A quick look at the 1815 collection reveals seven types of watches, each with multiple executions. Among them are my favorite 34mm 1815, the 1815 Chronograph, and the 1815 Rattrapante. That last sub-series contains the grail watch that I wrote about in 2022. The A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Rattrapante Honeygold “Homage to F. A. Lange” is still very close to my heart. Until today, the current 1815 Up/Down line consisted of two models in white gold and pink gold. Both have a silver dial and present a fairly classic aesthetic. Today’s two new variants add a bit of color and a contemporary feel to the watch. Both feature a beautiful dark blue dial and will be produced in a limited run of 300 pieces per metal.
The details of the new A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Up/Down
For those unfamiliar, the A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Up/Down is one of the least complicated watches in the series. It takes the brand’s signature AB/AUF power reserve concept and makes it the watch’s main feature. The new introductions have a 37.5mm case with an 8.7mm profile and a 45mm lug-to-lug. This means they’re slightly smaller than the 39mm models I mentioned earlier. But this isn’t the first time A. Lange & Söhne has used this case diameter for the 1815 Up/Down. In 2006, the brand created a limited series of the same watch as a tribute to the late Walter Lange, using the same case size.
As mentioned, the first of the two watches is executed in 18K white gold and the second in 18K pink gold. Both cases are paired with a 925 silver dial finished in a beautiful dark blue. This dial also features two silver-colored sub-dials at 4 and 8 o’clock. The first is the running seconds, while the latter is the power reserve indicator. The “AB” (Down) marker represents the unwound movement, whereas the “AUF” (Up) indicates a fully wound movement. As you can see, the power reserve indicator features a red portion to indicate that the watch has only six hours of power remaining out of the total 72.
The intricate details of the 1815 Up/Down
There are also plenty of intricate details to uncover. It starts with the beautifully executed railroad-minute track, which contains triple-dot markers for 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock and a single dot for each remaining hour. Additionally, the brand name sits on the same curve as the recessed circular center of the dial, a detail inspired by historic Lange pocket watches. Lastly, the central hands match the case material, whereas the hands in the sub-dials are blued steel.
If you turn the watches around, you’ll find the 245-part Lange manufacture caliber L051.2. This manually wound movement operates at 21,600 vph, has 29 jewels, and offers a 72-hour power reserve. As we know from Lange, the finishing of the German silver plates is meticulous. Additionally, the caliber features seven gold chatons and the brand’s signature engraved balance cock. The caliber is visible through a sapphire display in the case back, which also features the unique limited-production number engraved on its edge.
Final thoughts on the new A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Up/Down
Seeing the new A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Up/Down models made me realize how many signature elements the brand has created over time. The AB/AUF power reserve indicator is one of many, but it is a great one. It adds a playful element to the dials with a serious function. On top of that, the design aligns with the 1815 Chronograph, which features a similar layout with two sub-dials placed below the center of the dial.
The contrasting silver-colored sub-dials work really well with the blue dials. That’s no surprise, as it is a classic color combination, but I generally prefer the simplicity of a single color for both the dial and sub-dials on a watch like this. Nevertheless, especially on the white gold model, this design works very well. The smaller 37.5mm size is ideal for a watch of this style, too. It makes these new 1815 Up/Down welcome additions to the lineup. The price for both models is on request, as is typical for A. Lange & Söhne these days.
The brand will produce 300 pieces of the new 1815 Up/Down in each metal, and the watches will be officially presented at the Concours of Elegance, taking place September 4th–6th, 2026, at Hampton Court Palace. Let us know what you think of these additions to the 1815 Up/Down lineup in the comments below.
