Introducing: The A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Daymatic Honeygold

I am far from prophetic when it comes to watches. I’d much rather analyze trends on the back end and make sense of them. But I was tempted to predict the future once. In late 2023, I wrote an article stating that 2024 would be the year of brown dials. I should have known that it would not become a reality. There is a reason that I do not have any prophetic talents — or do I? As it turns out, I was a year too early. What didn’t happen in 2024 ended up happening this year. In 2025, we saw a significant number of brilliant watches with brown dials. As the year comes to a close, A. Lange & Söhne adds to that list with the stylish Lange 1 Daymatic Honeygold.

Before we dive into the details of this watch, let’s stay on brown dials for a minute. After all, this new Lange 1 Daymatic Honeygold is not the first watch the German brand has released this year with a brown dial. During Watches and Wonders, A. Lange & Söhne unveiled the stunning Honeygold version of its Odysseus, which also features a brown dial. We all know that Lange releases relatively few watches each year. Seeing two models with brown dials probably says something about the general interest in the color. As hardcore watch enthusiasts know, for the longest time, brown dials were out of the question. Lately, though, that has changed.

The story of the A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Daymatic Honeygold

Now, let’s get into the story of this special 250-piece Lange 1 Daymatic Honeygold limited edition. The watch debuts on December 7th, a special date for A. Lange & Söhne. On this day in 1845, Ferdinand Adolph Lange laid the cornerstone for the foundation of German precision watchmaking in Glashütte. Additionally, December 7th was the date that his great-grandson, Walter Lange, revived the brand in 1990. Now, 35 years later, A. Lange commemorates this with the new Lange 1 Daymatic Honeygold.

This watch marks the return of a “simple” automatic Lange 1 to the brand’s lineup. It’s also special because it’s the first Lange 1 Daymatic in the brand’s proprietary Honeygold material. That said, it’s not the first Lange 1 in general to use this alloy. The brand released the Lange 1 Tourbillon Honeygold 165 Years as part of a trilogy of watches commemorating the brand’s 165th anniversary in 2010. Another model was the Lange 1 Honeygold, a limited edition of just 20 watches, offered to key clients in December 2015. Lastly, the A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Time Zone Honeygold was introduced in 2015 as another example of the Lange 1 models in this material.

For those unfamiliar with Honeygold, it’s a gold alloy with a hue that stretches from almost white gold to a lighter version of rose gold, depending on how the light hits it. For the new Lange 1 Daymatic, A. Lange & Söhne paired a brown dial with this beautiful Honeygold case.

The details of the new A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Daymatic Honeygold

The Lange 1 Daymatic is the simplest automatic version of the brand’s iconic Lange 1. It has not been part of the catalog for a while. Having said that, the current collection holds two self-winding Lange 1 models — the Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar and the Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar. It’s great to see a new Lange 1 Daymatic next to these complicated models. However, it’s only for a short time, as this is a 250-piece limited edition, and judging by its brilliant appearance, these will undoubtedly sell out quickly.

When comparing the Daymatic to the manual-winding Lange 1, one thing will immediately stand out: the dial configurations are a mirror image of each other, with everything typically on the left moved to the right and vice versa. Additionally, for the Daymatic, the usual power reserve indicator makes way for a retrograde day display. These aspects make it easy to immediately differentiate the two Lange 1 models without needing to examine the calibers.

The details of the Lange 1 Daymatic Honeygold

However, let’s go over the details to get a better understanding of what the new Lange 1 Daymatic is all about. The watch features a 39.5mm Honeygold case with a 10.4mm thickness. This three-part case features a polished finish on the bezel and case back’s flank, along with a beautifully brushed case band. On the right side, you will find the branded Honeygold crown, and the curved lugs of the slightly reworked case ensure the watch sits nicely on the wrist.

The case is paired with a 925 silver dial with a beautiful, dark chocolate-brown tone. The off-center design features the hour and minute dial at 3 o’clock, the running seconds at 7 o’clock, the retrograde day display at 9 o’clock, and, lastly, the outsize date at 11 o’clock. As always with Lange dial designs, the placement is meticulously arranged by using geometrical shapes to ensure that the placement and proportions are spot on. As you can see, the hands, hour markers, and the date frame are executed in Honeygold. The alloy’s lighter hue complements the dark brown dial beautifully, giving the composition a wonderful warmth.

The self-winding L021.1 movement

If you turn the watch around, you will see the glorious automatic in-house caliber L021.1. The level of finishing and detail is off the charts. Just look at that glorious 21K yellow gold rotor with the brand’s name embossed and its centrifugal mass made of 950 platinum. The finishing, with its blued screws and incredibly detailed presence, showcases the incredible craftsmanship that Lange is famous for.

This 426-part self-winding caliber operates at 21,600 vibrations per hour, has 67 jewels and seven gold screwed chatons, and offers 50 hours of power reserve. The movement is precision-adjusted in five positions and features the brand’s signature hand-engraved balance cock. It is truly an incredible sight to behold. To correct the date, simply use the pusher located on the left side of the case. Additionally, the small corrector placed below the pusher lets you switch the day of the week.

Final thoughts on this new A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Daymatik Honeygold

Overall, I love this new Lange 1 Daymatik Honeygold. There is something magical about the combination of gold and dark brown. Lange’s lighter Honeygold complements the rich, deep color of the dial particularly well. The brown alligator leather strap and its Honeygold buckle only emphasize the color choice. This watch has instantly become one of my favorite Lange 1 models, whether manual or automatic. For A. Lange & Söhne, this is a rather special color combination. But I must say that it would work wonders for different models as well.

With a stunning caliber inside, this watch is an absolutely fantastic way to commemorate this special date in Lange’s history. As mentioned, the brand will produce 250 individually numbered pieces, which will undoubtedly find their way to A. Lange & Söhne collectors at a price available upon request. The return of the Lange 1 Daymatik is a true joy. I hope that we will get to see more of this watch in the future. This Honeygold version is a significant first step in the model making glorious return to the collection.