IntroducingA. Lange & Söhne Downsizes The Saxonia Annual Calendar To 36mm

For this year's Watches and Wonders, A. Lange & Söhne has revealed a new generation of the previously-discontinued Saxonia Annual Calendar, available in either white or pink gold. Most important part of all? It's now even smaller, at an impressive 36 millimeters in diameter.

Let's start with the dial, which takes from the clean, minimal design language of the Saxonia collection. The white gold case gets a classic 925 silver dial, while the pink gold case pairs a 925 silver dial with a dark grey treatment. Dial furniture is sparse, with applied hour markers complemented by the metallic frame of the oversized big date display at 12 o'clock. The applied hour markers are actually quite interesting up close, with cut facets that form pyramid-like ends to the baton shapes while catching an incredible amount of light. Perhaps it's a subtle nod to the older generation that placed applied dots alongside each rectangular hour marker on the dial.

The hands on this new-generation annual calendar match the case and indices' metal, and the day-of-the-week and month hands now match the shape of the hour and minute hands. On the white gold version, this certainly means less contrast, but white gold hands on a light dial are very much in line with many Saxonia models. The subdials for the annual calendar's day of the week and month are snailed, ever-so-slightly sunken, and beveled for an extra bit of depth, while the text printing is streamlined. The gold moonphase disc, sitting in a cutout behind the small seconds subdial, offers a brilliant pop of blue while a sea of 428 stars keeps things whimsical.

From a case perspective, the new models shrink the Saxonia Annual Calendar from 38.5mm in diameter to the svelte 36mm, while thickness remains the same at 9.8mm. Proportions are a bit different here, with a noticeably slimmer bezel that gives the dial a much more expansive appearance, and the lugs have also been slightly slimmed down while preserving that distinctive Lange lug shape. While recessed pushers still require a tool to make adjustments to the calendar, new to this generation is an external pusher at ten o'clock. Each press of this pusher advances all the annual calendar indications forward by a day, which is an incredibly convenient way to catch up your calendar if you haven't worn it in a few days, without needing any additional tools. Of course, as it's an annual calendar, the only manual adjustment needed is at the end of February; the movement transitions appropriately at the end of each other month regardless of length.

Inside the watch is, in typical Lange fashion, a new caliber. The automatic-winding L207.1, despite the new watch's smaller proportions, remains very similar in dimension to the outgoing annual calendar L085.1 caliber at 30.4mm in diameter, but actually a hair thicker at 5.7mm (compared to the L085.1's 5.4mm thickness). It's most likely, in my view, due to the change from an offset microrotor layout to a full winding rotor on the back. The new movement offers an improved power reserve, increasing from 46 hours to 60 hours at the 21,600 VpH beat rate, as well as the new rapid-adjustment functionality. Finishing remains the same as other Lange calibers, extremely well done, with prominent striping on the German silver bridges, gold chatons, heat-blued screws, and, of course, a hand-engraved balance cock.

The new A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Annual Calendar is priced "in the range of €65,000."

In many ways, launching these new, smaller Saxonia Annual Calendar models could not be a more perfect complement to the launch of the Lange 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar "Lumen." If the brand's limited-edition headlining novelty marks Lange's watchmaking at its most modern and extravagant, these Saxonias show that the brand continues to respect its traditional values and churn out great, understated pieces all the same.

I mean, a new modern annual calendar at 36mm is so great to see here. Even though the annual calendar isn't the first complication that comes to mind when I think about Lange, I appreciate that what felt like one of the brand's less-talked-about watches has continued to get some love with major updates, and offering one in this dimension is sure to attract some eyes away from another brand that's much better known for the complication. 

Though it might be too soon to say, based on last year's much-talked-about 34mm 1815 and now this downsized annual calendar, could it be possible that the next generation of Lange watches will prioritize wearability alongside mechanical excellence? It's quite interesting that a brand known for slightly chunky watches is actually bucking the trend with these new designs, and I'm looking forward to seeing them this week.

Brand: A. Lange & Söhne
Model: Saxonia Annual Calendar
Reference Number: 331.026 E (white gold); 331.033 E (pink gold)

Diameter: 36mm
Thickness: 9.8mm
Case Material: White or pink gold
Dial Color: 925 silver in either argenté or grey finish
Indexes: Applied
Lume: No
Water Resistance: 30 meters
Strap/Bracelet: Alligator leather strap

Caliber: L207.1
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, annual calendar with oversized date, moonphase
Diameter: 30.4mm
Thickness: 9.8mm
Power Reserve: 60 hours
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 21,600 VpH
Jewels: 56
Chronometer Certified: No

Price: In the range of €65,000
Availability: Now
Limited Edition: No

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