Long-Term Review: A. Lange & Söhne Odysseus in White Gold
A low-key horological masterpiece that deserves greater attentions
October has been a busy month full of exciting new watch releases. The climax arrived on Oct 18, when Patek Philipps unveiled the successor to 5711. This poster child of modern sports watch was introduced in 2006 and discounted in 2021. The new star, reference 5811/1G-001, is an updated Nautilus in white gold case and bracelet.
I could not put down my phone, like many watch enthusiasts on that day. After devouring all the frantic media reports and WhatsApp group chats, I glanced down at my wrist. I could not help but smile and tell myself, Lange is leading the trend here. I had been wearing my A. Lange & Söhne Odysseus in white gold case on that day (and the whole week actually).
Lange launched Odysseus, its first sports watch in stainless steel in 2019. It soon became a huge hit due to the top notch built quality and small production volume. In 2020, Lange introduced the second Odysseus model. To everyone's surprise, it was a watch in white gold. Both are boutique exclusive models with long wait lists.
I have owned the Odysseus white gold (reference 363.068) since April, 2021. It is one of my watches that got the most wrist time. I wore it to the WatchTime Event in New York city in Oct 2021. It is a versatile timepiece with a leather strap and a rubber strap. If anyone asks for a one-watch suggestion below $50K list price, I would recommend this piece. This is a long-term review to explain why.
A Sports Watch Conceived with Lange DNA
The Odysseus line is a new Lange family designed from ground up for active wearers. It is Lange’s interpretation of what a modern sports watch should be. It is not a homage to any prior examples in this popular category. It has not been copied by anyone, as it is a tough act to follow. The design is deeply rooted in Lange traditions. For a comparison of Odysseus with a Lange dress watch, please refer to this earlier article by me.
Odysseus is simply a superbly crafted timepiece, inside and out. A picture worths a thousand words. Let’s see what a stunning beauty it is on the wrist!
Key Specifications
I will not delve too much into the details of the specifications, as they have been reviewed thoroughly elsewhere. I will list a few key data points below to illustrate its credentials as an excellent sports watch.
40.5mm case diameter
11.1mm case thickness
120m water resistance with a screwed down crown
Automatic movement with 50 hours power reserve
Black rubber strap or brown leather strap
A Movement for Active Lifestyle
A brand new caliber L155.1 was designed for Odysseus with sports and leisure activities in mind. The key changes compared to Lange movements for dress watches include the following:
The balance wheel is suspended by a bridge instead of a cock
The oscillation system beats at 4 Hertz instead of 3 Hertz (for rate stability)
Self-winding with 50 hour power reserve
The movement in my watch keeps very accurate time. The measurements by using a timegrapher showed -0.2 sec/day (see below). I carried out the tests on different days and arrived at similar results.
Measurement done on 10/19/2022:
Dial up: 0
Dial down: 0
Crown up: -1
Crown down: 0
12 up: +1
12 down: -1
Average: -0.2 sec/day
Integrated Rubber/Leather Straps
Lange has developed an integrated strap system that facilities quick strap change. A black rubber strap and a brown leather strap are available for the white gold Odysseus. The black rubber strap is the standard while the leather strap is an option that may be ordered. There are two lengths available, the standard length and the longer one.
Two pin pushers are provided and stored with the user’s manual. There is a button on the back of the lug. With one pusher pressing down the button, the other pusher is used to push out the pin. Please see the illustrations below.
What I love most about the Odysseus
The big date and day - easy to read and much better than Rolex cyclops.
Easy date and day changes
Superb construction of date/day pushers
40.5mm case size
Quick strap change
Beautiful and accurate movement
Visiting NYC with Odysseus
In October 2021, I visited the New York City and brought just one watch with me, the Odysseus. I attended the WatchTime Event and visited a number of watch boutiques. I received many compliments on this timepiece during those few days.
More Wrist-shots
It has been one week since the Nautilus 5811 release and there was no letdown of media reports. One article title reads “Scarcity of Patek Philippe Nautilus 5811 will cause headaches for authorised dealers says brand president Thierry Stern”. I gather that Mr. Stern liked the hype better if it is for a white gold piece and not a steel piece. We see that Lange’s product strategy for the Odysseus line has been the same.
Yet the Lange Odysseus in white gold has never received attentions remotely resemble to what PP Nautilus and AP Royal Oak have been getting. It is much low-key, less known and less seen. This suits me just fine. Because the Odysseus is in no way any less brilliant to its peers in terms of craftsmanship and ingenuity. It is in fact leading the trends quietly. It is so versatile that it could be a perfect one-and-done watch if the wearer wants one in precious metal.
I really enjoy the company of Odysseus on my wrist. The look, the size and the weight are just right. Not to mention a top-notch modern movement beating inside. It is a wonderful horological masterpiece that makes watch hobby so intriguing and enjoyable.
Hey... That's a beautiful watch and it suits your wrist very well. Is there any mandatory rule of buying history at lange to even put my name on the waiting list or can I put my name as a new customer .
Great insights. Thanks for sharing with us!