There was much anticipation in the lead up to A. Lange & Söhne’s launch of the Odysseus last year, which met with mixed receptions. The luxury-sports watch represented a few firsts for Lange – a first foray into sports watches, the brand’s first regular-production steel watch, and for the nerds, subtle technical features not seen before in other movements.

Unsurprisingly, the inaugural steel model is now been joined by a precious metal version, the Odysseus in white gold. While the new watch is functionally similar to the steel model, the gold version is set apart with a handful of dial details, and the more obvious strap choices.

Nips and tucks

The dial gets a couple of tweaks to distinguish it, going with a muted, monotone grey instead of dark blue. More subtle are the differences in the dial finishing, with a stamped radial pattern reminiscent of the Langematik Perpetual Honey Gold, replacing the concentric rings found on the steel model.

And the central portion of the dial is finished with a more conventional fine frosting, rather than the pronounced, granular surface found on the steel model.

While the debut Odysseus was offered only with a steel bracelet, the white gold version is offered only with leather or rubber straps that connect to the watch via proprietary end-links incorporating a quick-release mechanism. While the leather strap is ordinary brown calfskin, the rubber is more than run-of-the-mill rubber strap and features raised vents on the reverse to improve ventilation and drainage while on the wrist.

There is no matching white gold bracelet available for now, but that’s not a surprise. The lack of the metal bracelet is fairly common with precious-metal sports watches, as a matching bracelet would make the watch impractically expensive.

A sporty movement

As with the steel model, discreetly integrated into the case are two pushers disguised as crown guards. The pushers at two and four o’clock advance the date and day discs respectively. But the calendar can also be adjusted by turning the crown either clockwise or anticlockwise near midnight, with no ill effects on the movement. The gear teeth for the day and date mechanisms are large and wide, which contribute to its durability over time.

Powering the watch is the L155.1 “Datomatic”, an automatic movement derived from the L086.1 used in a handful of Saxonia models. While the original movement can be considered as the brand’s entry-level automatic, the Datomatic calibre is souped-up with technical upgrades for improved robustness; it is anything but entry level.

The Cal 155.1 “Datomatic” of the Odysseus

Most notably, it is the first Lange movement with a balance bridge instead of a balance cock – a choice made to improve the stability of the balance wheel, to better protect the oscillator from the vigorous movement or shock expected from using a sports watch. Furthermore, the balance wheel has been enlarged, with smooth rims for greater inertia and less air resistance.

The engraved balance bridge with a free-sprung balance

Key facts and price

Lange Odysseus Datomatic in white gold
Ref. 363.038 (leather strap)
Ref. 363.068 (rubber strap)

Diameter: 40.5 mm
Height: 11.1 mm
Material: 18k white gold
Water resistance: 120 m

Movement: L155.1
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds; day of week and date
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Winding: Automatic
Power reserve: 50 hours

Strap: Leather or black rubber

Availability: At A. Lange & Söhne retailers and boutiques
Price: €39,500 including 19% VAT, or 57,400 Singapore dollars

For more, visit Alange-soehne.com.