A. Lange & Söhne brings 2025 to a close with the Lange 1 Daymatic Honeygold. Limited to 250 pieces, the new edition pairs the familiar reversed Lange 1 layout with a warm chocolate brown dial and the straw-coloured precious metal that has become synonymous with the brand’s most exclusive releases.

The automatic version of Lange’s signature watch is dressed in Honeygold for the first time. The proprietary alloy has appeared only sparingly since its 2010 debut, making this one of the rarer expressions of the Daymatic and a notable addition to the broader Honeygold lineage. Exclusivity aside, the Daymatic exudes tangible quality, as expected from Lange.

Initial thoughts

The 17th Honeygold edition since the material debuted in 2010, the Daymatic is, to my eye, one of the more attractive editions in the series. Perhaps it’s my affinity for the Lange 1 design, but the simplicity of the layout and textures is more appealing than some other recent editions like the Odysseus that was launched at Watches & Wonders.

The Daymatic has always felt like the quirky sibling within the Lange 1 family, in a good way. And while the reversed dial takes some getting used to after becoming accustomed to the standard model, this layout has its advantages. For one thing, the repositioned sub-dial for the time display makes it easy to peak at the time while half the watch remains tucked away under one’s sleeve.

The entry price of about €75,000 is a lot of money for a simple day and date complication, but the Daymatic is a lot of watch. Given the top-class automatic movement, peerless construction, and emblematic (reversed) Lange 1 dial layout, it manages to hold its own among similarly dressed calendar watches like the Patek Philippe ref. 5235R.

While the ref. 5235R is a proper annual calendar and the the Daymatic is merely a day-date, the Lange holds up well thanks to its overall finishing and execution. That it’s a defined limited edition in Lange’s proprietary Honeygold alloy is the icing on the cake.

Honeyed history

Honeygold is Lange’s proprietary gold alloy, which offers a straw-coloured hue somewhere between white and rose gold. A full 18k gold alloy, Honeygold is 75% gold and the rest is a secret recipe of minerals like copper and zinc. The result is not just an attractive colour; Honeygold is actually harder (more scratch resistant) than typical gold alloys.

This special material debuted in 2010 and has been reserved for limited edition models. In total, there have been 17 Honeygold editions to date, including this Daymatic and the Saxonia Thin Onyx launched a few weeks ago.

With edition sizes ranging from just 15 pieces for the Richard Lange Tourbillon Pour le Merite Handwerkskunst to 265 pieces for the 1815 Moon Phase Homage to F.A. Lange, the brand has authorised the production of just 2,135 Honeygold pieces in total over the past 15 years. All told, that’s barely 3% of total Lange production over that time. In this context, the Daymatic is the second-largest run of Honeygold watches at 250 pieces.

Lange quality

Exclusivity aside, Lange can always be counted upon to deliver tangible quality. Unsurprisingly, the Daymatic is lovingly built inside and out. The Honeygold case is produce by Efteor, a top-quality supplier of cases. Like all of the cases the company produces for Lange, the lugs are made separately and soldered to the case. This is part of what gives the case its distinctive profile and enhances the continuity of the brushed case band.

The brown dial is crafted from a heavy disk of sterling silver. The dial surface, by and large, has been given an satinated matte finish that contrasts with the snailed chapter ring for the hours and minutes and the running seconds sub-dial. It’s a simpler palette of finishes than we’ve seen on some other Honeygold editions, and the restraint is welcome.

The L021.1 calibre inside the watch is where Lange puts most of its own efforts, and to good effect. While the brand’s ‘entry level’ automatic L086.1 used for the Saxonia (and the related L155.1 used in the Odysseus) skips most of the gold chatons for which the brand is known, the L021.1 is a large and lavishly finished movement that looks every bit as good as its manually wound counterparts.

This means untreated German silver plates and bridges, heat-blued screws, and black-polished steel for the escape wheel cap and swan neck adjustment system for the stud carrier. Even the winding mass, which in most watches is little more than a distraction, is richly constructed from 21k gold for the main section and platinum for the outer rim.

Key facts and price

A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Daymatic Honeygold
Ref. 320.050

Diameter: 39.5 mm
Height: 10.4 mm
Material: 18k Honeygold
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 30 m

Movement: L021.1
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, day, and date
Frequency: 21,600 beats per hour (3 Hz)
Winding: Automatic
Power reserve: 50 hours

Strap: Alligator with matching pin buckle

Limited edition: 250 pieces
Availability: At A. Lange & Söhne boutiques only
Price: Approximately €75,000 excluding taxes

For more, visit alange-soehne.com.