A. Lange & Söhne launched the Odysseus Honeygold last year and it’s easily the brand’s most luxe sports watch. Presented end to end in 18k Honeygold, this Odysseus is impressively well made, impressively heavy, and impressively expensive.

I recently got the chance to spend some time with one of the 100 pieces made, and it was certainly a good experience.

Initial thoughts

The Odysseus was never a pretty watch, and this isn’t more visually appealing than the titanium or steel version. The design doesn’t have the finesse of its rivals, most notably the Royal Oak or Nautilus. But the Odysseus does have tactile and intellectual appeal, and that translates into physical attraction.

The Odysseus is impressive like many Lange watches are thanks to its build quality. In Honeygold it looks and feels even more luxurious. The warmth and weight of the metal give it greater appeal, in fact Honeygold gives this a large-yacht-on-the-Mediterranean type of feel that its counterparts in more common metals lack.

Look and feel aside, this has all of the strengths and weakness of the earlier versions. Strengths include the quality of course, as well as good ergonomics, which matter more here because of the weight. One of the weaknesses is the clasp, which is practical and easy to operate, but a little too large for a sports watch that is also supposed to be elegant.

With a price tag of US$110,000, the Odysseus Honeygold is very expensive for what it is, even by Lange standards. But what credible luxury sports watch today isn’t?

A well-loved template

The Odysseus Honeygold adopts the exact same template as the earlier versions in steel and then titanium. The dimensions are identical, which means it has solid proportions. It’s not oversized but clearly not as thin as the Nautilus or Royal Oak.

Historically Lange never made thin watches until fairly recently with the “Thin” models, so it might not be a stretch for the next generation of Odysseus to slim down. But it is unlikely given Lange’s disciplined approach to design evolution.

The Odysseus wears well in any case. Having worn all versions for extended periods, they all have good ergonomics, albeit vastly different weights. The titanium version of course feels most like a bona fide sports watch, while the Honeygold edition is clearly a luxury sports watch.

In terms of tactile feel, the Odysseus has an advantage over its peers thanks to the day and date display advanced by pushers on the case. Advancing the calendar is done with a crisp click that’s more satisfying than the usual turning of the crown to set the date.

As with most such watches, the bracelet is integrated into the case. But in a quirk of the Odysseus design, it is not actually integrated, but designed to resemble an integrated bracelet. It cannot, however, be removed and exchanged for a strap without reasonable effort and skill, making it integrated in practice.

But as mentioned above, the clasp is arguably the weak spot. That’s not in terms of quality or function – it excels in both – but rather, size. The clasp feels chunky without being refined.

Lange quality

The quality of execution on the external components is, unsurprisingly, top class. The case and bracelet are finished in the same manner as the steel model, in a combination of brushed and polished surfaces. This is all predictable, but in a most pleasing way.

The dial is familiar. It isn’t as distinctive as the Lange 1 or Zeitwerk, but is recognisable enough, especially when paired with the case. The symmetrical dial incorporates many key Lange design elements that result in a fairly simple look, but one that is distinctly Lange thanks to the many details associated with the brand.

Everything is laid out in a functional, legible manner. The dial also has visual depth thanks to its multiple levels arranged concentrically. The day and date boast outstanding legibility, and their frames serve as visual anchors that frame the dial.

The dial adopts the same treatment as other Odysseus models, but in colours and materials specific to this model. While its rivals have patterned dials as a signature, the Odysseus instead employs more subtle textures and leans instead on design.

The Honeygold version has a slightly more refined decoration compared to the steel or titanium models. It features a radial fluting on the chapter rings and a satin-finished centre, as opposed to the graining and concentric pattern on its counterparts.

The hands and indices are solid gold, as is the norm for Lange

Sporty self-winding

The L155.1 movement inside was developed for the Odysseus. Derived from the L086.1 found in the Saxonia automatic, the L155.1 was reworked to be fit for purpose in a sports watch. So it gets a larger balance, higher frequency, and full balance bridge – all in the service of stability and shock resistance.

Comparing the L155.1 of the Odysseus and the L086.1 of the Saxonia

Visually it’s also been tweaked. Instead of gold, the rotor is ARCAP, a hard alloy, but ringed with a weight of platinum. The three-quarter plate is finished with noticeably wider striping than on typical Lange movements, while the swan’s neck regulator is a different variant from the type usually used by Lange.

The movement is probably one of the most refined in any sports watch. So it’s more of a testament to Lange quality than lack thereof that the L155.1 lacks some of the flourishes found in other Lange movements, including the black polished steel cap for the escape wheel jewel.

Key facts and price

A. Lange & Söhne Odysseus Datomatic Honeygold
Ref. 363.150

Diameter: 40.5 mm
Height: 11.1 mm
Material: 18k Honeygold
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 120 m

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

Strap: Matching bracelet

Limited edition: 100 pieces
Availability: At A. Lange & Söhne retailers and boutiques
Price: US$110,000

For more, visit alange-soehne.com.