A. Lange & Söhne Cabaret Tourbillon Honeygold : The Return of a Rare Rectangular Design

This May, A. Lange & Söhne brought back the Cabaret after years away from the collection. As one of the brand's very few rectangular watches, the new model also marks the first time the Cabaret has been produced in the manufacture's proprietary Honeygold alloy.

When Honeygold Meets the Cabaret

Compared with iconic round watches such as the Lange 1 and 1815, the Cabaret occupies a unique position within the collection thanks to its rectangular case design. The new Cabaret Tourbillon Honeygold follows the design established by the original 2008 model and the 2021 white gold edition, while introducing Honeygold to the series for the first time. Positioned between yellow gold and rose gold in tone, Honeygold also offers greater hardness than conventional gold alloys. It has traditionally been reserved for limited editions and special models within the A. Lange & Söhne lineup.

The rectangular case measures 39.2mm by 29.5mm. The dial itself is also made from Honeygold and finished with black rhodium plating, creating a strong contrast between warm and cool tones. Attention to detail remains a highlight. The dial frame and brand logo are hand-engraved reliefs measuring just 0.15mm in height, giving the otherwise restrained dial a subtle sense of depth.

A Tourbillon That Changed Watchmaking History

The appeal of the Cabaret Tourbillon extends beyond its distinctive appearance. At its heart is the manually wound Calibre L042.1, featuring Lange's signature outsize date at 12 o'clock, a tourbillon at 6 o'clock, a power reserve indicator at 4 o'clock and a small seconds display at 8 o'clock. The movement contains 47 jewels, beats at 21,600 vibrations per hour and offers an impressive 120-hour power reserve.

Its most significant achievement, however, is the stop-seconds tourbillon mechanism. Introduced in the original 2008 Cabaret Tourbillon, it was the world's first wristwatch that allowed the tourbillon to stop when the crown was pulled out for time setting.When the crown is pulled into the setting position, the rotating tourbillon cage stops together with the seconds display, allowing precise synchronisation. Once the crown is pushed back in, the mechanism resumes operation. Incorporating a stop-seconds function into a tourbillon presents considerable technical challenges, while also improving everyday usability.

German Watchmaking Craftsmanship on Display

Turning the watch over reveals the full character of the L042.1 movement and A. Lange & Söhne's traditional finishing techniques. Blued screws, gold chatons, hand-engraved bridges and carefully executed bevels are all present, while the jewel supporting the tourbillon uses a diamond endstone.

Particular attention should be paid to the Black Polish finish applied to the tourbillon bridge and upper cage components. The process involves repeatedly polishing parts on zinc or tin plates to achieve an exceptionally flat surface that reflects light in only one direction. At certain viewing angles, the surface appears almost completely black, which gives the technique its name.

The movement also retains traditional elements such as the untreated German silver three-quarter plate, Glashütte ribbing and extensive hand engraving, reflecting the brand's long-established approach to movement decoration.

Limited to just 50 pieces worldwide, the Cabaret Tourbillon Honeygold not only marks the return of the Cabaret collection, but also demonstrates A. Lange & Söhne's continued strength in traditional high-end watchmaking.

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