The A. Lange & Söhne Odysseus is, and will continue to be, a divisively designed watch. I have been head-over-heels in love with Lange?s sport masterpiece (which I would designate in the woefully underused ?leisure watch? category) since its steel debut back in 2019, which was followed up with a white gold model and then last year?s titanium version. Now at Watches & Wonders 2023, Lange returns to steel with the introduction of the new Odysseus Chronograph. 

Even if the Odysseus isn?t to your taste, this new release prompts me to write some of the most beautiful words composed in the English language: the debut of a new Lange movement. While first three Odysseus models all utilized the L155.1 Datomatic caliber, this chronograph edition debuts the L156.1 caliber which also happens to be Lange?s first automatic chronograph. As you can likely guess, the L156.1 builds on the L155.1 so rid yourself of any connections or associations you may be making with the L.951.5 caliber found in the 1815 manual wind chronograph, L.951.6 seen in the Datograph Up/Down, L001.1 seen in the Double Split, L.132.1 found in the Triple Split, or L101.2 seen in the 1815 Rattrapante. Allow me a moment while I catch my breath? Lange sure has made a lot of chronograph movements, haven?t they" And that’s not even all of them.
Well, the L156.1 caliber is something new altogether. Notice how there are no sub-dials with chronograph registers" Rather than the t...