A Lange Watch for Kidz Horizon Appeal
By MyWatch
In August 2009, Duncan Wang, an American Chinese businessman and watch collector passed away at the age of 44 years. His parents and his friends in Singapore found a fitting way to remember him, based on the two things that he was most passionate about – watches and charities. One year later, the first “Duncan Watch” was auctioned off for a children’s charity in Singapore: The Kidz Horizon Appeal. Formed in 2004, and helmed by Dr Caroline Heah, it raises funds for children suffering from chronic diseases such as cancer or AIDS whose parents are not in a position to afford the medical treatment they need.
As both Dr Heah and Duncan Wang have always been great admirers of A. Lange & Söhne, it stood to reason that a special edition Lange timepiece would sooner or later be the Duncan Watch of the year. This year, a one-of-a-kind LANGE ZEITWERK in white gold with a grey dial and a special engraving will be auctioned at this year’s costume charity ball for The Kidz Horizon Appeal to be held at the Ritz Carlton Ballroom, Singapore, on 27 August 2011.
When Lange CEO Wilhelm Schmid was asked to contribute a special edition Lange watch for the Kidz Horizon Charity Auction he and his team were immediately thrilled because they felt it was the right thing to do: “To care for the society we live in, and in particular for the young, is deeply rooted in the history and values of our brand.” The Lange manufactory was established in the first place to fight unemployment among young people in a destitute area.
Unlike hardly any other watch the LANGE ZEITWERK stands for uncompromising clarity. Featuring indications of a size so far considered to be beyond feasibility, its dial always provides an unambiguous reading of the current time. With a soft click and no perceptible delay, the display advances from one minute to the next within fractions of a second. And at the top of the hour, the watch performs the big leap, when all three numerals discs jump forward by precisely one increment at the same time. The switching power is generated by a constant-force escapement between the mainspring barrel and the balance. Concurrently, it makes sure that the flow of power to the balance remains constant throughout the entire power-reserve period. The design of this unique version, showcasing dark/bright contrasts, is emphasised by a white gold case, grey dial and numeral discs with white numerals, a black crocodile strap, and the folding clasp, also crafted from solid white gold. A special engraving on its caseback bears witness of its uniqueness and the occasion: “1/1 SGP 2011”.
