Towards the end of last year, A. Lange & Söhne took a bold step by releasing the Odysseus, the brand’s first ever serially-produced timepiece in stainless steel. Of course there have been instances where the brand used steel in various limited or unique pieces, but the 2019 Odysseus was officially the first ever serially-produced A. Lange & Söhne watch in stainless steel…and so far still the only one.

For 2020, the luxury watchmaker from Glashütte is introducing the second model in the Odysseus family, this time stepping away from the “steel sports watch” segment it entered last year and reverting instead to their bread and butter: precious metal.

Visually, the design of the watch is the same as the steel Odysseus introduced just six months ago. The case size remains at 40.5mm in diameter with a thickness of 11.1mm but the material used this time around has been changed to white gold. The two angular pushers on the side of the case perfectly surround the screw-down crown and accentuate the prominent shape of the three-part white gold case. If you remember well, the pushers are used to correct the oversized day and date displays. The finishing on the case remains on par with what you would expect from A. Lange & Söhne. There is a playful integration of brushed surfaces and polished chamfers giving the watch its external level of complexity. Powering the watch is still the manufacture calibre L155.1 DATOMATIC offering the wearing a 50-hour power reserve.

The first noticeable change is the dial which is now grey and features an embossed groove structure in a different direction than last year’s Odysseus. Where the previous model had a circular design below the hour markers and in the subsidiary seconds dial, here the pattern is directed towards the centre of each dial. This textured effect attractively enhances the contrast with the glossy matte inner surfaces of the dials. To add a pop of colour to the overall monochrome look of the timepiece, the bevelled argenté-coloured chapter ring showcases a red ‘60’ at 12 o’clock.

The second notable feature of the watch is the absence of an integrated metal bracelet, instead offering here a choice of rubber or leather strap. When the Odysseus debuted last year, the feedback from many collectors was that the watch would have such a different feel on a leather or rubber strap. Well, their prayers are answered on this one. The rubber strap option adds a heightened sense of sportiness and features air ducts on the inside for improved wearing comfort.

Some might feel though that the brand missed an opportunity here to also offer the watch in a stainless steel case which, paired with the rubber strap, would have been a great proposition for the upcoming summer months. We can only hope that our patience will be rewarded as it will surely cement the A. Lange & Söhne Odysseus as a great option for collectors looking to take a dip in the pool wearing their Lange timepiece.