BY HARLAN CHAPMAN-GREEN
When A. Lange & Söhne announced back in 2021 that it was reintroducing the Cabaret, many collectors and enthusiasts (myself included) were surprised and excited that the Saxon brand was once again making a wristwatch that wasn’t round in shape. What some enthusiasts and collectors might not have realised is that the brand didn’t return in 1994 with the Cabaret, it was actually introduced in 1997. A. Lange & Söhne did return with a watch that wasn’t in a round case, but it was called the Arkade and had a more “pill-shaped” case with straight sides but rounded ends. We haven’t seen much of the cabaret since it was reintroduced, even though they still make it, but we’re now seeing a new addition to the range for 2026 in the form of the Cabaret Tourbillon Honeygold.
Honeygold is A. Lange & Söhne’s proprietary gold alloy blend, which is slightly rosier in colour and much harder to work with, thanks to the secret blend of metals they use. One of the many recurring points when A. Lange & Söhne presents watches in this metal to the press is that it is much more difficult for them to work with than regular gold, as it often wears out their tools quickly. Last year’s Odysseus novelty with its Honeygold case and bracelet presented particular challenges for them. The Honeygold case measures 29.5mm x 39.2mm x 10.3mm. There is no stated water resistance rating, so assume there isn’t one.
The dial is a classy affair, made from Honeygold. The dial surface is covered in something that A. Lange & Söhne calls black rhodium; the markers, dial outlines, and writing are raised 0.15mm above the dial surface. The polished Roman numerals, the laws in shaped markers and the window for the outside date are then applied by hand. The indications are simple, with only the time, the date and the power reserve indicator on the front. There’s also the tourbillon, with a black-polished bridge and a diamond on the dial side.
The hand-wound movement, the calibre L042.1, comprises 370 parts, of which 84 are part of the tourbillon assembly. It is a rectangular movement specifically designed for the case and based on the 1997 original. Fine hand-finishing, as one would expect from the brand, is apparent here, with plenty of Glashütte stripes, heat-blued screws, and polished chatons across the three-quarter plate (the traditional way of designing a movement in Glashütte).
There is also hand engraving around the tourbillon cock and intermediate cock, which is unique to each artisan. The balance wheel has a frequency of 3 Hz, and the watch has a long 120-hour power reserve.
Presented on a dark brown, hand-stitched alligator leather strap, the new Cabaret Tourbillon Honeygold is limited to 50 pieces worldwide. The price is available upon request; however, the platinum version retailed for €315,000 in 2021, so expect this watch’s price to be higher.
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