Lensman 1.2 – Spring has Arrived and Soon It’ll Be the Summer

The Lensman 1 was the second model from Horage to feature our K-TOU tourbillon hand wind movement, bringing a more conventional solid dial and several nods and references to cameras and photography. It proved to be very popular and sold out quickly as a limited-edition model of 200 pieces, which led us to release the Lensman 1.1 with red accents as a standard edition to the portfolio. Today we are announcing the latest variant in the Lensman 1 series, the Lensman 1.2 that sports a fresh, bright white dial that’s a break from the darker theme of prior models. All of the previous camera themes remain, along with some new ones as the white dial now references a newer trend in cameras. Surprised? Let’s take a closer look.

Seasonal Vibe

With spring upon us and summer fast approaching, lighter colors are trending. White (and light colored) watch dials are more common this time of year, and the Lensman 1.2 dial certainly has this seasonal vibe. We didn’t want a departure from our camera theme, however, as it’s literally called “Lensman” as part of the photography-focused series. The white dial is more than it seems as it was inspired by a specific camera, but also serves as the perfect hue for the warmer months.  

Leica M9-P and M10-P White Editions

There’s no denying that Leica is synonymous with street photography, having perfected the lightweight and discreet 35mm mechanical shooter a century ago with the Leica 1(A). Fast forward a hundred years and we now have some digital M-series cameras dressed in white, the Leica M9-P and M10-P White Editions. The M9-P replaces the usual black leatherette material (vulcanized rubber was phased out in the 1980s) with a bright white counterpart, which complements the silver “chrome” top and bottom plates. The M10-P goes even further with white top and bottom plates, leaving only the dials, buttons, self-timer and strap eyes silver.

Inspiration from the white Leica M9-P and M10-P led to the Lensman 1.2 and our cofounder, Tzuyu, even purchased a M10-P for her own photography. White cameras are a rare sight as most are either black or a combination of black and silver to remain discreet while shooting. As mentioned, Leica is legendary for being a “street shooter” and black has always dominated its color scheme. The unexpected white editions (with a couple prior models as well like the M8) offer a fresh shift from this tradition and that’s exactly what we wanted for Lensman 1.2.

Bright White Dial

Whilst Leica didn’t invent the white camera (others have released white variants as well), it’s the highest-end shooter to do so, especially in the rangefinder class. Our Lensman 1.2 dial pays homage to this with a fresh white dial complemented by some darker elements. The applied indices are silver, yet filled with white Super-LumiNova and sit on a textured ring that breaks up the smooth center. A detailed minute/seconds track has silver Arabic numerals at the perimeter with a red 60 at 12 o’clock, paying homage to the red dot on Leica cameras. The open-worked hour and minute hands are silver as well, while the star of the show is the titanium flying tourbillon at 6 o’clock enhanced by a large cyclops lens that magnifies the details.

Grade 5 Titanium Case

The case remains lightweight Grade 5 titanium and works well with the white theme, not unlike the white Leica M9-P with silver top and bottom. The “aperture ring” engravings on the case sides, special “focusing ring “ knurling on the bezel and black onyx insert in the crown are all there, while the sapphire exhibition case back displays our second generation, hand-wound K-TOU tourbillon movement.

New White Strap

Our Lensman 1 and 1.1 watches featured black leather straps with the option of black or red stitching, but the Lensman 1.2 has something new. An all-white rubber strap with a “weave” texture perfectly complements the white dial and seasonal vibe, and is a comfortable addition for warmer weather when outdoor activities and water and perspiration are commonplace. The strap comes with quick release spring bars that allow for tool-free strap changes, so black leather or many other options are available during different months if you want to shake things up a bit. While this piece has a spring and summer vibe, it can be toned down and worn year-round.

Second Generation K-TOU Tourbillon

The K-TOU tourbillon movement has been updated from the Tourbillon 1, most noticeably with a black colour aesthetic. However, it’s more than skin deep as the hairspring is now silicon, joining the silicon escapement. The material is more wear resistant than conventional metals and 100% anti-magnetic, and requires less lubrication. The full five-day power reserve via one barrel remains, along with the heat-blued screw on one of the tourbillon arms that acts as a seconds indicator.

While this isn’t a big departure from our prior Lensman 1 series models, details definitely matter and aesthetic changes can make all the difference. What do you think of the new white dial?

Sound off in the comments if you’ve ordered a Lensman model before and/or are excited about this latest Lensman 1.2 white edition. Are you also a photography enthusiast? This one continues the photography theme of the Lensman series, along with the Leica M9-P and M10-P White Edition Vibe.

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We'll talk again soon!

Erik Slaven