A. Lange & Söhne unveils a new chronograph, the DATOGRAPH HANDWERKSKUNST
It is the third model in celebration of the original DATOGRAPH’S 25th anniversary. It is a limited edition of 25 pieces.
“The DATOGRAPH is a Milestone in the Art of Horology. And a Marvel of Technology.”
A. Lange & Söhne (Lange) has recently unveiled the DATOGRAPH HANDWERKSKUNST, in celebration of the original DATOGRAPH’s 25 anniversary. The original DATOGRAPH was introduced in 1999. It featured calibre L951.1, a “classic column-wheel chronograph with a flyback function, a precisely jumping minute counter and the typical Lange outsize date.” It was one of the first in-house or “from the ground-up manufacture chronograph movements” in decades, and came from Germany, not Switzerland. The reborn A. Lange & Söhne was launched on October 25, 1994.
“Lange’s masters developed this movement from the ground up and endowed it with two traditional and extremely complex constructions: the precisely jumping minute counter and the rare flyback mechanism. Moreover, they integrated not only a classic column wheel but also the patented Lange outsize date that accounts for the first part of the name DATOGRAPH.”
The original DATOGRAPH. Reference 403.035 in platinum. It debuted calibre L951.1. (Image credit: Langepedia website.)
Lange’s outsize date is a homage to the 5-Minute Clock at the Semper Opera House in Dresden, Germany.
The 5-Minute Clock at the Semper Opera House in Dresden, Germany. (Image credit: A. Lange & Söhne website.)
2024 is the 25th anniversary of the DATOGRAPH, and Lange introduced two new models as part of its celebrations:
– A new version of the DATOGRAPH UP/DOWN, featuring an 18-carat white gold case and a blue dial made of silver. Limited to 125 pieces.
– DATOGRAPH PERPETUAL TOURBILLON HONEYGOLD “Lumen”. Limited to 50 pieces.
First image: DATOGRAPH UP/DOWN, featuring an 18-carat white gold case and a blue dial made of silver. Second and Third image: DATOGRAPH PERPETUAL TOURBILLON HONEYGOLD “Lumen”.
Both these models were part of The Cornea Impression’s Watches & Wonders Geneva 2024 coverage.
“Twenty-five years ago, we introduced the first DATOGRAPH. To celebrate, we present a further highlight of the anniversary year: the DATOGRAPH HANDWERKSKUNST.”
“Since 2011, the attribute “HANDWERKSKUNST” has been used to identify exclusive, special limited-edition watches whose dials and movements are adorned with particularly elaborate decorations. Endless patience, ample experience, a keen eye, a steady hand as well as the absolute commitment to perfect every single detail ‒ these are the finishers’ and engravers’ prerequisites to raise the decorative opulence for which A. Lange & Söhne is renowned to an inordinately high level.”
Key Features
Functions and operations
The DATOGRAPH HANDWERKSKUNST’s functions and operations include:
– Central hours and minutes.
– Central chronograph seconds with flyback function.
– Precisely jumping 30-minute counter on subdial slightly below 3 o’clock.
– Small seconds with stop seconds function on subdial slightly below 9 o’clock.
– Outsize date at 12 o’clock.
– Crown at 3 o’clock for winding the timepiece and time setting.
– Pusher at 2 o’clock for chronograph start/stop, and pusher at 4 o’clock for chronograph flyback/reset.
– Pusher between 9 and 10 o’clock for rapid correction of the outsize date.
Dial
The DATOGRAPH HANDWERKSKUNST’s dial features include:
– Its dial is made of 18-carat gold. The main dial is “black-rhodiumed and tremblage-engraved.” The two subdials are “rhodiumed and tremblage-engraved.”
– The hour and minute hands are made of 18-carat gold.
– The central chronograph second hand is made of steel, yellow gold plated.
– Both the precisely jumping 30-minute counter and small seconds hand – at about 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock respectively – are made of steel, yellow gold plated.
– The 10 hour-markers, a combination of Roman numerals and baton markers, are applied on the dial.
– “DATOGRAPH” AND “FLYBACK” are relief engraved on the dial just below the outsize date at 12 o’clock.
– A minute and second scale, relief engraved, divides the inner dial from the outer dial.
– A tachymeter scale, relief engraved, encircles the outer dial.
– “A.LANGE & SÖHNE” and “MADE IN GERMANY” are relief engraved on the outer dial at 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock respectively, alongside the tachymeter scale.
“The black-rhodiumed main dial as well as the rhodiumed, light-grey totalisers of the DATOGRAPH HANDWERKSKUNST feature an ornate tremblage engraving, resulting in a three-dimensional structure with subtle light reflexions. For this technique, the engraver uses a specially crafted lining burin to create a fine-grained surface. The challenge presented here is to not only achieve a uniform texture on the smallest of planes but to simultaneously preserve certain dial elements such as the arch brand logo, the minutes and seconds graduations as well as the tachymeter scale. Together with the subsidiary dials that were moved downwards slightly and the aperture for the outsize date, they remain clearly visible with their sculpted contours of the relief engraving and contrast crisply against the dark background. In a first step, the edges of the appliques and Roman numerals are chamfered and the surfaces are decorated with straight graining. In a second step that requires great diligence, they are placed on the dial. The hands of this HANDWERKSKUNST edition showcase meticulously executed circumferential chamfers and straight graining.”
Movement
The DATOGRAPH HANDWERKSKUNST’s movement features include:
– It is powered by Lange manufacture calibre L951.8, a manual winding, column-wheel chronograph calibre. It is “crafted to the most exacting Lange quality standards, decorated and assembled by hand; precision-adjusted in five positions; plates and bridges made of untreated German silver; balance cock engraved by hand.”
– It drives the hours, minutes, flyback chronograph, precisely jumping 30-minute counter, small seconds with stop seconds functions and outsize date.
– Its diameter is 30.60 mm and height is 7.90 mm.
– It comprises of 426 components.
– It has 43 jewels and 4 screwed gold chatons.
– It beats at a frequency of 18,000 vph or 2.5 Hz.
– It has a power reserve of 60 hours.
– Its movement features include the following: traditional lever escapement, a shock-resistant balance with eccentric poising weights, superior-quality balance spring manufactured by Lange, and a precision beat adjustment system with lateral setscrew and whiplash spring.
“From the black-polished chronograph levers to the hand-engraved balance cock, the calibre L951.8 in the DATOGRAPH HANDWERKSKUNST showcases a symphony of rare and sophisticated artisanal finishing techniques.
The chronograph levers, for example, undergo a rare black polishing process, creating a mesmerising dance of light and shadow across their surfaces. In addition, the granular surface of the bridges on the three-quarter plate made of German silver represents the design counterpart of the tremblage engraving of the dial. A further element is the hand-engraved balance cock, one of our most distinctive design elements. As floral motives have a long-standing tradition at A. Lange & Söhne, this intricate vine motif is painstakingly carved in relief. With every detail, the calibre constitutes a significant example of our manufacture’s competence in chronograph construction as well as our artistic craftsmanship.”
Case, Strap and Buckle
The DATOGRAPH HANDWERKSKUNST case, strap and buckle features include:
– Its case is made of 18-carat yellow gold.
– Its case diameter is 41.00 mm and case thickness is 13.10 mm.
– It features a sapphire crystal (Mohs hardness of 9) on both its dial and caseback side.
– It comes with a dark-brown alligator leather strap, hand stitched featuring a grey seam. It is fitted to a deployant buckle, made of 18-carat yellow gold.
Our Thoughts
Lange’s DATOGRAPH was a defining moment in horology. For decades, Swiss watch brands relied on chronograph movements and ebauches from suppliers such as Valjoux, Lemania, and Zenith, to name a few. For the Swiss watch industry, witnessing Lange’s DATOGRAPH and its in-house calibre L951.1, must have been like an airliner hitting rough turbulence. Their first patch of turbulence came on October 25, 1994, when Lange was reborn. Lange debuted the impressive Lange 1, 1815 Tourbillon Pour Le Mérite, Saxonia and Arkade. Both Lange’s rebirth in 1994 and the introduction of the DATOGRAPH in1999 were a much needed wake up call for the Swiss watch industry.
October 25, 1994. A famous name – A. Lange & Söhne – is reborn. It was actually October 24, with the date set to October 25, as the images would be published the following day. From left: Lange 1, Cabaret, Saxonia, and 1815 Tourbillon Pour Le Mérite. The outsize date has been a Lange feature since day 1. (Image credit: Langepedia website.)
Five years later, the DATOGRAPH’s introduction sent major Swiss watch brands back to the drawing board, including the Holy Trinity of Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin, and the Swatch Group, owners of prestigious brands such as Blancpain and Breguet. I personally believe that Patek Philippe’s development of its impressive chronograph calibres was prompted by the DATOGRAPH’s calibre L951.1.
The DATOGRAPH and its calibre L951.1 set Lange firmly on a path to chronograph expertise and greatness. The original DATOGRAPH lives on as the updated DATOGRAPH UP/DOWN (introduced in 2012). Lange answered questions which nobody asked, such as the DOUBLE SPLIT (introduced in 2004) and the TRIPLE SPLIT (introduced in 2018). Their chronograph family includes: 1815 Chronograph (originally introduced in 2004, updated later), a bit like the DATOGRAPH without date and belongs to the 1815 family and not the SAXONIA family, of which the DATOGRAPH is part of. The DATOGRAPH PERPETUAL (originally introduced in 2006, updated later), and DATOGRAPH PERPETUAL TOURBILLON (introduced in 2016). There are others too, no less impressive.
I have been fortunate to handle Lange timepieces, including the original DATOGRAPH, the DATOGRAPH PERPETUAL and DOUBLE SPLIT at Lange boutiques (Dubai, Paris, and Singapore), authorised dealers and at watch meets or GTG’s. A glance at their individual casebacks reveal Lange’s meticulously finished calibres, resembling three-dimensional miniature cities. They are more than timepieces; they are experiences that can send one’s heart rate soaring.
Based on images and supporting information, the DATOGRAPH HANDWERKSKUNST is a gorgeous timepiece, ultra-rare (only 25 pieces) and one which few will ever see in the flesh. It is an exceptional timepiece from an exceptional watchmaker, and we should be grateful it exists. As the third model in the DATOGRAPH’s 25th anniversary year, it is a fitting tribute to the original DATOGRAPH, a horological icon and one of the greatest timepieces of all time.
Additional Details
Name: A. Lange & Söhne DATOGRAPH HANDWERKSKUNST
Reference: 405.048F
Price: On Request. The word on the street is that its price is in the region of USD$ 200K.
It is limited to 25 pieces, each timepiece engraved with its edition number. Available at A. Lange & Söhne boutiques worldwide. I suppose Lange will carefully select the 25 clients for this masterpiece, and quite possibly sold out already.
Please visit the A. Lange & Söhne website for further information.
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