The last decade of the 20th century saw the glorious comeback of A. Lange & Söhne. In October 1994, the German watchmaker proudly presented four inaugural models at the Dresden Residential Palace.
Its first patent, the outsize date along with a precisely-jumping minute counter and a classic column-wheel chronograph with a flyback function, innovatively came together for the groundbreaking Datograph unveiled in 1999.
This year, the 25th anniversary of the award-winning timepiece is marked by a new version of the Datograph Up/Down and the Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold Lumen.
Previously in platinum and pink gold, the 41mm Datograph Up/Down has been reinterpreted in an 18-carat white gold case with a blue dial for a limited edition of 125 pieces.
The attribute "Up/Down" refers to the power-reserve indicator at 6 o'clock with a hand that pivots into the red section when it's time to wind the watch.
At 12 o'clock, a twin aperture shows the signature outsize date inspired by the Five-Minute Clock at the Semper Opera House in Dresden. Subsidiary dials for the precisely-jumping minute and small seconds are positioned at 3 and 9 o'clock for a well-balanced configuration.
The microengineering is based on the so-called speed-switching function, often used in the early days of aviation.
Because three switching steps are executed with one single push of a button, the flyback mechanism allows two quick consecutive time measurements. The chronograph is stopped, reset to zero and started again in next to no time.
Calibre L951.6 with an accuracy of one-fifth of a second.
In addition, A. Lange & Söhne enhanced the technical performance of the Datograph Up/Down, launched in 2012, with an in-house developed oscillation system.
The resulting calibre L951.6 with a frequency of 18,000 semi-oscillations per hour (2.5Hz) ensures an accuracy of one-fifth of a second and a power reserve of 60 hours.
The white gold rendition is equipped with this manually-wound and meticulously-decorated movement, visible through the sapphire crystal of the caseback.
With the same frequency, the new calibre L952.4 provides the Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold Lumen with a power reserve of 50 hours.
The Datographs are members of the Saxonia family, whose name recalls how Ferdinand Adolph Lange founded his workshop in 1845 and laid the foundations for precision watchmaking industry in the eastern state of Saxony.
Carrying the DNA for superlative mechanical solutions, the original Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon from 2016 comprises three classic complications -- a flyback chronograph with an outsize date; a perpetual calendar with instantaneously switching displays; and a one-minute tourbillon with a patented stop-seconds mechanism.
Each complication alone is a technical feat, while another challenge was to attain an easy-to-read face.
The moon phase display at 6 o'clock opposes the outsize date. Subsidiary seconds dial, the day of the week and the day/night indicator are located on the left-hand side, while the precisely-jumping minute counter, the month and leap year can be found on the right of the lucid layout.
Two exclusive innovations grace the lustrous Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold Lumen, available in only 50 pieces.
Honeygold and Lumen both debuted in 2010, respectively in three, 165 Years – Homage to F.A. Lange anniversary editions, and the Zeitwerk Luminous timepiece.
Harder than other gold alloys, the 18-carat Honeygold now shimmers with a warm hue between pink and white gold on the 41.5mm case of the new commemorative model.
The Lumen technology combines a sapphire-crystal dial coated with a special, semi-transparent compound and luminous coating to make the displays and functions glow in the dark.
After a limited-edition Zeitwerk debuted three years ago, A. Lange & Söhne pairs the mesmerising illumination with the patented gold alloy once again to celebrate 25 years of its mastery in short-time measurement.
Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold Lumen.
New manufacture calibre L952.4.
