Manufacturer: A. Lange & Söhne Year: Circa 2004 Reference No: 403.035 Movement No: 44'398 Case No: 157'549 Model Name: Datograph "Philippe Dufour" Material: 18K pink gold Calibre: Manual, cal. L951.1, 40 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: 18K pink gold Lange pin buckle Dimensions: 39mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed Accessories: Accompanied by Lange fitted box and outer packaging
Catalogue Essay
The A. Lange & Söhne Datograph was launched in 1999. It was the brand’s first modern chronograph movement and in a few short years it reached cult status. As much so that Philippe Dufour, one of horology’s greatest living watchmakers, wears an example in pink gold and black dial like the present example.
The L951.1 hand wound caliber featured not only a flyback function but a novel instantaneous minutes hand. In regular chronographs as the seconds hand advances so does the minutes counter hand, with the Datograph after 60 seconds have elapsed, the minute counter jumps forward exactly one graduation.
Turning the watch over, one can glimpse the superbly conceived movement in all its architectural glory, including the free-hand engraved balance cock and delicate "Glashütte" waves throughout.
Originally founded in 1845 by Ferdinand Adolph Lange in Glashütte, Dresden, Germany, the firm established an entire watchmaking culture and industry in Glashütte. The brand quickly became Germany's finest watchmaker, first creating dependable, easy-to-repair watches before going on to produce some of the world's finest complicated pocket watches, including Grande Sonnerie watches, tourbillon watches and Grande Complications.
On the final day of World War II, their factories were destroyed by Russian bombers, and in 1948 the brand was confiscated by the Soviet Union. Following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1990, Ferdinand's great grandson Walter Lange re-established the brand with the objective to once again produce top-quality luxury watches. Now part of the Richemont Group, its original vintage and modern creations are highly coveted by collectors. Key models from the modern era include the Lange 1, Pour Le Mérite Tourbillon and the Zeitwerk.