Manufacturer: A. Lange & Söhne Year: 2003 Reference No: 403.035 Movement No: 33'977 Case No: 148'091 Model Name: Datograph Material: Platinum Calibre: Manual, cal. L 951.1, 40 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Alligator Clasp/Buckle: Platinum A. Lange & Söhne pin buckle Dimensions: 39mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed Accessories: Accompanied by A. Lange & Söhne guarantee card dated 2003, booklet, wallet, presentation box and outer packaging.
Catalogue Essay
First launched in 1999, A. Lange & Söhne’s Datograph is widely regarded as one of the most finely crafted and beautiful chronograph wristwatches produced by any modern manufacture. It boasts an in-house manual movement, expertly finished throughout with Glashütte stripes and a signature hand-engraved balance cock. The full lexicon of movement finishing is unleashed on each component of a Lange wristwatch: black polishing, perlage, straight and circular graining, mirror polishing, chamfering, and anglage, amongst others.
Though the first generation Datograph was made available in other case metals and dial variants during its production period between 1999 and 2011, the platinum case and black dial is the original Datograph that captured the admiration of so many collectors and connoisseurs when it first appeared at Baselworld in 1999. Some of the most recognizable and authoritative voices in the watch industry cite the Datograph as one of their favorite timepieces, including revered independent watchmaker, Philippe Dufour. The Datograph was replaced in 2012 with the Datograph Up/Down, which increased the case size, changed the hour markers from Roman numerals to baton indexes, and most notably, added a power reserve indicator.
The present watch, offered as a full set with its original box and papers is preserved in excellent condition with crisp hallmarks. Furthermore, the subsidiary registers have aged to a slight warm vanilla hue, giving the timepiece its own character.
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.