A. Lange & Söhne - The Geneva Watch Auction: XVII Geneva Saturday, May 13, 2023 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: A. Lange & Söhne
    Year: 2003
    Reference No: 403.035
    Movement No: 38'208
    Case No: 148'088
    Model Name: Datograph
    Material: Platinum
    Calibre: Manual, cal. L 951.1, 40 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: Platinum A. Lange & Söhne buckle
    Dimensions: 39mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by A. Lange & Söhne presentation box.

  • 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 early platinum case and black "meter" dial, as seen on the present watch, 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.

  • Artist Biography

    A. Lange & Söhne

    German • 1845

    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.

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Ref. 403.035
A very fine and attractive platinum flyback chronograph wristwatch with oversized date display and presentation box

2003
39mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and clasp signed

Estimate
CHF30,000 - 60,000 
€31,200-62,500
$34,300-68,500

Sold for CHF69,850

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Watches, Continental Europe and the Middle East

+41 79 637 17 24
AGhotbi@phillips.com

Tiffany To
Head of Sale, Geneva

+41 79 460 55 88
TiffanyTo@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: XVII

Geneva Auction 13 - 14 May 2023