A. Lange & Söhne - Racing Pulse New York Saturday, December 12, 2020 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: A. Lange & Söhne
    Year: 2011
    Reference No: 403.035
    Movement No: 65’344
    Case No: 175’290
    Model Name: Datograph
    Material: Platinum
    Calibre: Manual, cal. L951.1, 40 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile
    Clasp/Buckle: Platinum
    Dimensions: 39mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement, and buckle signed.
    Accessories: Accompanied by A. Lange & Söhne guarantee and service booklet dated December 2011, product literature, leather folio, and inner and outer presentation boxes.

  • 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 a 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. The oversized date window display particular to Lange wristwatches and inspired by the Dresden Semper Opera clock crowns the dial atop simplified and highly legible seconds and minute counters.

    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.

    Furthermore, this example of the platinum Datograph from its final year of production is offered in pristine, completely unworn condition with all of its original accessories.

  • 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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Σ99

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

2011
39mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement, and buckle signed.

Estimate
$25,000 - 50,000 
CHF22,500-45,000
€21,100-42,100
HK$194,000-388,000

Sold for $68,040

Contact Specialist

Paul Boutros
Head of Watches, Americas & International Strategy Advisor
Senior Vice President
+1 212 940 1293
pboutros@phillips.com

Racing Pulse

New York Auction 12 December 2020