Watches and Wonders 2024: A. Lange & Sohne

DATOGRAPH UP/DOWN

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of their first chronographic movements A. Lange & Söhne is adding two very special editions of the DATOGRAPH to their portfolio. The first of which is this stunning DATOGRAPH UP/DOWN set in 18-carat white gold with a blue dial. The dial immediately sets it apart from other DATOGRAPHs as it’s the first to sport a blue dial and complimentary rhodié-coloured subsidiary dials. It has a snappily precise jumping minute counter and an outsized date displayed at the 12 o’clock. It has a 60 hour power reserve with a small indicator at the 6 o’clock. All of this is powered by the calibre L951.6 which consists of 451 parts. This edition is limited to just 125 pieces.

DATOGRAPH PERPETUAL TOURBILLON HONEYGOLD “Lumen”

The second watch is the DATOGRAPH PERPETUAL TOURBILLON HONEYGOLD “Lumen”. It contains many of the elements of the UP/DOWN except starring a semi-transparent luminous dial for night-time use and a honey gold case, only the second model to ever sport this precious metal. If I had to compare the two, the UP/DOWN is for those living in the now, while the HONEYGOLD has it’s eyes on the long-game. It’s 6-o’clock has a moon-phase display while the 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock sports a day and the month respectively.

Inside it’s using the calibre L952.4 made up of 684 parts and sporting a 50 hour power reserve. It’s a classic column-wheel chronograph operating at 2.5 hertz (18,000 semi-oscillations per hour) and is accurate up to a fifth of a second.

This timepiece is incredibly rare, with only 50 watches made.