The Inauguration and Evolution of the Datograph
A comprehensive look at the history of A. Lange & Söhne’s signature chronograph
Around 2008-2009, at the start of my teenage years as an insufferable Federer fan, I was trying to learn and mimic everything about that demi-God walking on tennis courts. From his outfits to his playing style and eventually, as almost every teenager does, what brands he wore. When you say Federer, you utter two brands: Nike and Rolex.
As curiosity breeds learning, I went on to search about these two brands. There started my first encounter with a website called the Purists. There I am, looking at Rolex pictures on (mostly) hairy wrists, trying to figure out what makes them so special. After a short while, I found myself quite bored of looking at so many similar watches — no offense — and wanted to discover some other forums. Alphabetically. At the top of the list, I clicked on “A. Lange & Söhne”, then a topic related to “Datograph”, only to encounter an incredible photo of its movement side. A strong exhale left my body. As in, this doesn’t look like a Rolex at all, but wasn’t the Rolex best in the world? Thus started my journey down the rabbit hole, still ticking as strong after 15 years.
See, Datograph is a watch that has the power to entice one into watchmaking without any marketing, any social conundrum or circle. I hope that this article will give a bit of a sense of why so.
DATOGRAPH (First Generation, 1999 – 2012)
In one of his last interviews, Reinhard Meis (Special Executive Commissioner of Traditional Watchmaking at A. Lange & Söhne from 1990s to 2000s) states that “Mr. Blümlein never got tired saying that we needed a chronograph.”Indeed, because Blümlein knew that if Lange were to compete with the top of the pyramid, it needed to stay ahead of the curve on every aspect possible. A new chronograph, and a good looking and working one was indeed staying ahead of the curve, because almost none had a new, in-house chronograph movement in almost decades. He knew there was a market, and he was aware of the positioning effect of such an endeavor, hence his relentless push. One might say the Datograph was a necessity.
Following years of trying, both on the dial side and the back, an instant icon was born in 1999 Baselworld in the shared booth of A. Lange & Söhne and IWC (both brands were owned by LMH, headed by Blümlein)
In 1999, when almost no other big brand was utilizing an in-house chronograph and were relying mostly on the still wonderful (though at times too small or disproportionate for some cases) Lemania, this 10-year-old brand from Glashütte was making waves with something that the industry had not seen at such a level in years, or even decades.
Datograph measures 39mm in diameter and a rather hefty 12.8mm in thickness and retains the classic A. Lange & Söhne case construction — with a protruding caseback to house the movement. At times, due to the protruding part, it sits wobbly on the wrist. Thankfully, this can be easily solved with a deployant buckle to balance the weight.
The signature faceted lugs, each measuring around 4mm with a delightful curve, help balance the watch on the wrist.
Moving onto the dial, I must say that the Datograph surprises even today. I can only imagine the shock when it was shown in 1999. Though as I was told, one Lange executive today saw the piece 6-7 months prior to its launch while Blümlein was test-driving it, and that gentleman still talks with the same amazement today.
What makes it so special?
A bit obvious, sure, but for the first time we saw a big date on a chronograph piece. However, the success lies in how A. Lange & Söhne managed to balance such a prominent element with the already cluttered dial of a chronograph.
The big date sits at 12 o’clock. To strike a visual balance, the chronograph and sub-seconds registers are moved below the center of the dial, creating a triangle to put the center-weight at the center of the dial. Roman Numerals on the other hand, create their own focal point, retaining the overall balance.
The Tachymeter at the periphery on the dial sits on its own area, bringing a touch of that vintage look.
The main show with the Datograph however, despite its sculpture-like case and superb dial, lies on the back. The caliber L951.1 is one of the biggest reasons why A. Lange & Söhne is where it is today, and it shows.
From a technical standpoint, the caliber L951.1 offers neither a novelty nor a breakthrough. It is a classic horizontal-clutch column wheel chronograph movement with a jumping minute counter (though still very rare at the time). Its attraction, and importance, however, lie in its timing (as mentioned above) and its looks. Comprised of 390 (later 405) parts with an array of finishing techniques, curves and layers, the caliber L951.1 is a mechanical sculpture that is on the move as long as you feed and admire it.
For those who are a bit more curious, you can find the working principles of the caliber l951.1 here.
In this 30mm diameter jungle, you can observe 9 different finishing techniques and a hand-engraved balance bridge. But further, you can enjoy a depth that can be matched by only a few, even today, let alone 25 years ago. The curves, angles, and different finish techniques given to the going train vs. chronograph levers add more to the three-dimensionality, leaving the viewer in awe with every inch.
Oh, let’s not forget the buttery-smooth pusher feeling that is now almost a trademark of Lange chronographs. Just delightful every time you interact.
Datograph offers 36 hours of power reserve while beating at a traditional 2.5Hz. Before moving onto its more complicated sibling, I’d like to give an overview of the references, excluding one-offs or special editions:
– 403.035: Platinum case, black dial (1999-2012)
– 403.031: Pink gold case, black dial (2003-2005)
– 403.032: Pink gold case, silver dial
– 403.041: Yellow gold case, black dial (2007)
By 2006, the Datograph was already a phenomenon among hardcore watch enthusiasts, and it didn’t take much longer for A. Lange & Söhne to come up head-to-head with its chief rival Patek Philippe, with the signature coupledom: Perpetual Calendar Chronograph.
DATOGRAPH PERPETUAL (First Generation, 2006 – 2011)
In an interview published at timezone.com by Peter Chong, Blümlein states the following about Patek Philippe, “I have a great esteem for Patek Philippe — the historical leader in the top segment of luxury watches. The main difference between us is simply: ‘Made in Germany’ versus ‘Made in Switzerland.’ I would describe our relationship with Patek Philippe as follows: two chevaliers on strong horses measuring their forces in a tournament to attract the goodwill of a beautiful princess — in the spirit of mutual respect and sportsmanship.”
What an honor for any brand to be mentioned in the same sentence with the king of traditional watchmaking, and A. Lange & Söhne had already started to be whispered with such praise only a few years after its re-birth. Looking at the product strategy, it was also clear that. in time, Lange wanted to take Patek Philippe head-on. The chronograph part was done, and a stand-alone perpetual calendar was already introduced in 2001. It was time to move on to the next phase in the competition. Datogarph Perpetual arrived in 2006 in platinum.
Measuring at 41mm diameter and 13.5mm thickness, the Datograph Perpetual further accentuated the “hockey puck” moniker of Datograph. Indeed, it lets you know that it is there. The protruding caseback is a bit more emphasized than the original version, however the increased diameter strikes the needed balance.
The design is built upon the basic model. We have the Roman Numerals, the big-date and below-center sub-dials with the same ratios. One addition is the Moonphase, placed just above 6, retaining the same width as the big date.
The calendar indications, day and month are distributed within the chronograph minute counter and sub-seconds dials, respectively. In presenting the calendar information, we see the “information hierarchy” in effect. The date is the most important element of the perpetual calendar, hence taking center stage, whereas the rest of the elements are treated equally.
Since the calendar module was borrowed from Langematik Perpetual, we see the hanging day/night and leap year indications. And with it, one of the friendliest perpetual calendars thanks to the corrector pusher at 10 o’clock. Say you didn’t use the piece for a couple of days. Instead of arranging each indication one by one (you still can with recessed pushers), a push advances all the indications simultaneously, making It much easier to adjust.
The Datograph Perpetual first generation was also offered in a white gold case with a grey dial. Reference 410.030 was in the catalog from 2009 to 2011 and disappeared afterward, making it the rarest of the Datograph Perpetual collection, and in my opinion, the prettiest.
Following 13 years of production, in 2012, we see the end of the production for the first generation Datographs and a start of the new era.
DATOGRAPH UP / DOWN and DATOGRAPH PERPETUAL (2nd Generation)
The start of the 2010s was a rejuvenation period for A. Lange & Söhne. Following the financial crisis, we saw a dramatic change in design language, with a focus on simplification, (If interested, we discuss the period in A. Lange Story Episode 6), possibly to address a bigger market with a more easily understandable design.
The first two indications of the evolution were already present in 2010 with the simpler 1815 Chronograph, and a new Datograph Perpetual in pink gold.
On the Datograph Perpetual, the only change we see is the replacement of the Roman Numerals with the baton markers, and how big of a difference it makes. Of course, also due to the case metal, we see that the rather aggressive and unique appearance of the piece is completely gone. We have almost a completely new watch and, of course, just as intended, a different crowd to address.
The Datograph Up / Down, on the other hand, went through a much more radical transformation. We see the same design update regarding the numerals, but also the added power reserve indicator at 6 o’clock, with the growing diameter to 41 mm from the previous 39. Such arrangement brought both bigger sub-dials, yet more space due to increased diameter and the lacking Roman Numerals.
On the movement side, we are greeted with the caliber l951.6, with the increased power reserve (from 36 to 60) and a free sprung balance. The movement got much better, while retaining the signature aesthetics. To this day however, I don’t understand why the Datograph Perpetual is still only offered with a 36 hours power reserve…
Overall, the second generation of the Datograph offers a much clearer and more approachable dial design, while sacrificing a small bit of its character. Of course, it was to nearly everyone’s liking, though my preference certainly lies with the first-generation variants.
Below, please find the different references of the second-generation editions:
– 405.035: Platinum case, black dial
– 405.031: Pink gold case, black dial
– 410.032: Pink gold case, silver dial
– 410.038: White gold case, grey dial
In the following 10 years from 2006, we didn’t see any new complications on the Datograph front, but only cosmetic changes. Then in 2016, in my opinion, one of the best pieces of A. Lange & Söhne’s 2010s arrived: Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon.
DATOGRAPH PERPETUAL TOURBILLON (2016 – )
The Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon symbolizes the epitome of A. Lange & Söhne’s maturing design language and movement expertise. Indeed, while Lange has more complicated pieces; most are almost unwearable and just too much, whereas this one strikes a perfect balance and manages to develop on the iconic Datograph template.
Despite being based on the Datograph Perpetual template, we see numerous upgrades that make the dial much more balanced and cleaner, the foremost example of this being the hanging day/night and leap year indications. With Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon, both are fitted within the sub-dials. To not further complicate the area, both indications are presented with discs. Just a genius touch. The power reserve indication is placed on the periphery of the dial, leaving the dial to the Moonphase indication made of solid gold at 6 o’clock.
The caliber L952.2, just like the dial side, builds on the brilliant caliber L951.1 and somehow elevates it. Composed of 729 parts, the balance is replaced with a 14.6 mm in diameter (stunningly finished) tourbillon cage, without diluting the three-dimensional and signature appearance of the movement. Incredible job done by Lange.
Moreover, the power reserve is boosted up to 50 hours, and on top, the perpetual calendar module is now instantaneous. Despite numerous advancements and with 729 parts movement, Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon measures at a rather wearable 41.5 x 14.6 mm, a very good number for a complicated Lange!
The crown jewel of the Datograph collection comes in two different references, each limited to 100 pieces, also making them the only “officially” limited Datograph references:
– 740.036: Platinum case, black dial
– 740.056: White gold case, solid pink gold dial
Concluding Thoughts:
No matter the perspective, it is certain that the Datograph is a milestone in modern watchmaking with the in-house trend that is greatly accelerated and signature case, movement, and dial design. Almost with any other iconic piece though, the earlier ones that get the most attention, and the collectability moniker.
My deduction from Lange’s production numbers over the years is that there are no more than 2500-3000 first generation pieces around, with differing numbers between the references, platinum being the most common variant – which is still significantly rarer than most other famous modern chronograph references. The same logic certainly applies to the Datograph Perpetual.
The market value of the first generation Datograph lingered around $35-40k for more than a decade. To me, it was unfathomable how such a gem of watchmaking could be valued less than almost serially produced (in comparison) steel sport watches. In the last year or two, however, we saw huge jumps in the value, and as I write this article in January 2023, the value is fixed around $75k – which I think is much deserved.
The first generation Datograph Perpetuals have also enjoyed a rise in popularity, again, deservedly so. Especially the grey dial, Roman numerals reference 410.030, with its incredibly good looks and rarity, seems to be the most popular choice, if it can be found. Despite the rising market, the first generation is still an incredible bargain compared to retail.
Finally, the Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon… Each limited to 100 pieces, the finest complicated watch A. Lange & Söhne delivers is a steal in the secondary market. Against the retail of mid $300s, the market is around low to mid $200s… An incredible piece for its price.
2024 is Datograph’s 25th year anniversary. And if I know Lange well, I expect something very much special for celebrations. As the brand gets more recognition, I only see an upward trajectory in Datograph, simply because it is hard to get a better, and more iconic, early A. Lange & Söhne.
Thank you for reading.
For further reading, you can discover A. Lange & Söhne’s secondary market development via here.
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