Manufacturer: A. Lange & Söhne Year: Circa 2007 Reference No: 403.035 Movement No: 58’590 Case No: 167’065 Model Name: Datograph Material: Platinum Calibre: Manual, cal. L 951.1, 40 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile 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 stamped Juwelier Rüschenbeck KG dated 14th August 2007, instruction manual, leather folio, additional crocodile strap, hang tag, service invoice, outer packaging and fitted presentation box.
Catalogue Essay
Adored and praised by collectors as one of the finest modern chronographs ever made, the A. Lange & Söhne Datograph first made its important debut in 1999, five years after the revitalization of the heritage German firm by Walter Lange. Perfectly proportioned with clean aesthetics that reflects the ingenuity of Lange, Datograph features the firm’s in-house manual flyback chronograph cal. L 951.1, a masterpiece on its own and one of the most beautiful movements ever made by the firm. Decorated throughout with Glashütte stripes topped with their iconic hand-engraved balance cock, it is no wonder collectors have continued to admire the intricate details of the calibre till this day.
The present example A. Lange & Söhne Datograph from circa 2007 belongs to a later example from the first generation identifiable by its ‘METERS’ tachymeter scale which is consistent with examples from 2005 onwards until the discontinuation of the 39mm model in 2012. Complete with its full set of accessories and preserved in excellent overall condition, the present Datograph in its classic colours will surely ignite interest from A. Lange & Söhne collectors seeking for a timeless iconic chronograph.
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.