Manufacturer: A. Lange & Söhne Year: Circa 2011 Reference No: 403.032 Movement No: 58’563 Case No: 168’657 Model Name: Datograph Material: 18K pink gold Calibre: Manual, cal. L951.1, 40 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile Clasp/Buckle: 18K pink gold A. Lange & Söhne deployant clasp Dimensions: 39mm diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed Accessories: Accompanied by A. Lange & Söhne stamped King Fook Jewellery Group Ltd Hong Kong dated 1st March 2011, leather folio, instruction manual, product literature, fitted presenation box and outer packaging.
Catalogue Essay
Launched in 1999, collectors have widely regarded A.Lange & Söhne Datograph as one of the finest modern chronograph wristwatches produced by any firm. Since its re-establishment of manufacture, A. Lange & Söhne has been creating some of the most impressive timepieces executed to the highest quality. It features an in-house manual movement and is expertly finished throughout with Glashütte stripes and a signature hand-engraved balance cock. The oversized date window display particular to A. Lange & Söhne wristwatches inspired by the Dresden Semper Opera clock sits perfectly legible on the 12 o’clock position.
The first generation of the Datograph features a 39mm diameter case without the power reserve indication giving the dial a clean and minimalist appeal. While early first generation Datograph features what collectors called the "METER" dials, production from 2005-2006 onwards sees a change of text update to "METERS" dial. Certainly more grammatically correct with the addition of the "S" like the present example, the first generation Dataograph were in production until 2011.
In 2012, the firm upgraded the model featuring a more significant 41mm diameter case and implemented an up/down power reserve indication at 6 o’clock, featuring baton indexes instead of Roman numerals.
The present example A. Lange & Söhne Datograph in pink gold from circa 2011 belongs to the production batch before the model was upgraded to the Datograph Up/Down. Complete with its original guarantee and presentation box, this is undoubtedly an example that will garner much interest from collectors of fine chronograph wristwatches.
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.