On occasion of Watches and Wonders 2024, A. Lange & Söhne unveiled the new Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold Lumen. Price on request
Celebrating a significant milestone in watchmaking history, A. Lange & Söhne marks 25 years since the introduction of the iconic Datograph with a remarkable new interpretation of this model: the Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold Lumen.
Debuting at Watches and Wonders 2024, this exceptional timepiece represents the pinnacle of Lange's craftsmanship, blending the intricate features of a flyback chronograph, a precise jumping minute counter, a perpetual calendar, and a tourbillon with a stop-seconds mechanism. Setting this edition apart is its exclusive use of Lange's proprietary honey gold and its 'Lumen' version, limited to just 50 pieces.
Originally introduced in 2016, the Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon has garnered acclaim for its trio of complex complications, each a testament to precision engineering. However, the true marvel lies not only in the mastery of individual mechanisms but in the seamless integration of these complexities into a harmonious and legible timepiece face.
The name of this model is self-explanatory. "Datograph" designates a flyback chronograph with the typical Lange outsize date. The flyback mechanism allows quick consecutive time measurements because the three switching steps stop, reset to zero and start are executed with one single push of a button.
The minute counter jumps to the next increment at the precise moment when the chrono seconds hand completes the 60th second.
The functionality of the chronograph is complemented with a tachymeter scale located on the outer circumference of the dial made of coated sapphire crystal.
"Perpetual" refers to the perpetual calendar with its instantaneously switching displays. Based on the Gregorian calendar, it takes into account the different durations of the months, including leap-year deviations.
The moon-phase display will deviate from the true position of the moon by merely one day every 122.6 years (assuming the watch runs without interruption).
The rapid-correction button at 10 o’clock can be used to simultaneously advance all displays by one day. Three correctors on the flank of the case make it possible to separately adjust the moon-phase display, the day of the week, the month and the leap year.
Finally, "Tourbillon" remarks that this model features a one-minute tourbillon with a stop-seconds mechanism; it offsets the influence of gravity on the going train. Once a minute, it rotates the rate-governing components ‒ balance, lever and escape wheel ‒ inside a filigreed cage about its own axis around the stationary fourth wheel, thus improving rate accuracy.
Introduced in 2008, Lange's stop-seconds mechanism makes it possible to stop the tourbillon at will and set the watch to one-second accuracy. When the crown is pulled, a lever mechanism releases the stop lever, which guides the arresting spring in the direction of the balance. The contact pressure of the spring instantly stops both the balance and the tourbillon cage. When the crown is pushed home, the balance and tourbillon are released, and the watch instantly starts running again.
The mechanisms controlling these actions can be observed through the sapphire-crystal caseback of the watch.
Looking at the dial it is easy to recognise an equilateral triangle formed by the Lange outsize date in a framed twin aperture beneath 12 o’clock and the two subsidiary dials.
The subsidiary seconds dial, the day of the week and the day/night indicator are located on the left-hand side, while the precise jumping minute counter, the month and the leap year can be found on the right.
The moon-phase display at 6 o’clock is harmoniously embedded between the two sub-dials.
The display of the new Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold Lumen glows in the dark thanks to its semi-transparent dial and luminous coating. The luminous elements become more noticeable as the environment gets darker.
The hour and minute hands are inlaid with a luminous compound, while the chrono seconds hand is completely coated. The hands of the subsidiary seconds, month, day of the week and minute counter move above luminous subsidiary dials.
The luminous substance beneath the minute and tachymeter scales on the dial's outer ring causes them to glow.
Of particular note is the luminous outsize date, where the mechanism is clearly visible through the semi-transparent dial. Both the tens and units discs are coated with a luminous compound and feature black numerals. These elements charge during the day and illuminate when it gets dark.
Measuring 41.5 mm in diameter and 14.56 mm in thickness, the Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold Lumen is the sixth model of the limited 'Lumen' series, and only the second to combine honey gold with the luminous 'Lumen' coating, following the Zeitwer Honeygold Lumen launched in 2021.
Consisting of 684 parts and assembled twice to guarantee the highest possible quality, the manufacture calibre L952.4 beats at a frequency of 18,000 vibrations per hour (2.5 Hz), allowing measurements with an accuracy of one fifth of a second ‒ in the light of the minute scale featuring a total of 300 markers.
This classic column-wheel chronograph movement is equipped with a freely oscillating Lange balance spring as well as a Lange balance wheel with eccentric poising weights, assuring excellent rate stability throughout the entire power reserve of 50 hours.
The sapphire-crystal caseback provides an opportunity to appreciate several typical Lange quality hallmarks, such as bridges made from untreated German silver, polished gold chatons, and blued screws.
The A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold Lumen, ref. 740.055FE, is a limited edition of 50 watches, each engraved with its individual number. alange-soehne.com
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