A. Lange & SöhneMonochrome Watches had the distinct pleasure of reviewing the A. Lange & Söhne Dual Split, which boasts arguably the most beautiful chronograph motion on the market today. As a follow-up, we’re reviewing its little brother, the A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Up Down, which also includes a stunning movement and includes an additional large date.
The A. Lange & Söhne Datograph is one of the icons of modern watchmaking, despite the fact that it has only been on the market since 1999. Let us find out what has contributed to the watch’s almost instant success. This year marks 15 years since the first-generation Datograph has been introduced, and two years before, in 2012, the Dato (as it is fondly known by collectors) was slightly redesigned. The Roman numerals are replaced with baton hour mark, the case has been expanded from 39 mm to 41 mm, and it currently offers 60 hours of power reserve when fully wrapped (that’s 24 hours greater than on the prior generation) Even though the visual modifications may seem almost trivial, the new-generation Datograph certainly has a more modern appearance.
A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Up-Down – front
What remains the exact same is the magnificent three-dimensional”landscape” of bridges, levers, cams, jewels along with a column wheel. Additionally, the characteristic dial design, with its quite unusual positioning of this subdials and the chronograph’s instantaneous skipping minutes and flyback function, stays the same. The Dato can still be known as a super-chrono that, concerning motion architecture, comes really near the big brother, the Dual Split. With the added”outsize” date along with the smaller diameter it’s even more comfortable on the wrist and better suited for daily wearing than its big brother. When A. Lange & Söhne introduced the Datograph in 1999, it had been just five years since the company introduced its very first set in 1994. That is a really remarkable accomplishment for a young brand — really, I’d say, nothing short of brilliant. What many people may not be aware of is that a chronograph movement is one of the most complex mechanical movements to create, surpassing the complexity of a tourbillon or even a perpetual calendar. Especially when that motion includes a flyback and an instantaneous jump minute countertops.
A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Up-Down – movement
Characteristics
The Datograph’s title offers a clue about what you can expect from it: a chronograph with a date, to be precise, although the Datograph includes so much more than just that. The chronograph includes a flyback function, a precisely-jumping minute counter, a quick-set oversize date and 2 subdials that are extremely recognizable because of the placement on the dial. Between both of these subdials is a power-reserve screen that indicates how much of the 60 hours remains in the single mainspring. A number of these attributes — on which below — put the Datograph besides the crowd of mechanical chronographs. Another point that needs to be mentioned is that the Lange Datograph Up/Down gets got the smoothest-action chronograph pushers I have ever experienced.
Dial / hands
On the wrist, the watch’s remarkable dial design immediately grabs the attention. Connoisseurs, of course, will immediately recognize the Datograph. And even those who have never noticed the Datograph, or might be unfamiliar with this ultra high-end German watch manufacturer, will instantly recognize the utter beauty, elegance and delightfully proportions of this watch, which sits very nicely on the wrist.
The baton hour markers stand out beautifully against the matte black dial, as does the tachymeter scale, printed in white, which encircles the dial. The two sub dials, showing the continuous running seconds and also the 30-minute chronograph enroll, are in a matte silver color. The hands in both subdials are in heat-blued steel, just one of the many amazing details. I find that the dialup, with everything on it, really well balanced. This is principally due to the odd positioning of the subdials: because of this layout, the oversize window becomes enough space and doesn’t mess the dial. The switch from three Roman numerals (II, VI and X on the very first generation) into baton markers also leads to the very nice balance, along with the hour mark subtly glow when they reflect light. Everything about the Datograph’s dial reveals quality and luxury.
A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Up-Down – reclining
The central chronograph seconds hand comes with a different counterweight, very similar to that on the aforementioned Double Split, and additionally on Lange’s 1815 Chronograph. The dagger-style hour and minute hands are full of luminescent material. Don’t expect the same level of Super LumiNova you’d find on a dive watch, but you are going to be able to browse the time throughout the dark of night.
Case / strap
The platinum case of the A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Up/Down is exactly 41. Mm and 13.1 mm in height. On the ideal side are the authorized crown and 2 pushers for operating the chronograph. The bezel is polished and the instance middle features a directly brushed end that extends to the surface of the pushers. The lugs are screwed to the case middle, are rather short and slope downwards, which adds to the pleasant balance on the wrist. With a weight of 155 grams the Datograph isn’t the lightest opinion, but it doesn’t lower the pleasure of sporting by any means.
A. Lange & Söhne watches Datograph Up-Down – with pen
The caseback, using sapphire crystal, protrudes so there’s enough room for the movement’s exceptionally beautiful”landscape” of bridges, levers and cams. It looks like this sapphire crystal has also been treated with nonreflective coating, and when looking at the movement you frequently get the feeling there’s no crystal at all.
The Datograph Up/Down includes a black alligator strap, with leather lining, and a grey thread that’s stitched by hand.
Movement
The Lange Datograph’s motion is Caliber L951.6, which includes 451 components in total. All bridges as well as the mainplate are created from untreated Italian silver that, over time, gets a bit of warm, yellow patina. The whole movement is finished by hand. Bridges are angled and the angles are polished, the flat surfaces are adorned with Glashütte striping (the German equivalent of côtes p Genève striping) and jewels are set in gold chatons that are corrected by three heat-blued screws. The steel parts — rockers, levers, cams and the column wheel — are also finished by hand, and feature a straight graining on the flat surfaces and polished and angled edges.
