Last week I attended the presentation of the A. Lange & Sohne Datograph Up/Down, and would like to share the following brief write-up:
On 17th July A. Lange & Sohne in collaboration with Sincere Watches held a presentation for the Datograph Up/Down. The event took place at Bridge Bar, G-Tower Hotel in Kuala Lumpur.
The Datograph Up/Down is one of Lange's highlights at SIHH 2012 earlier this year. It is an update of Lange's iconic chronograph timepiece first launched in 1999 to much acclaim amongst horological purists worldwide. The original Datograph introduced the now famous L951.1 in-house manual wind chronograph movement and helped to launch the industry wide trend towards manufacture chronograph movements.
The new model is an evolution of the classic Datograph and incorporates many refinements and improvements.
As with the classic Datograph the watch case is made from Platinum, a precious metal worthy of the finest timepieces from Lange Uhren. The case diameter and thickness has grown incrementally to 41mm and 13.1mm from 39mm and 12.8mm respectively.
On the dial the big date apertures have been enlarged approximately 4% to keep up with the bigger case diameter, and the Roman numeral hour markers found in the original Datograph have been replaced with baton style markers.
And as suggested by the new model name there is now a power reserve indicator located at the 6 o'clock position. The German terms "AUF/AB "(Up/Down) are used to indicate the 2 extreme states of the power reserve.
The new calibre L951.6 has also been upgraded with numerous improvements. The power reserve has been increased to 60 hours from the L951.1's 36 hours, courtesy of a larger and improved mainspring barrel. Lange Uhren has also equipped the new movement with in-house Lange balance wheel and hairspring. The new Lange manufacture balance wheel comes with eccentric poising weights which allow more precise adjustments.
Despite the incremental updates to the new movement, Lange Uhren has maintained the exquisite engraving, decoration and finishing found in the classic L951.1, ensuring that the title of the "most beautiful chronograph movement ever made" safely remains with the Datograph Up/Down.
Given the legendary status of the classic Datograph, the new replacement model from Lange Uhren had a lot to live up to. Fortunately the new A. Lange Datograph Up/Down, with its numerous incremental updates and improvements, has not only met but also managed to exceed the high expectations of purists and truly deserves to be recognised as the worthy successor to its illustrious predecessor.
