Post by: danny on July 23, 2012, 10:30:11 PM
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.
Post by: randy_yeap on July 23, 2012, 11:10:47 PM
Post by: rusminag on July 24, 2012, 04:26:44 AM
Post by: danny on July 24, 2012, 06:53:33 AM
Retail price?
Not sure about the retail price in Malaysia but according to Hodinkee the RRP is US$87,400.00.
Post by: rusminag on July 24, 2012, 06:58:33 AM
Lazy to google.... What is the pusher between 9 & 10 for?
Post by: tonykpk on July 24, 2012, 07:13:05 AM
Post by: danny on July 24, 2012, 07:28:51 AM
Danny,
Lazy to google.... What is the pusher between 9 & 10 for?
It's the rapid date adjustment pusher.
Post by: JOS2012 on July 24, 2012, 09:50:17 AM
out of reach of most regular income earners.....
Post by: TheHobbit on July 24, 2012, 10:24:32 AM
Post by: takashi78 on July 24, 2012, 11:46:39 AM
But no live pics :'(
Post by: gloomis on July 24, 2012, 01:01:44 PM
to the one that show me this sexy beauty, please let me have more time to molest it next time....plssssss.......brother
Post by: dpkong on July 24, 2012, 10:00:18 PM
but can someone explain why such a nice watch is only hand-wind and not fully automatic?
Post by: Enkidu on July 24, 2012, 10:09:18 PM
3 hours of molesting is just never enough for me.
to the one that show me this sexy beauty, please let me have more time to molest it next time....plssssss.......brother
Too much molesting / foreplay without any climax will eventually lead to disappointment. Just go buy the watch and wear it every day.
Post by: TheHobbit on July 24, 2012, 10:16:54 PM
very nice.
but can someone explain why such a nice watch is only hand-wind and not fully automatic?
Beauty of the movement not hidden by the rotor and to allow the owner to connect with the watch when he winds it.
Post by: gloomis on July 25, 2012, 05:33:09 AM
Beauty of the movement not hidden by the rotor and to allow the owner to connect with the watch when he winds it.
Great, simple and clear comment. u speak my heart out. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Post by: danny on July 25, 2012, 07:09:05 AM
Great writeup Danny :thumbsup:
But no live pics :'(
Sorry to disappoint you Peter but my limited skills would not have done justice to this masterpiece of Teutonic Horological Engineering. ;D
:Cheers:
Post by: chrisyen on July 25, 2012, 11:20:19 AM
Yes, it's art piece instead of watch
Looking at all parts that is highly hand finish together like this is no joke
Jaw down!!!
Same feeling when I look at the GO chrono
I wonder how many man hour is into these watches
N the price is a bargain if u compare it to patek
Hopefully one day will hv enuf money to own this n maintain it
Post by: SeaDwellerR on July 25, 2012, 01:56:24 PM
Thanks for sharing mate! :thumbsup:
Post by: TJWN on July 25, 2012, 07:13:57 PM
The distant of the sub-dial second and the reference second is now better proportioned :thumbsup:
(http://professionalwatches.com/upload/2012/06/sihh_2012_preview_a_lange_sohn/Lange-Datograph-Flyback-new-vs-old.jpg)
Post by: sm on July 25, 2012, 07:29:30 PM
Wonderful review, Danny's write-up is also a piece of art!
Thanks
Post by: dpkong on July 25, 2012, 07:49:48 PM
very nice.
but can someone explain why such a nice watch is only hand-wind and not fully automatic?
Beauty of the movement not hidden by the rotor and to allow the owner to connect with the watch when he winds it.
thanks! that's what i suspected.
but there is a Patek that has a very small rotor is there not?
Post by: TheHobbit on July 25, 2012, 09:18:02 PM
very nice.
but can someone explain why such a nice watch is only hand-wind and not fully automatic?
Beauty of the movement not hidden by the rotor and to allow the owner to connect with the watch when he winds it.
thanks! that's what i suspected.
but there is a Patek that has a very small rotor is there not?
Yes there is. Like you said, the rotor is very small, but beautiful, yes?
Post by: Godzillaz on July 25, 2012, 10:06:23 PM
I prefer the old datograph. Maybe it's size is small compare to today's standard. I belong to the school of thought where design comes before size.
There isn't much to improve upon for the datograph. It's on the 1st position of my list of top 5 chronograph.
Regard
Tyler
Here comes the comparison picture
The distant of the sub-dial second and the reference second is now better proportioned :thumbsup:
(http://professionalwatches.com/upload/2012/06/sihh_2012_preview_a_lange_sohn/Lange-Datograph-Flyback-new-vs-old.jpg)