- The A. Lange & Söhne Handwerkskunst Datograph celebrates the 25th anniversary of the German manufacture’s first chronograph
- Limited to 25 examples, the Handwerkskunst Datograph comes in a 41mm yellow gold case and features tremblage engraving on the dial and subdials
- It’s powered by the manually wound calibre L951.8, which has been finished with black polishing and relief engaving
25th birthday celebrations are often overshadowed by other more ‘important’ ages. 18th (drinking age!) and 21st (American drinking age!) birthdays are celebrated with aplomb, after which the birthday-haver is left to languish with a series of half-hearted reminders of the passing of time until “the big four-ohhh” comes along. However, the humble quarter-century is worth acknowledging. For humans, it marks the full development of our prefrontal cortex and kinda symbolises the solidification of adulthood. And for a watch? Well, it’s just a pretty long time.
The A. Lange & Söhne Datograph made its debut in 1999, and marked the German manufacture’s first chronograph. Upon its release, the timepiece—powered by the manually wound calibre L951.1, composed of 405 parts—set the benchmark for high calibre chronograph construction. A quarter of a century on, A. Lange & Söhne has celebrated the Datograph with two limited-edition timepieces, the Datograph Up/Down in white gold with a blue dial and the Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold Lumen.
Continuing the anniversary celebrations is a new timepiece sitting within the German manufacture’s Handwerkskunst line — the denomination A. Lange & Söhne uses to identify special edition timepieces that feature dials and movements adorned with elaborated decoration. A display of metiers d’art finesse, the A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Handwerkskunst has a 41mm yellow gold case and sees both the black rhodium dial and light grey rhodium subdials treated to ornate tremblage engraving, an ancient technique wherein the surface is hand-finished using a special crafted lining burin to create a fine-grained surface with a uniform texture. The end result is a three-dimensional finish with textural interest that subtly reflects the light.
Datograph aficionados will note that the two subdials and oversized date display have been slightly shifted downwards. They’re outlined in yellow gold, while the Roman numeral hour markers are chamfered and decorated with straight graining before being placed on the dial.
Visible through the exhibition caseback, the manually wound calibre L951.8 features black polished chronograph levers, a technique that ensures light is reflected in a single direction — viewed from a certain angle, the levers appear to be jet black while from other perspectives they showcase a mirror-like gloss. Meanwhile, the bridges are inspired by those of historic pocket watches; sitting within A. Lange & Söhne’s signature three-quarter plate, they echo the tremblage of the dial. Par for course for the German manufacture, the balance cock features intricate hand-engraving. However, rather than being cut into the metal as is standard, the Datograph Handwerkskunst sees the vine pattern relief-engraved onto the balance cock.
Limited to 25 examples, the A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Handwerkskunst is a fitting commemoration of an underappreciated milestone.
Price: $POA
Model: Datograph Handwerkskunst
Case size: 41mm
Movement: L951.8 (manual winding)
Water resistance: 3ATM
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, outsized date, chronograph
Power reserve: 60 hours
Words by John Deckard
