Watches and Wonders 2024 : A. Lange & Söhne presents the Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold “Lumen”

German high-end luxury watchmaking brand, A. Lange & Söhne’s latest Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold “Lumen” is a 50-piece limited edition, measuring 41.5mm and crafted in genuine 18-carat gold alloy. The luminous “Lumen” technology boasted by the timepiece brings all displays and functions to life in the dark. The release also celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Datograph, with the introduction of Datograph Up/Down, a 125-piece limited edition in a 41 millimeter case made of 18 carat white gold and, for the first time, with a blue dial.

Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold “Lumen”

To fully understand the technical complexity of the Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold “Lumen,” one has to explore its three name-giving complications and many additional functions, such as a very precise moon-phase indication and typical Lange outsize date. First, there is the term Datograph that refers to chronograph, or more precisely, a flyback chronograph allowing quick consecutive time measurements because the three switching steps – stop, reset to zero and start – are executed with one single push of a button.

Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold “Lumen”

A special Lange development is the precisely jumping minute counter, which lives up to its name as it 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 by a tachymeter scale for determining average speeds; it is located on the outer circumference of the dial made of coated sapphire crystal.

Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold “Lumen”

In addition, the watch offers a perpetual calendar with instantaneously switching displays. Based on the Gregorian calendar, it takes into account the different durations of the months, including leap-year deviations until 2100. Due to its high mechanical precision, the moon-phase display will only deviate from the true lunation by a single day after 122.6 years. 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.

Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold “Lumen”

Last but not least, this timepiece features a one-minute tourbillon with a stop-second mechanism, which A. Lange & Söhne unveiled for the first time in 2008. This mechanism allows the tourbillon to be stopped at any time and the watch to be set to the nearest second, regardless of the angular position of the balance or the orientation of the tourbillon cage.

When the crown is pulled, a lever mechanism releases the stop lever, which moves the arresting spring towards the balance. The pressure of the spring immediately stops both the balance and the tourbillon carriage. When the crown is pushed back in, the balance and tourbillon are released and the watch immediately resumes running. Through the sapphire crystal case-back, one can admire the delicate and precise mechanics and the fascinating choreography orchestrated around the fourth wheel.

Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold “Lumen”

Thanks to the semi-transparent dial and the luminous coating of Lange’s Lumen technology, all displays and functions glow in the dark. The darker the surroundings, the more prominent the luminous elements. The hour and minute hands are inlaid with a luminous compound, while the chrono seconds hand is fully coated.

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The hands of the subsidiary seconds, month, day and minute counters move above luminescent subsidiary dials. The luminous compound underneath causes the inscription on the circumferential dial ring with the minute scale and the tachymeter scale to glow too.

A special highlight for aficionados and a sight to behold is the luminous outsize date, first introduced on the Grand Lange 1 “Lumen” in 2013, which brings the ingenious disc mechanism to life in the dark. Ensuring that the display continues to light up immediately after the daily switching sequence was a considerable challenge. In typical Lange fashion, the solution was found: the tens’ cross and units disc are coated with a luminescent compound and printed with black numerals, so that the switching at midnight can be closely observed.

Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold “Lumen”

At the heart of the Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold “Lumen” is the manufacture caliber L952.4, composed of 684 parts and assembled twice. The classic column-wheel chronograph is equipped with a freely oscillating Lange balance spring and a Lange balance wheel with eccentric balance weights, ensuring excellent rate stability over the entire 50-hour power reserve.

Calibrated to a frequency of 18,000 semi-oscillations per hour (2.5 hertz), it is accurate to one-fifth of a second. Through the sapphire crystal case back, one can admire the signature Lange hallmarks, like untreated German silver bridges, polished gold chatons, and blued screws.

A. Lange & Söhne: Datograph Up/Down 2024

A. Lange & Söhne: Datograph Up/Down 2024

With a completely newly developed in-house caliber and unique dial design, the Datograph ushered in a new era for the complication of short-term measurement in 1999. Classic column wheel switching, precisely jumping minute counter, flyback function and large date set the bar very high. In 2012, the up/down power reserve indicator was added. Today the hand-wound caliber L951.6 beats in the new Datograph Up/Down.