The Chronograph That Never Sleeps

In 1999, A. Lange & Söhne defined new benchmarks in chronograph design with the DATOGRAPH. Its flyback function allows consecutive measurements: an ongoing measurement can be interrupted and a new one started instantaneously with a single touch of the button at 4 o’clock. This rare function saves time because the flyback mechanism executes the three normally necessary stop, reset and restart steps with only one touch of a button.

The precisely jumping minute counter of the chronograph advances by one marker exactly when the chronograph sweep-seconds hand passes the 60th second, even if the time measurement is stopped at that very moment. This elaborate technology simplifies the doubt-free reading of stopped times. Launched in 2012 as a systematic refinement of the classic column-wheel chronograph, the DATOGRAPH UP/DOWN also indicates how much of the 60-hour power reserve remains available. This information is provided by the power-reserve indicator at 6 o’clock. When the small arrow enters the red zone of the display, it is time to provide the movement with fresh energy.

The sapphire-crystal caseback exposes the impressive beauty of the lavishly finished 454-part manually wound calibre L951.7 of the DATOGRAPH UP/DOWN “Lumen”. Lange’s proprietary cam-poised balance wheel, paired with a freely oscillating Lange hairspring, beats at a frequency of 18,000 semi-oscillations per hour (2.5 hertz). In combination with the 300-marker minute scale, this allows time measurements with a resolution of one-fifth of a second. The new model, available in a limited edition of just 200 watches, comes in a 41-millimetre platinum case. It is worn on a black alligator leather strap with a platinum prong buckle.