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Datograph Perpetual
Datograph Perpetual Datograph Perpetual Datograph Perpetual Datograph Perpetual Datograph Perpetual
lot 18

A. Lange & Söhne

Datograph Perpetual

Estimate CHF 60 000 / CHF 70 000
Starting bid CHF 60 000
Hammer price CHF 102 000
Total bids 17
Buyer’s premium will not be charged

Specification

CasePolished white gold case 750/1000 with sapphire caseback, 3 rectangular pushers, crown at 3 o'clock
StrapOriginal black Alligator leather strap, with a original white gold pin buckle
DialAnthracite dial with Roman numerals, month, stop-minute & leap year indication at 4 o'clock, moon phase at 6 o'clock, small seconds & weekday indication at 8 o'clock, big date at 12 o'clock & a Tachymeter scale, polished lancette hands
MovementHand-wound, German-silver movement with Glashütte striped finish & blue screws, column-wheel chronograph, Breguet hairspring & perpetual calendar function
Cal.L952.1
Ref.410.025
Movement No.67024
Case No.173153
D=42mm

Condition report

Case:Good, small signs of wear
Strap:Good, small signs of wear
Dial:Mint condition
Movement:Very good, all functions working properly
Amplitude (Dial on top/Lift angle 52):Approx 290°
Accuracy (Dial on top):Approx +3 sec

Details 

A very rare, attractive and subtle white gold perpetual calendar and chronograph wristwatch of the famous German brand A. Lange & Söhne, founded in 1845. Reference launched in 2009 and produced until 2011. Case in 18k white gold, diameter 41mm, 13.5mm thick, sapphire caseback, signed crown. Grey solid-silver dial, silvered sub-dials, gold rhodium plated and luminous hour and minute hands, applied indexes and big-date window frame in rhodium plated gold. Caliber L952.1, hand-wound, hairspring with Breguet overcoil, power reserve up to 36 hours. Functions – indication of time in hours and minutes, small seconds hand at 8 o’clock, perpetual calendar with big date indicator at 12 o’clock, day of the week at 8 o’clock, month and leap year at 4 o’clock, day/night at 9 o’clock, moon phase at 6 o’clock, flyback chronograph with central seconds and precision jumping minute counter at 4 o’clock. Black leather strap, A. Lange & Söhne 18k white gold pin buckle. 

Lot essay 

The Datagraph Perpetual Ref. 410.025 in platinum was introduced by A. Lange & Söhne in 2006 as the perpetual calendar version of the Datograph chronograph, the brand’s first wristwatch with a combination of a chronograph and perpetual calendar. The brand produced watches in platinum with a white silver-plated dial until 2011. In 2009, the new Datagraph Perpetual Ref. 410.030 in white gold with a grey dial was introduced (the present reference). It featured an important design as it was the first watch in the Lange collection with a combination of white gold and a grey dial. This reference turned out to be short-lived, with A. Lange & Söhne deciding to discontinue both of these references as early as 2010, though they remained in production until 2011. They were replaced by a new model line with a redesigned dial that no longer had the distinctive three Roman numerals at 2, 6 and 10 o’clock (features on the two early references), instead featuring applied baguette markers. The first model to feature the new dial design was Ref. 410.032 in rose gold with a silver-plated dial, while the winning combination of white gold and a grey dial reappeared in the collection in 2018 as reference 410.038. 

This reference is one of the rarest among the Datograph Perpetuals. Christie’s reports it was produced for just two years and fewer than 100 pieces were made.

The Datograph Perpetual introduced two classic complications, a perpetual calendar and a chronograph. While this combination is typical for complicated pocket watches, it is rare for wristwatches, especially if the movement uses the traditional design of these two complications. In addition, as a sign of modern watchmaking artistry, the watch is equipped with a highly precise astronomic moonphase display, programmed to accurately display continuously for 122.6 years, and then to be adjusted by just one day. 

The caliber L952.1 of the present reference is built based on Datograph’s L951.1 caliber. Both are regarded as being among the most beautiful chronograph movements of the modern era, with outstanding quality in the finishing of the parts and once praised by the independent watchmaker Philippe Dufour, the acknowledged guru of traditional fine finishing. Particularly noteworthy are the design and high-end finishing of the chronograph mechanism of the present reference, featuring bridges in untreated German silver, multiple levers and flat steel springs that control the chronograph functions via the traditional column wheel. One should note the four jewels in screwed gold chatons, a typical high-end feature for Lange wrist- and pocket watches. 

The design advantages of caliber L952.1 undoubtedly include a large balance with adjustment eccentrics, a hairspring with Breguet overcoil, beautifully curved levers and flat springs (especially the chronograph intermediate wheel lever), and the presence of steel parts with black polishing – these include the caps on the escape wheel and fourth wheel shafts, a column wheel and various other parts. In addition, the gold chatons received mirror polishing. Overall, the meticulous finishing with straight grinding, Glashütte stripes, perlage, blued screws, polished bevels, a swan neck micrometer regulator, and engraved and gilded inscriptions, in addition to those already noted above, makes the movement incredibly eye-catching, while the traditionally hand-engraved balance cock makes this watch feel like one of a kind. 

Reasons to bid 

Ref. 410.030 is one of the rarest versions of the Datograph Perpetual, while at the same time being considered extremely elegant and subtle due to the rare combination of its grey dial and white gold case, which was first used by A. Lange & Söhne in the present reference. Therefore, the A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Perpetual Ref. 410.030 would be an excellent purchase for the collector who desires a very rare, attractive and subtle white gold perpetual calendar and chronograph wristwatch from a world-famous traditional watch brand, the undisputed market leader in German high watchmaking. The unique combination of the classic chronograph complication with flyback function, jumping minute counter and perpetual calendar with big date indication strengthened the reputation of A. Lange & Söhne as a leading master of modern complications wristwatches. The fine finishing of the movement’s parts and its exquisite and clearly very complex design will impress the heart of any connoisseur, and A. Lange & Söhne’s reputation in these aspects should be recognised as impeccable.