A. Lange & Söhne releases the Lange Datograph Handwerkskunst, a special edition of their iconic Datograph. A tribute to the first Datograph launched in 1999, a quarter of a century ago.
Press Release information with commentary in italics.
New: A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Handwerkskunst
As per current Lange policy, the pricing on the Datograph Handwerkskunst is only available on application. Contact your Lange boutique for the information. Limited Edition of 25 pieces.
Commentary
Handwerkskunst is the German word which translates to Craftsmanship. Lange has used this designation for special editions bearing premium craft finishing. Handwerkskunst watches have been released since 2011. Examples are found in the Handwerkskunst editions of the Richard Lange Tourbillon, Zeitwerk, Lange 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar, Lange 1 Tourbillon, 1815 Tourbillon, the 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar, and Cabaret Tourbillon. These showcased different special crafts. For example the Lange 1 Tourbillon had a black enamel dial made in Glashütte. Others like the Lange 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar featured floral hand engravings on the dial. And yet others have used tremblage.
This new Datograph Handwerkskunst is released today in WWS (Watches & Wonders Shanghai). The Datograph Handwerkskunst uses tremblage on the dial.
This dial style with the textured tremblage finishing and raised numerals was first seen on the Zeitwerk Handwerkskunst released in 2012. The Zeitwerk features a more restrained use of the tremblage, which covers only part of the dial, and perhaps more tasteful. The styling of using the tremblage on the entire dial was first seen in the 1815 Tourbillon Handwerkskunst in 2015.
The movement is the Calibre L951.8 which was first appeared as the L951.6 in the 2012 Datograph UP/DOWN. The 2012 Datograph UP/DOWN was an update on the original Datograph released in 1999. The Calibre L951.8 seems to be an update on the L951.7 with the UP/DOWN indicator deleted. This may be a necessary deletion as the dial of the Datograph Handwerkskunst with the tremblage treatment may be too busy to accommodate the power reserve indicator.
Pricing wise, the current Lange policy is to post a POA and will require interested parties to contact their AD to gain an understanding of the price. However, as an indication of the pricing, we may take the recently released Datograph in white gold with a blue dial as a point of reference. Lange released the Ref. 405.028 WWG this year at EUR 125k. As the 405.028 is the regular version with a solid silver dial with no additional handwork, compared to the tremblage work done on the solid gold dial of the Ref. 405.048F, we expect the Datograph Handwerksunst to be significantly more expensive.
Release information
Following the relaunch of the brand, A. Lange & Söhne presented their first chronograph, the DATOGRAPH, 25 years ago. In the latest model, the unique alliance of technical complexity and expressive design is enriched with further exceptional elements, created by the artisanal finishers’ hands. The limited HANDWERKSKUNST edition boasts rare and exceedingly sophisticated dial and movement decorations.
The DATOGRAPH has been a benchmark in chronograph construction since 1999. To commemorate its 25th anniversary, A. Lange & Söhne has presented two fascinating interpretations of this mechanical magnum opus: the DATOGRAPH UP/DOWN in white gold with a blue dial and the DATOGRAPH PERPETUAL TOURBILLON HONEYGOLD “Lumen” .
A rare composition of aesthetic details
The limited-edition DATOGRAPH HANDWERKSKUNST will be launched shortly ‒ a further highlight of the anniversary year. Exclusive decorations accord the unparalleled dial design of the original model an artistic and refined appearance. Since 2011, the attribute “HANDWERKSKUNST” has been used to identify exclusive, special limited-edition watches whose dials and movements are adorned with particularly elaborate decorations. Endless patience, ample experience, a keen eye, a steady hand as well as the absolute commitment to perfect every single detail ‒ these are the finishers’ and engravers’ prerequisites to raise the decorative opulence for which A. Lange & Söhne is renowned to an inordinately high level.
Tremblage engraving on the dial: magnificent artisanal virtuosity on small surfaces
The black-rhodiumed main dial as well as the rhodiumed, light-grey totalisers of the DATOGRAPH HANDWERKSKUNST feature an ornate tremblage engraving, resulting in a three-dimensional structure with subtle light reflexions. For this technique, the engraver uses a specially crafted lining burin to create a fine-grained surface. The challenge presented here is to not only achieve a uniform texture on the smallest of planes but to simultaneously preserve certain dial elements such as the arch brand logo, the minutes and seconds graduations as well as the tachymeter scale. Together with the subsidiary dials that were moved downwards slightly and the aperture for the outsize date, they remain clearly visible with their sculpted contours of the relief engraving and contrast crisply against the dark background. In a first step, the edges of the appliques and Roman numerals are chamfered and the surfaces are decorated with straight graining. In a second step that requires great diligence, they are placed on the dial. The hands of this HANDWERKSKUNST edition showcase meticulously executed circumferential chamfers and straight graining.
Black polishing of the chronograph levers ‒ the apex of finissage
The artisanal virtuosity also manifests itself in every detail of the lavishly finished manufacture calibre L951.8. For example, the finishers blackpolish the surfaces of the chronograph levers, a particularly time-consuming and rare technique: it ensures that incident light is reflected in merely one single direction. Viewed from this perspective only, the surface of the lever appears to be jet black, yet seen from all other angles, it has a mirror-like gloss. Inspired by historic pocket watches, the granular surface of the bridges on the three-quarter plate made of German silver represents the design counterpart of the tremblage engraving of the dial. And last but not least, a glance through the sapphire-crystal caseback reveals the intricacy and mechanical beauty of the manually wound movement.
Hand-engraved balance cock with a vine motive
The manual engraving on the balance cock is the most distinctive design element. This minuscule yet lavishly decorated movement part with its special filigreed vine pattern sets the DATOGRAPH HANDWERKSKUNST apart. Unlike a conventional Lange engraving where the pattern is cut into the material, for this piece the vine pattern is relief-engraved. Floral motives have a long-standing tradition at A. Lange & Söhne. They graced the first precision pocket watches dating back to the fledgling years of the manufacture in the 19th century. Hence, this calibre constitutes a significant example of the manufacture’s competence in chronograph construction as well as its artistic craftsmanship.
The DATOGRAPH HANDWERKSKUNST is the eighth model of this special edition and features a yellow-gold case with a diameter of 41.0 millimetres and a height of 13.1 millimetres.
Given the extraordinary amount of artisanal work involved, this masterpiece is limited to only 25 watches worldwide. This timepiece is exclusively available at Lange boutiques. Towards the end of August 2024, it will make its debut at Watches & Wonders Shanghai 2024 and will also be shown during the Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace near London, taking place at approximately the same time.
DATOGRAPH HANDWERKSKUNST Ref. 405.048F
Movement Lange manufacture calibre L951.8, manually wound, crafted to the most exacting Lange quality standards, decorated and assembled by hand; precision-adjusted in five positions; plates and bridges made of untreated German silver; balance cock engraved by hand
No. of movement parts 426
No. of jewels 43
No. of screwed gold chatons 4
Escapement Lever escapement
Oscillation system Shock-resistant balance with eccentric poising weights; superior-quality balance spring manufactured in-house, frequency of 18,000 semi-oscillations per hour, precision beat adjustment system with lateral setscrew and whiplash spring
Power reserve 60 hours when fully wound
Functions Time indicated in hours, minutes, and subsidiary seconds dial with stop seconds; flyback chronograph with precisely jumping minute counter; outsize date
Operating elements Crown for winding the watch and setting the time; two chronograph buttons, one button for rapid correction of the outsize date
Case dimensions Diameter: 41.0 millimetres; height: 13.1 millimetres
Movement dimensions Diameter: 30.6 millimetres; height: 7.9 millimetres
Crystal and transparent caseback Sapphire crystal (Mohs hardness 9)
Case 750 yellow gold
Dial 750 gold, main dial black-rhodiumed and tremblage-engraved; totalisers rhodiumed and tremblage-engraved
Hands Hour and minute hands: 750 gold; subsidiary seconds and minute counter hands: steel, yellow gold-plated; chrono seconds hand: steel, yellow gold-plated
Strap Hand-stitched alligator leather, dark-brown, grey seam
Buckle Deployant buckle in 750 yellow gold
Limited edition 25 watches, edition number engraving
