By Jovan Krstevski
A. Lange & Söhne has always been fascinating simply because of their taste for perfection. This Germany-based watchmaker popular to many as they have redefined their motto which is to never stand still. This is quite interesting since a watchmaker’s common understanding of time is that it never stands still and so does perfection since it always sees improvements and the same can be said with our watch under review which is the Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon. Unlike its popular predecessors, the Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon is released as a limited edition.
This high-end watch is really worth your dough especially if you have a heightened taste for sophisticated timekeeping. Nonetheless for those with keen eyes, without the added tourbillon the Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon is just a typical A. Lange & Söhne regular release with all the bells and whistles of an elite watch. Without further ado, here are the details.
The Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon’s case is 41.5mm wide and 14.6mm thick. I can’t help but notice the extra 1mm thickness due to the tourbillon of course but come to think of it, it’s actually less than I previously thought. It’s no doubt a thing of beauty plus the solid 950 platinum case is really something to be proud of.
Next is the impressive dial which includes the components of classic Datograph style which are dark and solid silver highlights with rhodium-plated solid gold hands. The SuperLumiNova coated hour and minute hands also look sporty at this grade which is quite cool to say the least. We can clearly see the big date at the 12 o’clock and the watch’s name just under it. Obviously, the name of the watch basically hints its features which are perpetual calendar and chronograph functions. I kind of like the subtle power reserve indicator between the 9 and 10. Everything else on the dial is incredibly designed such as the perpetual calendar complete with date, day of the week, month, and a day/night indicator which are nicely positioned at the 9, 3 and 6.
Furthermore, I find the in-house A. Lange & Söhne calibre L952.2 movement quite slower at 2.5Hz operation compared with other tourbillon watches. However, I think the engineers know what they are doing since this movement puts out an incredible 50 hours of power reserve. The movement also features a stop-second system for the tourbillon which is very handy for precise setting of the time. Nonetheless, there are a total of 729 components which includes lavish amounts of hand decoration and polishings. Interestingly the tourbillon is only displayed through the caseback making it difficult for onlookers to marvel at the impressive components such as the diamond endstone on the balance wheel.
SIHH 2016: A. Lange & Söhne novelties
You also get to wear this watch on a matching hand-stitched black alligator strap. There are only 100 pieces of these babies out there so its rarity is very enticing to avid watch collectors. At €295,000 I don’t see why not? For more info, please visit alange-soehne.com
JOVAN KRSTEVSKI – FOUNDER, PROPRIETOR & EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Jovan Krstevski has been collecting watches every since his father bought him an Omega Seamaster back when he was just a teenager. He launched Watchgeek back in 2011, which is now known as WristReview and is one of the most widely read watch blogs on the Web. He quotes ’WristReview is a site to help people find, explore, discover and enjoy wristwatches.’ Besides WristReview, he also writes for a number of publications. Read his articles here
