Review of Lange Datograph

Part 1

By Peter Chong, November 1999


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Driving in the rain...watercolor by Photoshop. Inspiration by Boon

The Lange Datograph. Here it lies on my wrist as I drove to work in the rain. The foul weather, and the resulting traffic jam, promised the drive to be bore. But the glint of the platinum catches my eye. It is marvellous. It bekons, and persuades...ah...staring at the watch, I am almost thankful of the traffic...allowing me to share an intimate moment with this watch. Immediately after Sincere's Watch Show in Kuala Lumpur Oct 21 1999...the first public showing of the Datograph in the world, the kind folks at Lange Uhren extended me a loan of the Datograph, and the 1815 Moonphase in Rose gold for a week. So here is the first review in the world, a Timezone exclusive, of this magnificient watch, after a week of living with it. I am jumping the gun, by saying that this is one of the nicest watches I have worn in a while. But it is indeed a marvel. The first new chronograph movement designed from ground up for nearly 20 years. Magnificient!

The case

This is not a small watch. Measuring some 40mm diameter and 11mm in thickness, it is a large watch. The platinum case is very heavy, and the finish is very high. Polished areas achieve a high lustre and shine. The case side is decorated with a band of brushed finish which runs across the "barrel" of the case. For such a large and heavy watch, it sits very nicely on the wrist, and is very comfortable on my 7.5" wrists. The heft of the watch gives one the impression that it is hewn out of a block of platinum...a characteristic of Lange watches, but more so with the Datograph. The chronograph buttons are bright finished, as is the massive platinum buckle. As is typical of Lange buckles, this is made of a solid block of case metal (in this case, platinum) and the shape is designed in such a way that there is minimal deformation of the strap when buckled up.

Datograph, resting on the First Edition (2500 examples limited edition) Catalog, signed by Gunter Blumlein and Walter Lange.