amanico
[JLC Moderator]
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Some Datograph Love and Thoughts...
We spoke a lot about the new 1815 Chrono, and thought about a " modernisation / update " of the Datograph.
When we have a very close look on it, I really wonder what can be changed or improved.
Mechanically, can it be nicer than that? :
In terms of finish and decoration, I would like to see Lange to not change anything, as it is part of Lange DNA.
In terms of power reserve, well, this would be the only point I'd like to see improved, with a more comfortable autonomy ( something like on the new 1815 Chrono, around 60 hours, instead of the actual ... 36 hours ).
As for the rest of the watch....
The case is 39 mm big.
Does it need to be bigger, like one mm bigger?
Why not, but is this necessary?
I don't think so, personally.
One thing could be improved, maybe... The bezel.
To my taste, it is a bit too thick and large.
Think about a new smaller and thinner bezel...
Huuummm?
What do you think?
One thing is sure: Don't touch to the finish of the case, which is highly appealing with its brushed and polished parts, and no new pushers, for me, please, nor new crown!
Now, the dial:
I wouldn't correct it that much...
The luminous hands are, in my opinion, totally useless as they don't glow enough in the dark, but I appreciate a lot their " Dauphine " shape.
So, same hands, without luminova inside, that would be perfect.
The dial in itself... is reaching the perfection.
The 2 silvered counters are below a " 3 / 9 " line, indeed, but they are ideally located, if you keep in mind that the big date is just under " 12 " and that the counters and the date form a triangle, in an elegant balanced way.
The applied roman numbers " II / VI / X " are echoing to the triangle, but at the reverse, if you compare it to the counters and date.
Would I remove the roman numbers on the Dato Dial?
No way!
It is part of its spirit!
Of course, I don't know what Lange wants to do with the Datograph, as it is now 11 years old, and I think that it is not easy to touch to a myth without damaging it.
Some very slight " retouches " may improve it in a subtle way, for sure.
What is your take, here?
Best,
Nicolas
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Some Datograph Love and Thoughts...
We spoke a lot about the new 1815 Chrono, and thought about a " modernisation / update " of the Datograph. When we have a very close look on it, I really wonder what can be changed or improved. Mechanically, can it be nicer than that? : In terms of finish...
That is a difficult question to answer.
I mean the watch does approach perfection. I am not sure that you can really improve. I fear the risk is that you make a change that people won't appreciate. Best regards, George
Agreed, George.
Not much to change, at the risk of breaking the harmony of the whole piece. Best, Nicolas.
I ask for less changes..
I think the dial is already perfect! Like you said, the subdials and the big-date form a harmonious triangle and I would not like any of that moved. I like a standard version of platinum Dato in the silvered dial though (like the Pisa). The bezel I think ...
Slimmer bezel, slightly thinner case and an increased power reserve.
I feel the most important here, is to have a slightly thinner case... It will allow the Dato to sit a bit less high on the wrist, and it will give it more comfort. But if Mange does that, they will also have ot change the bezel for a slmiier one, to keep ...
No " retouches ", please.
This is not a computer which needs a frequent update. It is (already) an icon, nothing more and nothing less. ALS - stop the production or leave it like it is. If they stop it and have to replace it, that will be a tough job. But please no minor changes, ...
I love the way you think, Oliver...
Keep it like that, or stop it. You're right, it is already an icon ( one of the few, very few I considered as an Icon since the first year of its production, by the way ), with its qualities and minors flaws. Best, Nicolas.
Oliver I tend to agree
Continue the Dato or discontinue it for a new chrono. Perhaps easier to do when your watches are known by reference number such as Patek, but a formula that does work to build long term value/collectability for the brand. Hard to change THE iconic chrono.
I was thinking about that lately ...
The main change I would maybe like to see is concerning the color of the 2 subdials : I feel they are not totally silver but that they are colored with a light "bronze" shade, like if time had done his work over the material. I'd rather have a real silver...
Not easy to think on how to improve such a strong piece, eeh? ;)
If any improvement is considered, of course... Best, Nicolas.
NEVER TRY TO IMPROVE PERFECTION!
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE! The 39mm diameter is an ideal balance to the thickness of the case. It is both classic an contemporary with these dimensions. The Dato stands perfectly on the wrist, and even more so with the déployante. The bezel is just perfectly s...
I love reading such comments,
And to see what kind of strong love inspires the Dato fans or / and owners. I agree with you that there are some risks to change the aesthetics of the Dato. It is part of its personality, of its appeal, after all. Maybe the Dato just need to be dscontinue...
I would just add ...
... that the Saxonia annual calendar seems to be an evolution from the other Saxonias (especially concerning the indexes), and more precisely the changes we have enlighted from the new Saxonias presented in 2011. As the new 1815 Chrono has been shown in 2...
The Dato was earlier in the market ...
but look at the details: L951.0 vs L951.1 Just a thought! Oliver
My wish list for 2012
Just don't know which but your post does clear a lot of myst A great silver? Images courtesy of small-luxury-world The magnificent black? Images courtesy of SteveG Or The Count Vlad's temptation? Images courtesy of Amanico Dark of the moon? Decisions, Dec...
The problem is which one?
I only sure is the black dial but which? What can a person do? Best Tyler
No changes other than increased power reserve
The platinum Datograph is perfect IMHO.The feel of the chronograph pushers is las smooth ike a hot knife through butter and that multi layered 3 D like movement and finish.PERFECTO. Cheers,dreamer
An increased power reserve...
That may be an important point,k if lange ever thinks about changing something on a new Dato ( if there is a new Dato ). The aesthetics would remain the same, the movement will improve on a technical point, without any change on its awesome finish and dec...
WG case and 60h PR for me
Hope L&S will do it. The Pt Dato is too heavy for a daily use, IMHO. Cheers, Patrickh
Actually, the density of a Pt Dato is one of its pro, at least for me.
I would regret feeling a less important density with an hypothetic white gold version. But this is just my taste. Best, Nicolas.
current Pt Dato is a myth, so a new model
with longer PR should be in White Gold or Honey Gold (LE) according to me. Long life to the iconic original Pt Dato. But not for my taste. Cheers, Patrickh
A jumping main minute hand ...
would be cool, as it has got some lovely, dramatic hands. I know, possibly a bit much asked for, but hey: the force is in Lange's hand since the Zeitwerk . In terms of design: perfect already, no reason for any changes. Regards Moritz
Aaach, NO!!!!
The Dato has something very classic, and a system ala Zeitwerk would kill the myth... In my point of view... Best, Nicolas.
the only possible improvement on the platinum Dato
...would be a shorter hours hand. I don't see any advantage in a longer power reserve: if you don't wind it everyday then you'll forget to wind it! Regarding the density: it is what we most love! And yes, for everyday wear. You don't improve an icon "rubb...
great post
in the end I would probably not change a thing - although I realize that your proposed changes make sense, like the thinner bezel, in the end I love the Dato "warts and all" and that includes its somewhat squat profile - I hope Lange will just leave it al...
I thought loud, Andreas...
And I quite love the idea to not change anything... After all, a Myth is a Myth, and doesn't need to be improved, as it doesn't need to be a bigger myth. Best, Nicolas.
I think you pretty much covered any possible improvements.
Potentially 1 mm larger with a thinner bezel and perhaps a slightly slimmer case... and a longer power reserve. My only additional wish would be to add a regular production wg version with a silver dial so that enhusiasts could have a less expensive optio...
Thanks for your input, emcquillan.
The question is to know if what you loose in power, you win in elegance, if you play on the volumes... I really don't know, in fact I would love to see a proto of a slighlty bigger and thinner case, with a slimmer bezel, before saying if it is good for my...
bigger and slimmer with more PR?
Nicolas, such a case would be similar to the 1815 chrono's: very nice, but not too original, IMHO.
Why would you want a longer power reserve?
The Dato is such a joy to wind, so smooth and pleasant, I would not want to miss a day of winding it. Even if a new one came out with a longer power reserve, I would wind it every day. Lastly, I agree with what many have said, if Lange is planning somethi...
agreed!
I fully agree. The would-be successor should also bear a different name, so as to maintain the personality of the icon full and intact. "ChnonoDate" would do! In general, the consensus seems to be that no "improvement intent" should be inflicted to the ex...
Just to avoid to see the movement stopping because I forgot to wind it ...
Every night, even if it is a pleasure to do it. I agree that it is a pleasure to do it every morning or night, but sometimes, Life makes you forget to do it, and it won't pass the night without stopping... Best, Nicolas.
To the contrary...
I find that if you know it won't stop, then you relax your discipline and occasionally skip a winding session, which is never good for your accuracy.
It is your point of view. My point of view is ...
That I always have to wonder if I wound it or not, like when I leave my home ... Did I lock the door? A bigger autonomy is a greater comfort, in my point of view, but I guess it depends on everyone's preference. Best, Nicolas.
It's been the size and the luminous hands that put me down
If not, it is indeed a very iconic Lange chronograph, virtually one of the best on the market to take on anything out there. As some character that i used to like alot says, "More than enough to kill anything that moves". Tschuss! Stephen
Personally I prefer the 1815 chronograph....
the new one with its 39,5mm the movement finishing is the same as the Dato, beautifull, I prefer silver dial and love the blued steel hands. What I really don't like in the date windows of the Lange is the blank when it shows a single digit number. Perhap...
I tried both together and it was not difficult to prefer the Dato
In spite of the slightly larger case, the 1815 chrono looks "smallish", not only due to the size of the crown, IMO.
I thought that they had increased the size of..
the crown on the NEW 1815 and although I haven't yet seen it in the "metal" from the pics the watch does look bigger than it predecessor. I just don't warm up to the date thing though! Kind regards Francois
Agreed on the luminous hands. Disagree on the size.
Even if I would have certainlyt preferred a slightly bigger case ( 1 mm, no more ), I would not like to see it measuring 43 mm, like the DS. When you compare the DS with the Dato, and I did a post about that, you can observe that the bigger case lost its ...
Strange to see this post..
as I have been thinking a lot about this watch recently. I missed out on it twice for various reasons but whenever I think of the quintessential Lange it's always the Dato & then the Lange1. IMO, it will be extremely desired if ever it became discontinued...
Quintessential Langes...
Interesting question, Fernando.. For me, it is: The Lange 1 ( first generation ), the Dato, the 1815 Moonphase ( the orginal ), the Langematik Anniversary, and the Cabaret ( you know, this bloody platinum case with this bloody black dial... ) I was on to ...
Datos are definitely not common....
but what I mean to say was that at one time they were THE Lange to own ( in this town anyway) and aspire for amongst aficionados. Now I find that the DS has somewhat taken over as the inspirational piece. Your loss is indeed cruel but maybe it's for a pur...
Personally, The DS won't replace the Dato in my heart.
I was at a watch shop with my Dato, as I wanted to try the DS on my wrist, and maybe sell my Dato for the DS. At the end of 15 minutes, I understood that the Dato was the Chrono to get. And I can tell you that I'm dreaming about a Split Chrono. So, I was ...
Personal wish list...
... not exactly a list as I have only one wish about Dato. Would like variation of the case material - to be exact, the lighter white metal such as bright titanium, or even SS maybe.... Love PT Dato (the color combination is the best), but it is becoming ...
Old guy??? You're still so young, my friend. ;)
Honestly, it would be curious to see Lange making watches in no noble metals... Now that would be a revolution. But to know if it would be a good or a bad one... ??? Best, Nicolas.
i have dreamt of this watch for 3 years till i finally got it....
it is one of the iconic watch i call keeper and wouldn't chnage anything about it. even flawed, it remains its chararcter, in my opinion....
Congrats Aaron ...
Welcome to the club Thanks Nicolas for this awesome thread ! Best Patrice...
Lucky friend.... You know how much I love it. Bring it with you, tomorrow....
I'm always pleased to see a " Real Chrono ". Best, Nicolas.
Great thread! A few thoughts...
I love almost everything about my Dato (I own the RG version, which I know is considered a bit less iconic, but suits me very well). For me, keep just about everything! Perhaps make the bezel a bit thinner -- and I liked the idea about making the subdials...
Than,ks for your thoughts, Gary. AND ...
A Datoi is a Dato, in RG or in Pt. Best, my friend. Nicolas
Lovely Lume
after coming out of the sunlight then entering a dimly lit area. Unfortunately the effect doesn't last more than a couple of minutes but allows enough time for my tired old eyes to get used to the dark. Useless at night - yes - but this is not a Panerai o...
Well, I think this is the only unconsistent detail on the Dato...
Lume hands, but no lume dots... Strange. But this small reserve can not ruin a myth, I agree. Best, Nicolas.
Thanks, Nicolas, for your encouragement
Also the shortened lume on the minutes hand as compared with that of the hours hand can be conflicting or confusing, especially when they almosty overlap and the Metro - U-Bahn or the NewYork subway is the only way back home. Best regards, Amerix
For me, time is coming for a successor of the L.951.1
The question of the evolution of not of the Datograph finds its answer in the sales figures... We have to face it: with 39mm, the Datograph appears to be too small for a lot of potential clients. Moreover, its comfort is not the best in class. The Datogra...
and I totally agree to ensure some continuity [nt]
No message body This message has been edited by amerix on 2011-08-01 10:11:46 This message has been edited by amerix on 2011-08-01 10:14:09
Key points
for me, these are the only changes needed that would improve the datograph to the point where I'd buy it: 1. Greater power reserve (60h) with no change to any watch physical size dimensions. 2. Cosmetics? For the black dial platinum version black out the ...