A. Lange & Söhne

The charm of the grey dial

During the SIHH 2009 was presented the WG version of the Datograph Perpetual. To create a visual difference with the Platinum version and to offer an aesthetical alternative, Lange has used a beautiful grey dial for this watch.

I think I have written this sentence one thousand times but here it comes again: "A slight difference and everything changes".

I'm not a fan of the Datograph Perpetual mainly because of its dial layout: I find the moonphase a bit too squashed (it is the reason why I was happy with the Saxonia Annual Calendar which has a more balanced dial IMHO).

But despite this feeling, I still think that the Datograph Perpetual is an impressive watch taking advantage of the beauty of its caliber.

Between the Platinum and the White Gold versions, the last one is without any doubt my favourite thanks to its stunning grey dial. I find it more subtle and it enhances (well, that's my point of view !) the readability of the watch. It is quite rare than in the Lange collection I prefer the WG version to the Platinum one but here it is the case.

And you, what is your fav Datograph Perpetual ?

Fr.Xavier

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I don't have any favourite

By: amanico : June 12th, 2010-12:46

It is one of the rare Lange I don't understand. When the Dato and the Langematik perpetual are two marvelous watches, the combination of the Perpetual Calendar and Chronograph in the same watch is, IMO, not a good idea. The watch ( dial ) is too busy for ...

And what about the PG dial ?

By: foversta : June 12th, 2010-12:56

Without the numerals ? Fr.Xavier...

Naaah.

By: amanico : June 12th, 2010-13:04

All these circles and crossed counters are not my cup of tea... Not at all. A bit like on the Grande Lange one. Best, Nicolas

Always enjoy gold dials FX. However...

By: =RWK= : June 13th, 2010-10:39

I want to put such a dial in a platinum case. I also think Nicolas has a valid point. The dial is too busy and the font too small. Such a watch should be a Ø 60,0 mm pocket watch. Cheers, -- Richard.

For me the key issue is the power reserve.

By: foversta : June 12th, 2010-13:01

The watch would gain a lot with a larger power reserve: 36 hours are too short for a perpetual watch. I hope that Lange will expand the power reserve of the Datograph and of the Datograph Perpetual like they did with the new 1815 chronograph. In fact, for...

Agreed on this point, FX.

By: amanico : June 12th, 2010-13:07

And the Dato Perpetual is not better than a simple Dato. So, the reproach is common to the Dato and the Dato PC.... Best, Nicolas

The one button advance makes the limited PR tolerable [nt]

By: Craig LA : June 12th, 2010-22:26

No message body

Do you feel the same about the 5970? [nt]

By: Craig LA : June 12th, 2010-22:27

No message body

just changing the color

By: amerix : June 15th, 2010-12:58

doesn't help very much. Lange should take out the tachymeter, remove that bad joke of a moon as well as everything that looks crowded and cluttered. Exactly what is being "perpetuated" here? The all-in-one watch - the one we know all too well.

I would have to totally disagree...

By: fnutz09 : March 21st, 2011-09:28

I would have to say having owned a PT Dato that it is IMO the best chrono on the market period (sorry but besides the dial on the PP 5070 there is no comparison), with its flayback function, large date, jumping second hand and movement design and finishin...

Thanks for giving your elaborated ( and you did it very well ) point of view.

By: amanico : March 21st, 2011-09:36

Mechanically speaking, there is nothing to say, the Dato PC is certainly a great piece. Then, it is just a matter of aesthetics: Some will love, others won't, this is unavoidable. I have to say that I'm a big fan of the Dato and of the Langematik Perpetua...

Not really...

By: MiniCooper : June 12th, 2010-13:48

a big fan of this watch.... But I do prefer the grey dial to the white one.... Is the pt much heavier than the wg? Cheers

A bit...

By: foversta : June 12th, 2010-14:04

I can't tell you what is the weight difference but a significant part of the overall weight comes from the caliber: Lange calibers are heavy. So you will feel a difference but not a huge one. Fr.Xavier

::))

By: MiniCooper : June 12th, 2010-14:08

To my way of thinking................

By: Topcat30093 : June 12th, 2010-17:25

Having seen the more traditional piece, the thing that has always struck me, is how difficult some of the dials are too read, especially the leap year indicator. That aside its a marvellous piece of craftmanship, and out of the choice that is now availabl...

The Pt Dato Perp always struck me as rather banal . . . the WG version won my heart!!!

By: Craig LA : June 12th, 2010-22:25

Craig...

I love the WG version

By: donizetti : June 13th, 2010-04:02

in pictures (especially Craigs!). I think the dial looks really nice! I have not had the opportunity to put one one. I wonder about the proportions - it seems on the thick side with 13.8 mm? Also, I would take the blued steel large seconds hand from the P...

Look good.

By: Roxas : June 30th, 2010-10:54

Anyway, I too think that the dial of Datagraph Perpertual is too busy. It's a great watch though.