A. Lange & Söhne

G'day,

the Dato certainly remains to be a pillar of the Lange portfolio, which underwent some real changes over the past 2 years.
Today we´re about a quarter of a year ahead of SIHH 2009 (which will take place very early), so i´m very curious to hear your expectations and wishes!
Feel kindly invited to voice both

Greetings from Germany,
Peter

Sorry for my ignorance but do you mean that there were modifications to Dato for the past 2-3 years when compared to the original watch that came out 10 years ago?
After 10 years in the market, are you suggesting a new Dato coming to the horizon?

as for my crystal ball ...

hmm Dato Rattrapante?
Richard Lange Seconde Morte?

Wait a minute, I can see something very clearly now, it is ... it is... OH
NO ... the batteries in my crystal ball are dying, the image is fading away.

ARRGGGGHHH

E

Quick, quick! Put it to the charger!! Hope that the image will come back....

One thing I wouldn't expect is for the Datograph to be discontinued.  Like everything, it will eventually be discontinued, but Lange really doesn't have anything to replace it with.
Eric von Schonberg

as I think, and I am sure they (Lange) will agree (LOL), that it is a truely
magnificent watch - the nicest contemporary chronograph watch IMO (and with
an in-house movement .... dont respond, just teasing you).

No seriously, I think the Datograph is an iconic watch for Glasütter
watchmaking in general and Lange in particular - it is pretty with its
characteristic dial, has an inreadible movement wich is a joy to study and
operating the pushers gives a very rewarding feedback/feel and it is
"relative" affordable. It costs half of the money it needs for you to
persuade a Lange AD to give you a DoubleSplit and it costs a fraction of
what you need to acquire a Tourbograph Pour le Merite.

It still costs a small fortune, dont get me wrong, but the other day I was
visiting two watchmaking brothers and they both think that Lange watches are
"cheap": you get a lot of watch for a relative modest price.

No ... I cant imagine Lange discontinueing the Datograph - not until there
is a replacement.

But then ... my crystal ball has been "off" in the past so ...

Edwin

2009 is a milestone for Lange with the 10th anniversary of the Datograph, that's true.

But I really think they are currently more focussed in structuring the company (new building, training of young watchmakers etc...) than in releasing "revolutioning" new models. I think they will come later.

So what can we expect for next january ?

Maybe the release of the YG / black dial version of the Datograph, maybe who knows a larger version.

I also would be pleased if Lange thinks about a foudroyante version of the Datograph.

And with the end of the 1815 chronograph there is no "simple" chronograph in the Lange catalogue anymore...

Who knows ?



Fr.Xavier

yeah, with PR at the 9 o´clock subdial and do I hear "rattrapante"?
Ratrappante operated by an pusher coaxial to the crown ... I think I better
shut up now.

Seriously; would there be people interested in a bigger Dato? I have heard
lots of complaints of people liking the Datograph but disliking its "small"
size! So ... there might be a big enough market to justify the enlargement
of the Dato case. Not sure if the YG/Black dial model is the best
color-combo to use to fill this "vacancy" though.

Edwin

the Lange staff (Fabian, Arnd, Tony etc...) was wearing this YG/ Black Dial during the SIHH to test the reactions.

At the beginning I was a bit surprised by the contrast between the case and the dial. But at the end, I really think it was a nice combo.



Fr.Xavier

and I can imagine that the combo yellow-and-black is very very nice: not as
"warm" as the Dufour Dato and not as "cold" as THE Dato.

But they made (at least) 3 YG Datographs? Wow, that means they are serious!
I think yellow and black do match nicely.

Wasnt the YG Patek 5070 not also done with a black(ish) dial?

Edwin

As you say - I dont believe they would discontinue the Datograph which is Langes most important watch beside the Lange 1 in my opinion. Maybe they replace the RG Dato with the YG/black dial version. THE Dato is untouchable.

send me the original Lange stock photo of the RG/Black Datograph and I will
try some PS-ing on it later today.

Due to a virus outsmarting my anti virus s/w I lost all my Lange images.

Edwin

G'day,

word on the YG variant was this to be an edition of 30 units; i´d guess these are gone already, but frankly i´ve not seen "official introductions". But then, for such a small run there´s no need for advertisement anyway.

Here´s da real thing, as shown earlier:

If there´s interest, i´d be glad to chip in some more impressions.

Cheers,
Peter

I read it was a "try-out" to see how people would react to it. Guess chances
of seeing it making it to a regular production piece are slim now.

I wouldnt mind looking at more impressions Peter :-D

Have a great weekend,

Edwin

keep them coming. It is always a real pleasure to see you "impressions".

Thanks!

oliver

I hope you get your picture collection back together soon. Peter solved the mystery regarding the yellow gold Dato - a serial production should be more than unlikely. I am confident that we see a Lange minute repeater, but I doubt it will be next year. Lange has made minute repeaters in the past. There are some very complicated pocket watches in the Lange & Söhne book of Reinhard Meis.

I saw it in a shop in Rome a few weeks ago.

Fr.Xavier

it must have been a used watch then as, from the top of my head, production
of this ref. started YEARS ago (as much as 4 or 5 years perhaps)

I am no big fan of the 5070 - I am very polite using my words :-D - but I
saw the YG and was impressed!!!! A great color combo and the black dial did
make the watch seem/wear smaller then the 42mm it is.

Have a great weekend FX. And a great weekend to the other bro´s as well.

Warm regards

Edwin

Ciao Guys,
Trust everyone is doing well with your masterpieces^^. Well, my guess for 2009 is based on gut feeling, and also the word that has been circulating in the Japanese market for a while now, it is especially true that next year is Lange 's 20th anniversary since their re-inception, and for that we might see a enamel dialed piece, just like for the 10th anniv. This could be a Richard Lange modified, or having a new function. But the REAL BIGGIE here is the high possiblity of a minute repeater, how great would that be guys!! It's like the marque that we all know and love for perfectionist finish, craftsmanship, and quality do a take on this one of the most difficult of complications for the wristwatch, I can only imagine what it will be like when the sound of those gongs reach my ears....
But yea, thats what we Tokyo Lange fans are talking about. Hehe, but whatever it is, I just cant wait for January to come!!
Have a great weekend fellows,
Ciao!
Stephen

to celibrate Lange´s 20th birthday with?

But the re-establishment of Lange took place on Dec. 7th 1990 so we have to
wait another year (or two).

Edwin

they should introduce a saxonia with annual calendar (with appertures) or a skeleton saxonia manual.

I'd like to get something I ordered 6 months ago before they go changing things too much!

Hi Guys,

I wish a WG Richard Lange with black dial.

I expect they will bring out a highly complicated piece (maybe a repeater)...as eyecatcher and small improvements of existing modes (e.g. increase the Dato / Langematik Perpetual  to 41mm and so on).

 

best regards

stere

Edwin

Hi Edwin,

yeah, this is exactly what I mean...you are a big photoshop magician
(I would prefer  the second one...)

Greetings from Saxony!

stere

is on the Dato-Style strap (charcoal grey/black/blue-ish strap with slightly
contrasting grey stitching)

Edwin

Is a Lange Pilot's watch based on the 39 mm datograph case or at most the richard lange case 40.5 mm case. but hey that's a wish based on how much I love the old lange B uhrs and the fact that I have not been lucky to get on original one in a relatively good condition.

But of course, my magic lamp broke years ago and the genie has already granted me my three wishes in the form of 1815, L1 TZ , and a Datograph.

 

rabi'