A. Lange & Söhne from the German origin brands of the watch industry delivered the first party of the new model Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon to the stores, which was introduced during SIHH 2016. As the name speaks for the model, which is limited to 100 pieces only, it bears a tourbillon mechanism accompanied with a flyback function chronograph and perpetual calendar feature. If you are still unimpressed, you better see how these complications come together...
Since 2006, the Datograph Perpetual name stood for the perpetual calendar and flyback chronograph complications coming together in a unique design. The model family, which added a Tourbillon version a decade later, praised the watchmakers with this special new member premiered at the SIHH 2016 fair.
Known for its simple lines and functional designs, A. Lange & Söhne has not compromised on its usual attitude for this model. It is not so easy to understand at first glance that the new model has the Tourbillon feature as there is no perforated window in the dial of the Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon model like the rest of the Tourbillon watches. In fact, you have to look at the back of the watch to see the tourbillon movement.
It was not easy for A. Lange & Söhne engineers to integrate the Tourbillon-style escapement system, which is one of the most popular complications of the watch industry, into this special timepiece. The most important reason is that the movement Caliber L952.2, which consists of 729 separate parts, is not designed with modular architecture. Unlike the cumbersome structure of modular designs, a very elegant but complex solution oriented which required the brand to re-design the whole mechanism from scratch, to put those complications together.
Chronograph is equipped with a column-wheel mechanism, a precise jumping minute counter and a flyback function. The jumping perpetual calendar is paired with a moon-phase display and a Lange outsize date.
“It is not so easy to understand at first glance that the new model has the Tourbillon feature as there is no perforated window in the dial of the Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon model like the rest of the Tourbillon watches.”
The case of the watch is 41.5mm in diameter and made of platinum. And a glance through the sapphire-crystal caseback into the movement – hand-decorated in accordance with the highest Lange standards – makes it clear how the chronograph mechanism was arranged around the tourbillon. Thanks to the patented stop-seconds mechanism, the balance wheel is momentarily brought to a standstill when the crown is pulled, so that the watch can be set with one-second accuracy.
The sophisticated nature of the watch’s construction is also reflected in its design: the clearly structured black dial of this model – which is limited to just 100 watches – is easy to read despite the density of information it displays.
