Marking the anniversary of the brand’s historic revival in Glashütte on October 24, 1994, A. Lange & Söhne has introduced a remarkable new timepiece that pushes boundaries while honoring its storied legacy. Over the past few years, the prestigious German watchmaker has frequently chosen this milestone date to unveil major releases, ranging from commemorative Lange 1 models to the second-generation Zeitwerk. Continuing that tradition, the manufacture has pulled out all the stops for its latest creation: a strictly limited edition of the Datograph Perpetual crafted in platinum, featuring a striking diamond-baguette-adorned dial and, most notably, a matching solid platinum bracelet.
What We Know
Aside from the brand’s contemporary sports watch lines, this release marks A. Lange & Söhne’s first commercially available watch equipped with a metal bracelet since the historical Wellendorff era. The timepiece maintains the familiar, highly regarded layout established by past iterations of the Datograph Perpetual. The dial is anchored by the signature oversized date window at twelve o’clock, complemented by two symmetrically offset subdials positioned below, and a precise moonphase display at the six o’clock position.
The complex subdials serve double duty, conveying information for both the flyback chronograph and the perpetual calendar complications. They feature two small, integrated display interruptions—subdials nested within subdials—which house a day/night indicator and the perpetual calendar’s leap year pointer. Aside from these indicators, the month, day of the week, running seconds, and thirty-minute chronograph counter are all neatly contained within these two primary auxiliary registers.
What immediately distinguishes this reference, however, is a bold aesthetic departure from traditional Saxon watchmaking codes. Baguette-cut diamonds replace the standard baton indices for the hour markers. According to the manufacture, the total diamond weight is approximately 0.13 carats. To preserve legibility and avoid obstructing the subdials, the design incorporates two shorter diamonds at the three and nine o’clock positions, alongside two diamond markers at twelve o’clock. Furthermore, the rich black dial itself represents a novel choice for the standard Datograph Perpetual line, as previous editions have historically relied on grey or silver-hued canvases.
This exclusive limited run focuses overwhelmingly on high-end aesthetics rather than mechanical reinvention. It does not introduce a new generation of the Datograph Perpetual featuring a revised movement, instead retaining the manual-winding L952.1 caliber found in prior references. Consequently, the watch shares the same mechanical specifications, including a 36-hour power reserve—a modest reserve that remains a notable characteristic for a manually wound grand complication of this caliber.
The dramatic dial is housed within a 41mm platinum case measuring 13.5mm in thickness, which flows seamlessly into the ultra-dense, fully integrated platinum bracelet. The five-link design alternates between meticulously brushed and polished surfaces, with even the brushed sections featuring generously polished bevels and chamfers. Like the bracelets found on the Odysseus collection, this new design utilizes screwless links for structural cleanliness. However, because the Datograph Perpetual is firmly rooted in the dress watch category rather than sports, the engineering diverges at the clasp. Rather than featuring a toolless microadjustment mechanism, the watch employs a conventional deployant clasp that sits flush, integrating smoothly into the bracelet profile for a more refined, elegant aesthetic on the wrist.
Traditional recessed pushers are positioned along the case flanks to allow for the independent adjustment of each individual calendar function. Among collectors, however, one of the most celebrated ergonomic features of Lange’s annual and perpetual calendar designs is the rapid-correction pusher located at the ten o’clock position. Depressing this single pusher simultaneously advances all calendar indications by one day, greatly simplifying the process of resynchronizing the perpetual calendar if the watch has been left unwound for a few days. In classic, over-engineered Lange fashion, this pusher incorporates two protective security measures: the winding crown must be pulled out for the pusher to engage, and the mechanism automatically deactivates during the calendar’s structural "danger zone" around midnight to prevent internal damage during the date changeover.
The new A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Perpetual in platinum, featuring diamond dial indices and a matching platinum bracelet, is produced in a strictly limited run of 50 individually numbered pieces. It is available exclusively through authorized Lange boutiques with an expected retail price of approximately EUR 280,000.
What We Think
The return of a bracelet option to the core A. Lange & Söhne catalog is a welcome development for enthusiasts of the brand. The new platinum bracelet complements Lange’s often top-heavy case architecture by providing essential counterweighting, resulting in a much more balanced wearing experience on the wrist, particularly for modern iterations of the Datograph. While the omission of a microadjustment system is notable given the considerable weight of solid platinum, the trade-off yields an exceptionally sleek and uninterrupted clasp design that recalls historical elegance.
The unexpected addition of baguette-cut diamond indices lends the timepiece a commanding visual presence. While some purists might have preferred contrasting "Darth"-style black date discs for the oversized date window, the standard white discs complement the silvered subdials harmoniously. The diamond markers remain understated due to their modest scale and traditional baguette setting, successfully avoiding excess while offering a novel, luxurious twist for established collectors who already own multiple examples of the classic iterations.
Limited to just 50 pieces and undoubtedly earmarked for the brand’s top-tier international clientele, this ambitious release demonstrates Lange’s willingness to experiment with bold aesthetics while maintaining its uncompromising standards of hand-finishing and watchmaking excellence.
The Basics
Brand: A. Lange & Söhne
Model: Datograph Perpetual
Reference Number: 410.136E
Diameter: 41mm
Thickness: 13.5mm
Case Material: Platinum
Dial Color: Black
Indexes: Baguette-cut diamonds (F-G, VVS, total weight approx. 0.13 carats)
Lume: No
Water Resistance: 30m
Strap/Bracelet: Platinum bracelet with deployant clasp
The Movement
Caliber: L952.1
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph, perpetual calendar with oversized date, moonphase
Diameter: 32mm
Thickness: 8mm
Power Reserve: 36 hours
Winding: Manual
Frequency: 18,000 VpH
Jewels: 45
Chronometer Certified: No
Additional Details: Rapid-correction pusher for jointly advancing all calendar indications, equipped with built-in safety mechanisms
Pricing & Availability
Price: Approximately EUR 280,000
Availability: Authorized Lange Boutiques
Limited Edition: Yes, 50 individually numbered pieces
