A. Lange & Söhne: Datograph UP/DOWN «Lumen»
24 October 2018A. Lange & Söhne presents the new Datograph UP/DOWN «Lumen», the fourth model of the Lumen series launched in 2010.
The characteristic outsize-date display in the framed double aperture marks the tip of an equilateral triangle. Its baseline is defined by the two subsidiary dials for the seconds and the precisely jumping minute counter. This ingenious configuration unfolds a new aesthetic dimension as soon as darkness sets in.
This is achieved with a semi-transparent dial and a luminous compound that causes all displays to glow in the darkness with a distinctive green. The hour and minute hands are filled with the luminous material; the chronograph sweep seconds hand is fully coated with the compound. The seconds hand and minute counter in blued steel revolve above subsidiary dials that are noctilucent, too. The circumferential dial ring with the minute scale that is subdivided into fifth-of-a-second graduations, the concentric tachometer scale and the power-reserve arrow applique also glow in green.
The real stunner is the luminous outsize date. Composed of two separate display elements, it’s designed to glow immediately after the midnight switching sequence as well. This is made possible with a luminous tens cross and a black printed units disc made of transparent glass which rotates above a luminous background. Both elements must be able to recharge during the day when they are positioned beneath the dial thanks to the semi-transparent dial. Its coating allows to observe the switching action of the date display at midnight or in ambient light.
Its flyback function allows consecutive measurements: an ongoing measurement can be interrupted and a new one started instantaneously with a single touch of the button at 4 o’clock. This rare function saves time because the flyback mechanism executes the three normally necessary stop, reset and restart steps with only one touch of a button.
The jumping minute counter of the chronograph advances by one marker exactly when the chronograph sweep-seconds hand passes the 60th second, even if the time measurement is stopped at that very moment. The Datograph UP/DOWN also indicates how much of the 60-hour power reserve remains available. This information is provided by the power-reserve indicator at 6 o’clock.
The sapphire-crystal caseback exposes the impressive beauty of the lavishly finished 454- part manually wound calibre L951.7 . Lange’s proprietary campoised balance wheel, paired with a freely oscillating Lange hairspring, beats at a frequency of 18,000 semi-oscillations per hour (2.5 hertz). In combination with the 300-marker minute scale, this allows time measurements with a resolution of one- fifth of a second.
The new A. Lange & Söhne: Datograph UP/DOWN “Lumen” is available in a limited edition of just 200 watches, comes in a 41 mm platinum case. It is worn on a black alligator leather strap with a platinum prong buckle. (Price €.97.400)