Phillips Perpetual, the auction house’s watch boutique at 30 Berkley Square, London is set to welcome the public to an exhibition of more than 20 of the rarest and highest quality examples of the Lange 1 and Datograph, produced between 1994 and 2008. Titled “Made in Germany, a Tribute to Early Lange 1 and Datograph,” the exhibition highlights the rebirth of A. Lange & Söhne. But perhaps disappointingly, none of the exhibition pieces are for sale. Rather, Phillips hopes to expand on the maturing scholarship of these early production references, arguably two icons that established A. Lange & Söhne on the horological map after its rebirth.
Ever since Walter Lange, the great-grandson of Lange patriarch Adolf Lange, revived the brand in 1990 after the fall of the Soviet Union, A. Lange & Söhne’s star has only continued to rise. In 2004, the horological world sat up and took notice when it split both the second AND the minute with the Double Split Chronograph. Then again in 2009, it shocked and awed with a groundbreaking, never-before-seen digital jumping time display called the Zeitwerk. If that wasn’t enough to draw eyeballs, it followed up 2004’s Double Split by completing the trifecta of splitting the hour as well with the Triple Split in 2018. Evidently, A. Lange & Söhne does not innovate in half measures.
The genesis of all that success can be traced back to two singular points in its relaunch history: the introduction of the Lange 1 in 1994 and the Datograph in 1999. The Lange 1 was part of a collection quartet that reintroduced A. Lange & Söhne to the world in 1994. With its distinctive outsized date, an unconventional offset dial layout that incorporated mathematical concepts such as the Golden Ratio, and the highest level of movement finishing German watchmaking had to offer, the Lange 1 left an indelible mark on the watch world. As revolutionary as that was in 1994, the Lange 1 was launched in a private event to a room packed with journalists.
The Datograph, on the other hand, was unveiled publicly at Basel Fair 1999 when Lange was ready to make a statement to the rest of the industry. A scale model, enlarged 10 times, was prepared to showcase its new in-house flyback chronograph movement, the L951.1. Apparently, even Patek Philippe’s CEO at the time, Philippe Stern, was spotted staring at it in disbelief, according to Anthony De Hass, long-time director of product development at Lange, in an interview with A Collected Man.
And it was rightly so. Let’s take a step back for some perspective on the significance of the Datograph. Prior to 1999 — and with the exception of Zenith’s in-house El Primero movement — most Swiss brands were using chronograph movements or modules sourced from the likes of ETA, Frédéric Piguet, Lemania, Dubois Dépraz, and of course Zenith. Our fellow journalists at Monochrome put together an interesting list, which shows that every major Swiss brand developed their own in-house chronograph movement after the Datograph was launched. Coincidence? We think not.
This exhibition is the perfect opportunity to get up close and observe the little variations in font and dial design that are a part of early Lange references, before those design elements started to become fixed in subsequent references. Curiously, we wonder why the cut-off year of 2008 has been chosen by Phillips when the sea change for the Lange 1 came in 2015 with an updated movement, the L121.1 and for the Datograph in 2012 with the launch of the Datograph Up/Down.
Information on the full line-up for the exhibition remains scant but Phillips has assured us that there will be pieces available for preview from the upcoming spring season auctions. Additionally, there will be a small selection available for purchase as part of a private sale. If you’re looking to plonk down some cash after gazing upon all that beauty, you are definitely able to do so.
The Phillips Perpetual exhibition “Made in Germany, a Tribute to Early Lange 1 and Datograph” will be held from March 9 – 14, 2022, 10am – 5pm GMT on the third floor of 30 Berkeley Square, London, W1J 6EX.
Research references:
Langepedia – The Lange 1 Definitive Guide
A Collected Man – Datograph Collector’s Guide
