A. Lange & Söhne ‘Dufourgraph’ Datograph Reviewed by Tim Mosso
by Tim Mosso
I hate nicknames. I refuse use them when speaking to or speaking of others. I’m grateful that after ten years as a figure on social media, I’ve inspired no cute handles. And the sheer number of dopy names applied to watches pushes my blood pressure to supermarket-self-checkout-scanner levels of blind rage.
But the A. Lange & Söhne ‘Dufourgraph’ is cool with me, because it’s cool with Philippe Dufour.
A. Lange & Söhne Datograph in pink gold
When I interviewed Dufour at Dubai Watch Week five years ago, he spoke briefly about his personal collection and certain modern watches that he found admirable. The latest Rolex GMT and NOMOS’ emergence as a hip and youthful outfit earned warm words. And Dufour seemed delighted that the Datograph 403.031 – pink gold with black dial – would be forever linked to him. He even used the nickname, which I considered as good as gospel by that point. The watch itself received his unreserved endorsement.
It’s easy to see why. From the moment Lange launched the first Datograph in 1999, it was a watershed for its maker and the industry at large. At the time, Lange was still a young brand, and it had only recently embraced display casebacks. Most early ALS production featured solid backs, so the jump from “nothing” to the caliber L951 was of the quantum variety.
A. Lange & Söhne Datograph in pink gold with black dial
Patek Philippe, still dependent on ebauches for all of its chronographs, got a wakeup call. Subsequent history has seen the Dato added to Lange’s unofficial “core canon” alongside the Lange 1 and Zeitwerk.
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At 39mm in diameter and 13.2mm thick, the Datograph is a chronograph that even a generous eye wouldn’t laud for gorgeous proportions. They can be described as traditional, quaint, quirky, or – less sympathetically – corpulent. Few would describe the landmark watch as traditionally beautiful.
A. Lange & Söhne Datograph
Modern Lange signatures, including a domed bezel, stepped lugs, and cylindrical case, are clear and present, but this form factor doesn’t wear them with the grace of a Lange 1.
And that’s OK, because the Datograph thrives on its slightly anachronistic character. Almost a hybrid of a pocket watch and wrist chronograph, it stands proudly with one foot in each era. It sits squat on the wrist and prominent despite its compact diameter.
Like another German classic, the VW Beetle, the Datograph’s packaging-of-convenience becomes an endearing trait in the eyes of its admirers.
A. Lange & Söhne Datograph tachymeter around the dial
Dial side, the Datograph is surprisingly sporty for a German dress complication. There’s a stepped tachymeter for gauging speed. The presence of considerable luminescent paint puts it at odds with its contemporary rival, the sleek but orthodox Patek Philippe 5070.
And with a flyback complication, there’s a distinct “gentleman driver” or “sportsman” quality to the German chronograph.
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Below a cloak of galvanized black, the Datograph’s dial follows Lange convention with sterling silver construction. The watch’s partial namesake, its “panoramadatum,” dominates the dial at twelve o’clock.
A. Lange & Söhne Datograph in pink gold with black dial
Reportedly, Lange brand co-founder and guiding light, the late Günter Blümlein, borrowed the original double-date mechanism from Jaeger-LeCoultre at a time when he managed both brands under German ownership. More than a Datograph signature, it’s iconic of the modern A. Lange & Söhne maison.
This model’s combination of black dial and pink gold case is comparatively rare. Built from 2003 to 2005, it enjoyed only a short production run, and even then, the early 2000s was a period when Lange had yet to hit its Richemont-era production stride.
Caliber L951.1 visible through the display back of the A. Lange & Söhne Datograph
While stately and memorable, the Datograph’s topside style is no match for what lies beneath. This watch is a German mullet with business on the front and a party on the back. Caliber L951.1 is a riot of colors, forms, features, and details. It’s eye-watering and exhaustive in a way that no other chronograph was in 1999, and few can match today. Highlights are many.
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The single most accomplished part of the caliber is the chronograph’s lateral clutch. Despite steel construction, this component exhibits the same delicacy of detail featured on the more compliant German Silver bridges. There’s satin brushed texture atop the clutch, and flanks reveal consistently rounded bevels.
A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Caliber L951.1 movement
On both sides of the clutch, bevels converge in sharp crevices so fine that their execution – in steel! – almost defies belief. While the clutch is a compact area, Lange manages to insert gold chatons with pressed pivot jewels in a nod to nineteenth-century German watchmaking practice.
Stunning movement of the A. Lange & Söhne Datograph
The combination of silver clutch, red jewel, gold chaton, and blue fixing screws creates a kaleidoscope of color. And that’s just… one… component.
Springs, levers, hammers, and horns are everywhere on this movement. Adjacent to the base of the clutch, there’s a finely profiled adjustable tension spring so delicately detailed that it must have required a microbiologist’s optics to execute.
Highly polished chronograph column wheel of the A. Lange & Söhne Datograph
The column wheel acts as a traffic director for the various chronograph apparatus, and this crenelated crown boasts mirrored facts honed to a razor’s edge.
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There’s a cluster of levers, hammers, and brakes below the chronograph bridge, and every single surface of each steel article appears to have passed through an artisan’s hand.
A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Caliber L951.1
Keen eyes will appreciate the presence of both mirror-polished and fired blue screws. Even keener eyes might recognize that the colors appear to signify different purposes for this hardware. Blue screws are used for assembly that requires fixing components permanently into place.
A. Lange & Söhne Datograph movement details
Polished screws appear in dynamic roles devoted to adjusting the performance of the chronograph and timing functions of the movement.
A. Lange & Söhne Datograph movement details
Finish on the German Silver bridges isn’t as intricate as that seen on the chronograph gear, but it’s pleasing to see and easier to appreciate with the naked eye. Stripes, bevels, and colorful hardware are present in force.
Elaborately hand-engraved balance cock of the A. Lange & Söhne Datograph
The hand-engraved balance cock, a modern Lange signature, reveals careful freehand evacuation. A small flower petal motif envelops the structure’s blue fixing screw. Below the slow beating balance, Lange’s attention to detail is evident in the clean and handsome decoration of the escape lever bridge; other brands of equal stature have been known to neglect this type of substructure.
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Caliber L951.1 visible through the display back of the A. Lange & Söhne Datograph
As with all feats of human endeavor, caliber L951.1 isn’t perfect. Base plate perlage is broad, sometimes unevenly spaced, and seems like an afterthought. The bevels on the chronograph bridge are of uneven width along the edge of the structure. Internal finish of the larger wheels would have benefitted from more time and attention.
All of that is nit-picking. If Lange followed this road to its logical conclusion, the Datograph would have required a Greubel Forsey price point.
A. Lange & Söhne Datograph in pink gold with black dial
Time marches on. The years have brought bigger Datographs, complications, limited editions, and new generations of the watch. And yet, originals accrue sentimental value. That’s certainly the case for the 39mm Datograph. I suspect that Philippe Dufour would agree.
For more information, please visit www.alange-soehne.com/ch-en/timepieces/1815/1815-chronograph/1815-chronograph-in-18-carat-pink-gold-414-031
Quick Facts: A. Lange & Söhne Datograph
Reference Code: 403.031
Edition: 2003-2005
Case: Pink gold; 39mm; 13.2mm thick; 47.5mm lug-to-lug; 20mm lug spacing; sapphire caseback
Water resistance: 30-meters WR;
Strap: Alligator top, calf leather bottom
Clasp: Rose gold pin buckle or single fold deployant clasp
Dial: Sterling silver alloy, blackened; silver registers, 18K rose gold hands, indices, numerals; big date; luminescent
Movement: Caliber L951.1; manual 36-hour power reserve; 2.5Hz; overcoil hairspring; adjusted in five positions; 40 jewels; stop seconds; lateral clutch chronograph with column wheel function selector; flyback chronograph instant jumping minutes; pushbutton date jumper
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, flyback chronograph, big date
2024 Preowned Price: $105,000-$110,000
* Tim Mosso is the media director and watch specialist at The 1916 Company. You can check out their very comprehensive YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@the1916company
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Wonderful overview, thank you Tim!
I only have one slight issue with the nickname … I remember an old interview in which Dufour was asked why he pucked the rose gold version, his answer was – “I could not afford the platinum one”. So not his first choice, at least initially.
Excellent review from Tim ‘Total Recall’ Mosso 😉