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Certain watchmakers enjoy the prestige of being the cult favorites among watch enthusiasts. A. Lange & Söhne is one of the top names on that list. You always expect them to deliver with their top timepieces at a prestigious event like SIHH and this time too, they have done exactly that. Yes! At SIHH 2016 Lange & Sohne has introduced Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon, with perpetual calendar functionality in combination with a tourbillon.
SIHH 2016 Lange and Sohne novelty comes with three complications and five supplementary functions to go with it. The three complications include the flyback chronograph, a perpetual calendar and a tourbillon. However, the beauty of this SIHH 2016 Lange calendar watch is not in the combination of complications but the manner in which they interact and function with each other seamlessly.
The SIHH 2016 Lange launch, Datograph in the name stands for the column-wheel chronograph mechanism blended with a jumping minute counter, a flyback function and the signature Lange extra-large date indication. The column wheel chronograph system is responsible to deliver trustworthy stopwatch functionality. On SIHH 2016 Lange and Sohne watch, jumping minute counter was added for easy and accurate readability of elapsed time. And, the flyback function helps in measuring consecutive events within tiny reaction times. Adding the “perpetual calendar” to this mix takes the complexity of the watch to a whole new level. Lange has done justice to one of the most esteemed and sought after complication by making the date, day, month and leap year displays switch instantly, leaving no room for ambiguity. The watch’s owner would not need to change the calendar function of the watch till March 1, 2100. Even the moonphase complication is accurate up to a day of error in 122.6 years.
If this wasn’t enough, Lange has added a Tourbillon which interestingly is hidden from plain sight of others. When the watch is turned around, the Tourbillon is visible in its full glory through the crispy clear sapphire crystal caseback. Also, it is the first time in Lange’s history to have a tourbillon and chronograph watch beating at a rate of 18,000 vph rather than the conventional 21,000. This has resulted in increased accuracy of the elapsed chronograph time by 1/5th of a second. And lastly, with a patented stop-seconds system, a simple pull of the crown can stop the balance wheel and the watch can be set with an accuracy of one-second.
The little wonder of a movement responsible to make these super technical feats possible is the Lange’s in-house produced L952.2 caliber. 729-component movement is hand assembled and decorated according to the precision standards and quality that Lange is famous for. The hand-engraved wheel cock, gold chatons and plates and bridges made of untreated German silver are all the trademarks of a timepiece produced by the high-end German watchmakers.
The A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon comes in a 41 mm precious platinum case and a black dial made from silver. Limited to only 100 pieces worldwide, this 2016 wristwatch is a work of art both technically and aesthetically and is certainly going on the top of my wish list for 2016.
*Words by Yogen Bobde
Shilpa is a world renowned journalist and an expert in decoding India and Asia’s luxury markets for global readers. Her original, in-depth reports and analysis are frequently featured in prestigious international titles across the UK, China, Hong Kong, Switzerland, and Oman.
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