The A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold “Lumen”, unveiled this year as one of the brightest novelties at Watches & Wonders Geneva 2024, essentially combines all the coolest and most exclusive features from the German manufacturer's catalog into one truly fantastic watch.
Only Lange can release a new iteration of an existing model and make it one of the highlights of the entire exhibition. Although this limited edition of 50 pieces costs almost as much as a well-furnished house in many parts of our country, the new Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold “Lumen” might become the wildest and most striking watch A. Lange & Söhne has ever presented.
In terms of design and functionality, the new A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold “Lumen” ref. 740.055FE / LSLS7406AA is practically the same watch as the limited edition 2019 white gold model with a salmon-colored pink gold dial, although it lacks the arched power reserve indicator that was previously located at the very edge of the dial between the “9 o'clock” and “10 o'clock” marks.
Like its salmon-dialed sibling, the new Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold “Lumen” features a reverse chronograph, perpetual calendar, moon phase indicator, and minute tourbillon, as well as the signature Lange outsize date, which displays numerical values using two separate discs that appear through twin apertures at the top of the dial.
However, unlike its 2019 sibling with a salmon dial, the new A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold “Lumen” has a case made from the brand’s patented Honeygold alloy, a special blend of 18-carat gold that is harder and more durable than traditional 18-carat alloys, while also possessing a unique warm hue somewhere between pink and white gold.
Additionally, as one of the Lange “Lumen” models, this latest limited edition Honeygold features a smoked sapphire dial, along with a large amount of luminous green glowing material applied to various display elements, and the lume on these components shines through the semi-transparent dial surface when viewed in low light conditions.
The case of the A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold “Lumen”, made from 18-carat Honeygold, measures 41.5 mm in diameter and 14.6 mm in thickness, with water resistance rated at 30 meters for protection against accidental contact (in any case, one would have to be absolutely mad to take these watches to the pool).
Sapphire crystals are fitted on both the watch face and the screw-down caseback, and on the sides of the case are a winding crown at the “3 o'clock” position, three rectangular buttons, and three additional buttons flush with the case for setting various calendar indicators.
The lugs of the Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold “Lumen” feature a dark brown alligator leather strap, complemented by a signature folding clasp made of 18-carat Honeygold to match the case.
The gold case is certainly one of the distinctive features, but perhaps the most striking detail of the A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold “Lumen” is its semi-transparent dial. Like other “Lumen” models, the dial is made of smoked sapphire, allowing various luminous elements of the watch to shine through its surface when observed in the dark.
The dial of the new Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold “Lumen” repeats the design of its predecessors: the lower half of the display is occupied by two multifunctional registers and a moon phase indicator, a tachymeter scale surrounds the dial perimeter, and on the upper half at the “12 o'clock” position is the signature date complication.
Regarding the functions of the two registers, the one on the left serves as running seconds for time, as well as a day of the week indicator and day/night indicator.
The other register includes a 30-minute counter for the chronograph, as well as a month indicator and leap year indicator. In keeping with the “Lumen” name, the watch uses a large amount of luminescent materials. The glowing green lume is applied to two sub-dials, the moon phase indicator, both discs for the date complication, and the tachymeter scale surrounding the dial perimeter.
Although the hour markers are simple faceted batons made of Honeygold placed on the dial surface, the pair of centrally located alpha hands also glow to provide easy access to time in low light conditions, and since the smoked sapphire dial is semi-transparent, the luminous calendar discs shine through the dial surface, creating a very bright display in the dark.
As with all A. Lange & Söhne watches, the movement is perhaps even more impressive than the dial. Turning the Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold “Lumen” over, you can see the manually wound Caliber L952.4 movement fully displayed through the sapphire window in the caseback.
Operating at a frequency of 18,000 per hour (2.5 Hz) and boasting a power reserve of about 50 hours, the 684-component A. Lange & Söhne Cal. L952.4 is a subtle update compared to the Cal. L952.2 found in previous models, and while it lacks the arched power reserve indicator, it still features a flyback chronograph with column wheel and jumping minutes, as well as a perpetual calendar, moon phase indicator, day/night indicator, and minute tourbillon.
While many brands prefer to showcase their tourbillons through apertures in the dial, the A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold “Lumen” reveals this party piece only through the display-style caseback.
Like all Lange movements, Cal. L952.4 is impeccably finished with German silver plates and bridges, blued screws, gold chatons, perlage, stripes, and fine hand engraving on the balance and tourbillon bridges.
Even the simplest movements of A. Lange & Söhne are objectively beautiful creations. However, the brand's most complex calibers reach a new level. Through the caseback of the Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold “Lumen”, a view opens to a complex mechanical city with incredible visual depth, standing up to the most meticulous inspection under magnification.
Despite Honeygold being the brand’s proprietary alloy, it is used by A. Lange & Söhne in very limited quantities, and its various “Lumen” models are even more exclusive offerings as they represent some of the brightest and most unconventional Lange designs that challenge the traditional aesthetic characteristic of most German manufacturer models.
Combining these two features with one of the brand's most mechanically complex models results in incredibly exclusive watches that stand at the very top of the Glashütte manufacturer's production.
Even though the watch case is made of 18-carat gold, the A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold “Lumen” can be considered pure unobtanium, and even having a huge budget for purchasing this model does little when it comes to allocating funds for these ultra-exclusive watches.
A. Lange & Söhne has declined to provide official pricing information for the Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold “Lumen” ref. 740.055FE / LSLS7406AA, although we were informed that the price of this limited edition of 50 pieces is 620,000 euros (or about 660,000 USD at the time of writing).
Even though this enormous sum could easily buy a house or numerous breathtaking supercars, it did not deter buyers, and in conversations with several industry insiders, I was told that most pieces were immediately snapped up following the initial announcement of this ultra-exclusive model.
While for us ordinary mortals who do not possess a six-figure budget and an extensive history of purchases from the brand, the A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold “Lumen” exists only in theory, it is undeniable that they are one of the most remarkable models ever presented by the company and serve as an epic demonstration of the brand's most premium and exclusive technologies.
More detailed information about the A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold “Lumen” can be found on the brand's website.