Lange just replaced the legendary Datograph with the Datograph Up and Down to be unveiled at SIHH 2012. So here are some photos of the original Datograph, especially of the magnificent calibre L951.1 inside.

Obviously designed to be beautiful to behold, the Datograph movement is so vivid and richly coloured, with wonderful details scattered throughout, it is like a miniature city. (On that topic, the Double Split isn’t too shabby either.)

I am glad Lange updated the Datograph, I am of the opinion it has been in production too long.

From a brand equity perspective, 12 years is too long for a luxury watch to be in production, unchanged, especially in today’s climate of quick product cycles.

But nevertheless the original Datograph remains a seminal watch that was remarkable in its time.

Enjoy the photos!

– SJX

Patek Philippe white gold cushion-shaped monopusher chronograph, c.1928

It remains to be seen if this is the peak, but the global watch market did well in 2011. Christie’s watch auction sales totalled US$116.3 million in 2010, up 28% from 2010. This is the first time any auction house has exceed US$100 million (all figures include buyer’s premium).

The ten most valuable lots were dominated by Patek Philippe naturally. Many of the usual suspects are on the lists, like the refs. 3448, 3449, 1518, 2499 and so on. Also on the list at US$1.27 million is a unique, platinum case tourbillon pocket watch made for uber-collector Henry Graves Jr. Notably Christie’s sold this very same tourbillon pocket watch for a mere US$706,908 in 2008. So it’s not surprising the most expensive wristwatch was a cushion-shaped, white gold Patek monopusher chronograph that hammered for US$3.64 million (shown at right). Of course auction results are only just that – the sale price. The identities of the bidders is rarely revealed publicly. But with all the watch companies filling up their museums with ostensible treasures, one wonders. However, the top lot was a pair of “singing bird pistols” attributed to Rochat brothers, circa 1820, which went for US$5.84 million. Interestingly the most valuable pocket watch sold in 2011 was a Vacheron Constantin grande et petite sonnerie pocket watch with chronograph that went for US$1.09 million.

Vacheron Constantin grande et petite sonnerie pocket watch with chronograph, c. 1918



Patek Phillipe tourbillon pocket watch in platinum, made for Henry Graves Jr. in 1932

 Antiquorum used to be tops in watch auctions but since the sale and subsequent turmoil at the auction house, Christie’s has taken the lead. (The founder of Antiquorum, Osvaldo Patrizzi, has an remarkable blog clearly intended to settle some scores though it hasn’t been updated in some months.) That being said, the watch business is still small compared to everything else. For the first half of 2011 Christie’s did US$3.2 billion in auction and private sales so watches are just a small part of that. All the more room for growth then… – SJX 

Pair of singing bird pistols attributed to Freres Rochat, circa 1820