A. Lange & Söhne is not only one of the most respected German watch brands, but one of the most respected watch brands, period. Their movement finishing sets the standard for the industry. Their Datograph line of chronographs is particularly beloved by luxury watch enthusiasts, and they’ve released four new lovely Datograph variants in 2024. There’s also a pair of Lange 1’s and a corresponding pair of Little Lange models new for the year. Here’s everything you need to know about all eight 2024 Lange releases.
A. Lange & Söhne 2024 Releases
2024 Datograph Releases
All A. Lange & Söhne Datograph models are two-register flyback chronographs with big dates and a case diameter between 39mm-43.2mm. To many watch collectors they are among the best chronographs out there, and they’ve been made with a variety of complications.
Datograph Up/Down with Blue Dial
The Datograph Up/Down has a relatively clean dial featuring a power reserve indicator in the middle of the dial. This white gold version with a blue dial (ref. 405.028) is a nice addition to the Lange lineup for 2024. It is limited to 125 pieces:
Datograph Up/Down Hampton Court Edition
The 2024 A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Up/Down “Hampton Court Edition” is a unique piece crafted in 18k white gold, featuring a striking slate-colored dial with black subdials and a red chronograph seconds hand. All proceeds from its November 2024 auction will go to the King’s Trust, which is a charity founded by Britain’s King Charles III. It runs a variety of programs focused on improving employable skills of 11-to-30-year-olds.
Phillips has set the estimated auction price at $116,000-$231,000. Note that Lange also did an 1815 Hampton Court edition for a 2022 auction.
The Hampton Court Edition Datograph comes on a five-link white gold bracelet, which gives it a significantly sportier look than the alligator-clad variants. The watch has an engraved hinged cuvette (a fancy way of saying “lid on the back”) which flips open to reveal the beautiful movement. Only particularly significant Lange models have this cuvette.
Datograph Handwerkskunst
At the high end of the Lange world are Handwerkskunst models, which involve additional decorative treatments beyond Lange’s already phenomenally high standards. The dials feature hand-engraved textures, and the movement finishing is completely insane.
The extreme level of hand-finishing has kept the annual output of Handwerkskunst models very low ever since they first appeared in 2011. The Datograph Handwerkskunst is a 2024 Lange release with a beautiful grey tremblage pattern on the dial. Limited to 25 pieces, this model celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Datograph lineup.
Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold “Lumen”
The Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon was first launched in 2016, and the Lange 2024 lineup includes a translucent “Lumen” dial option. This new Perpetual Tourbillon model also gets a slightly updated movement and a Honeygold case. The L952.4 caliber drops the power reserve indicator that the outgoing L952.2 had.
Honeygold is an 18k proprietary gold alloy that includes copper, zinc, and supposedly a high amount of palladium. It’s essentially a soft, pale shade of yellow; there’s a reason they put “honey” in the name. A. Lange & Söhne has claimed that it’s almost twice as hard as typical 18k gold. But the Lumen dial is the star of the show on this 2024 Lange model.
What is a “Lumen” Dial?
A. Lange & Söhne “Lumen” models have translucent sapphire crystal dials and fully lumed subdials and date wheels. The coating on the sapphire dial actually allows UV rays through, while blocking enough visible light to create a contrast between the numbers you’re supposed to see (i.e. the current date) and the numbers you’re not.
This is the sixth “Lumen” model. When the first one came out in 2010, it was called “Luminous” instead. Here’s a timeline of “Lumen” references:
- 2010 – Zeitwerk “Luminous”
- 2013 – Grand Lange 1 “Lumen”
- 2016 – Grand Lange 1 Moon Phase “Lumen”
- 2018 – Datograph Up/Down “Lumen”
- 2021 – Zeitwerk Honeygold “Lumen”
- 2024 – Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold “Lumen”
Despite the $620,000 price tag, I have no doubt all 175 of these Lange 2024 Lumen Datographs will get sold. Before we get into the other models, let’s go over the specs of all the 2024 Datograph releases:
2024 Lange Datograph Specs
| Model | Datograph Handwerkskunst | Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold “Lumen” | Datograph Up/Down Blue | Datograph Up/Down Hampton Court Edition |
| Reference | 405.048F | 740.055FE | 405.028 | 405.047 |
| Case Material | 18k yellow gold | 18k Honeygold® | 18k white gold | 18k white gold |
| Case Diameter | 41mm | 41.5mm | 41mm | 41mm |
| Case Thickness | 13.1mm | 14.6mm | 13.1mm | 14mm |
| Water Resistance | 30m | 30m | 30m | 30m |
| Dial | Tremblage grey | Translucent sapphire “Lumen” dial | Blue dial made from .925 silver | Slate with black subdials |
| Movement | L951.8 (Manual-wind, 5 beats per second) |
L952.4 (Manual-wind, 5 beats per second) | L951.6 (Manual-wind, 5 beats per second) | L951.6 (Manual-wind, 5 beats per second) |
| Power Reserve | 60 hours | 50 hours | 60 hours | 60 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, small seconds, big date, flyback chronograph | Hours, minutes, small seconds, perpetual calendar with big date, day, moonphase, day-night indicator, flyback chronograph | Hours, minutes, small seconds, big date, power reserve indicator, flyback chronograph | Hours, minutes, small seconds, big date, power reserve indicator, flyback chronograph |
| Bracelet/Strap | Brown alligator strap | Brown alligator strap | Blue alligator strap | 5-link bracelet |
| Limited Edition | 25 pieces | 50 pieces | 125 pieces | 1 piece |
| MSRP (Apr. 2024) | On Request (Est. ~$225,000) | $620,000 | $131,000 | (Charity auction) |
2024 Lange 1 Models
The Lange 1 is arguably A. Lange & Söhne’s most iconic model, with its distinctive asymmetric dial, big date, and 10 o’clock date pusher. 2024 is the 30th anniversary of the Lange 1 model, and the brand has released two versions in commemoration: a pink gold model with a blue dial, and a platinum model with an onyx dial. Each version is limited to 300 pieces.
2024 Lange 1 Specs
| Model | Lange 1 (Blue) | Lange 1 (Onyx) |
| Reference | 191.063 | 191.062 |
| Case Material | 18k pink gold | Platinum |
| Case Diameter | 38.5mm | 38.5mm |
| Case Thickness | 9.8mm | 9.8mm |
| Water Resistance | 30m | 30m |
| Dial | Blue | Black |
| Movement | L121.1 (Manual-wind, 6 beats per second) | L121.1 (Manual-wind, 6 beats per second) |
| Power Reserve | 72 hours | 72 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, small seconds, big date, power reserve indicator | Hours, minutes, small seconds, big date, power reserve indicator |
| Bracelet/Strap | Blue alligator strap | Black alligator strap |
| Limited Edition | 300 pieces | 300 pieces |
| MSRP (Apr. 2024) | $50,200 | $57,400 |
2024 Little Lange Models
Along with the two 2024 Lange 1 releases, there are a pair of corresponding Little Lange models: a platinum one with an onyx dial, and again, a pink gold one with a blue dial.
The Little Lange just a slightly downsized version of the classic Lange 1; the diameter (36.8mm) is only 1.7mm smaller. And the 10 o’clock date pusher is recessed so it’s flush with the case. But the movement is the same, and that’s what Lange is all about.
2024 Little Lange Specs
| Model | Little Lange (Blue) | Little Lange (Onyx) |
| Reference | 181.063 | 181.062 |
| Case Material | 18k pink gold | Platinum |
| Case Diameter | 36.8mm | 36.8mm |
| Case Thickness | 9.4mm | 9.4mm |
| Water Resistance | 30m | 30m |
| Dial | Blue | Black onyx stone |
| Movement | L121.1 (Manual-wind, 6 beats per second) | L121.1 (Manual-wind, 6 beats per second) |
| Power Reserve | 72 hours | 72 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, small seconds, big date, power reserve indicator | Hours, minutes, small seconds, big date, power reserve indicator |
| Bracelet/Strap | Blue alligator strap | Black alligator strap |
| Limited Edition | 150 pieces | 150 pieces |
| MSRP (2024) | $42,600 | On Request (Est. ~$50,000) |
Although A. Lange & Söhne is owned by Richemont (the conglomerate who owns Cartier, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and Panerai among others) they have maintained a low production volume, estimated to be around 5,000 watches per year. Some of these 2024 Lange releases might sell over MSRP briefly, but long-term their secondhand market value will probably revert to just under list price.
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