A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Datograph ref. 403.035

A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Datograph Flyback Review

A. Lange & Söhne had been back to producing watches for nearly a decade when they launched the Saxonia Datograph Flyback in 1999. The model marked a defining moment for the brand and the watch industry as a whole. The Saxonia Datograph Flyback helped elevate German watchmaking to the prestigious level of the Swiss. Here, we take a deeper look at the key features of the model and a brief history of the brand.

List of Key Features of the A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Datograph Flyback

•         39mm Platinum Case
•         Black dial with white gold accents
•         Sapphire crystal
•         Outsize date function
•         Column-wheel chronograph with flyback function
•         Exhibition caseback
•         Caliber L951.1 hand-wound movement
•       36-hour power reserve

Brief History of A. Lange & Söhne

As a young man, Ferdinand Alfred Lange attended the Technical College in Dresden, Germany. Here, he apprenticed with a court watchmaker. In this apprenticeship, he also had the opportunity to service timepieces and astronomical instruments at the Royal Cabinet of Mathematical and Physical Instruments. Through this work, he developed a fondness for the precision timepieces coming out of England and France. After years of traveling, in 1845, Lange finally established the roots of A. Lange & Söhne in Glashütte, Germany. He used his loan from the Royal Saxon Ministry of the Interior to train fifteen horological apprentices. In turn, helped elevate the small town to the watchmaking epicenter we know today.

Lange was innovative, even in the beginning. He was the first European watchmaker to use the metric system. Later, he devised a foot-driven lathe system for his workshop. This allowed his watchmakers to achieve even revolutions on the lathe, which improved production of circular watch parts. A. Lange & Söhne continued to innovate for 100 years until WWII. Then, tragedy struck. On the last day of the war, a bombing raid destroyed their main production facility. Soon after, the East German State took control of the company, and all seemed lost. Despite the hardships, when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, A. Lange & Söhne returned to its roots in Glashütte. Within a few short years, the company began making watches and innovating again.

Deep Dive on Key Features of the A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Datograph Flyback

Modern-day A. Lange & Söhne watches are no exception to the company’s tradition of innovation and precision. The ref. 403.035 Datograph Flyback is a beautiful example of what Lange can do in a timepiece.

The Saxonia Datograph Flyback, Reference 403.035 features a 39mm case with a 20mm lug width. The case showcases a striking platinum construction with a combination of polished and brushed finishes. In addition, it comes equipped with a slim, unobtrusive chronograph and quick date change button. The Saxonia Datograph Flyback also features a rich black dial with white gold accents. In contrast, the model boasts two white subdials and an outsize date function at the twelve-o’clock position.

Yet, the showstopper on this watch isn’t the front. The exhibition caseback gives a peek at a sophisticated and intricate movement, the caliber L951.1. The L951.1 is a hand-wound movement with a 36-hour power reserve. It features a column-wheel chronograph with a flyback function. All in all, it contains over 400 parts and 40 jewels. With many exhibition backs, an oscillating weight obscures part of the view, but not on the Saxonia Datograph Flyback. Here, you have a view of the hairspring and balance wheel, each with their own intricate engravings. It also gives visibility to the chronograph function when in use.

The precision, beauty, and elegance of this watch are fixtures of A. Lange & Söhne’s watchmaking and quality. It comes standard on a black leather strap, and is an unquestionably stunning addition to a serious watch collector’s wrist.