DatographhRight from the start the Datograph made a strong impression with watch enthusiasts and collectors worldwide when it debuted at the Basel fair in 2000.The excellent reputation A. Lange & Söhne had re-gained with their Lange 1 and Langematik watches carries on with the new chronograph: A fly-back function, the famous Lange oversized date, Glashütte 3/4 plate All this in combination with features, that seem to have disappeared in modern watch movement design: A column wheel mechanism to govern the chronograph functions, screwed gold châtons for several jewels; a separate bridge for the fourth and for the escape wheel, and a balance oscillating aa speed of 18,000 vibrations/hour like in the famous Lange pocket watch chronographs. There are also more subtle features and qualities: A minute counter hand jumping precisely when the sweep-second hand passes the 60 seconds, adjusted by a switching lever, and a polished steel plate for the escape wheel jewel. Altogether the Datograph consists of 390 individual parts, all hand-finished to fit together precisely for reliable timekeeping and performance. Besides all the technical accomplishmentsand the high quality, it is also a quite beautiful timepiece.Fly-backor "Retour en vol" refers to the instantaneous fly-back feature of the chronograph sweep second hand. On a regular chronograph, this hand can only be reset to zero after it has been stopped by a push of the stop button. But a fly-back mechanism allows resetting the hand to zero whilst still in motion by a single push on the lower chronograph or reset button. Therefore the process of timing an event can be immediately resumed. This feature was especially useful in early aviation, allowing a pilotto safe time and to devote his full attention to flying.