Consigned by a private collector, the present watch is a very exciting find for Datograph enthusiasts. According to the Archives of A. Lange & Söhne, it is in fact one of the first ever examples to be sold, having been delivered shortly after the model’s launch in 1999.

The Datograph has always maintained a cult following, making it one of the ‘must have’ watches for a serious collector. One of the significant landmarks of modern watchmaking, the sheer quality of finishing of the Datograph has solicited accolades from some of the world’s greatest watchmakers, some of whom consider the model to be the finest serially produced wristwatch ever made.

The present watch gives collectors the rare opportunity to possess one of the earliest known examples and a key piece of the Datograph’s production.

The Datograph Flyback was introduced to great acclaim at the 1999 Basel Fair (Baselworld) as the world's first chronograph based on the classic column-wheel principle with precisely jumping minute counter and patented oversized date. It times events with a duration of up to 30 minutes with an accuracy of one-fifth of a second. The precisely jumping minute counter allows ease of reading of the recorded time. The flyback function allows the chronograph to be instantaneously reset to zero during an ongoing measurement by simply pressing the chronograph button. As soon as it is released, a new timing cycle begins, hence eliminating the need to stop a measurement and reset the stop hand before starting a new timing. The patented oversized date in the twin gold-framed window ensures excellent legibility.

The movement design was inspired by that of a pocket watch, it consists of 405 parts, the plates and bridges are made of untreated German silver and finished with circular graining and Glashütte ribbing. The balance bridge is manually engraved with a master's personal free-hand technique, making each Datograph a one-of-a-kind watch.