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Madison Avenue Watch Week: Lange, VC, JLC Highlights
WPS member · Horological Meandering forum
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Dylan T. Dutson's recap of the 5th Annual Madison Avenue Watch Week offers a valuable historical snapshot of a significant industry event. His detailed account, though shared a few weeks post-event, highlights key brand presentations and workshops, providing context for how luxury watch brands engaged with collectors a decade ago. This article remains relevant for understanding the evolution of watch week formats and brand engagement strategies.
I know that this is a few weeks late haha. I wrote this on the Storehouse app at the end of Watch Week, but wanted to share it with all of you on here. I hope you enjoy,
With today marking the end of the 5th Annual Madison Avenue Watch Week, here is a little recap of some of the big guns of the week.
Along with the watches brought onto the avenue for this week, some boutiques offered workshops for the watch lovers in town also.
A. Lange & Söhne kicked it off Monday morning with an awesome panel discussion with a few names that might sound familiar. Ben Clymer founder of Hodinkee, Paul Boutros International Strategy Advisor for Phillips, and Kevin Rose, a powerhouse in the technology world, to put it mildly.
Then today to finish off the week Vacheron Constantin bought some stock in the next generation of collectors and taught the kids how to build their very own quarter-repeating pendulum clocks.
The week was full of great activities and killer watches, here are just a few of them.
A. Lange & Söhne
Datograph Up/Down and Perpetual Chronograph
These brothers are both flyback chronographs, and are both equally as stunning.
While the Perpetual Ref. 410.038 has a modest 36 hour power reserve,
the Up/Down Ref. 405.031 bumps that up to a healthy 60 hours when fully wound.
A. Lange & Söhne
Zeitwerk Minute Repeater
This was the piece I have been waiting to hold in person since SIHH.
There are so many cool things to this watch, and first things first it wears like a dream.
Coming in at just barely over 44 mm it is the same size as the Striking Time, just 1 mm thicker.
The chimes are something to note. This is not a normal minute repeater, it's a decimal repeater.
So that instead of chiming hours, quarters, and minutes, you're hearing hours, 10 minutes, and minutes.
This one is pretty special.
Vacheron Constantin
Harmony Dual Time
The cushion shape of this gorgeous white gold case wears perfectly on the wrist. It is made in pink gold as well.
For avid travelers the second time zone will come in handy, and for collectors both metals are limited to 625 pieces each.
Jaeger-LeCoultre
Spherotoubillion Moon
When announced at SIHH people went crazy for this redesigned Spherotoubillion, myself included.
It is limited to 75 pieces, all in platinum, and all most likely spoken for.
Watch Week was a great success, and will continue to grow to include more brands as the years go on.
Perhaps also in the years to come Mr. F.P. Journe will allow you to take pictures of the watches in the store.
But until then, here is the boutiques Art Deco back wall instead.
About the Horological Meandering Datograph Ref. 405.031
The Datograph Up/Down reference 405.031 represents a significant evolution of the original Datograph, incorporating enhancements that address feedback from collectors. This iteration maintains the distinctive flyback chronograph with a large date display, a hallmark of the model line. The "Up/Down" designation refers to the power reserve indicator, a practical addition that improves the user experience without altering the fundamental aesthetic. It is positioned as a refined and technically advanced chronograph within the brand's offerings.
This timepiece features a platinum case, measuring 41mm in diameter. It houses the manually wound caliber L951.6, which provides a power reserve of 60 hours. The movement is visible through a sapphire crystal case back, showcasing its intricate finishing. The dial is presented in black, contrasting with the platinum case and luminous hands. The sapphire crystal on the front protects the dial and its functions.
The Datograph Up/Down appeals to collectors who value a robust and technically sophisticated chronograph with improved autonomy. Its introduction alongside the Perpetual Chronograph, reference 410.038, highlighted the brand's commitment to developing its chronograph platforms. The longer power reserve of this reference distinguishes it from earlier Datograph models, making it a more versatile option for daily wear within a collection.
Specifications
- Caliber
- L951.6
- Case
- Platinum
- Diameter
- 41mm
- Dial
- Black
- Water Resist.
- 30m
- Crystal
- Sapphire
About the Horological Meandering Datograph Ref. 410.038
The A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Perpetual Chronograph, reference 410.038, combines a flyback chronograph with a perpetual calendar complication. This reference integrates two of horology's most significant complications into a single, manually wound movement, offering both precise timing functions and comprehensive calendar indications. It stands as a sophisticated offering within the brand's Datograph family, known for its distinctive dial layout and technical prowess. This particular model is distinguished by its integration of the perpetual calendar, providing a more complex and enduring timekeeping instrument compared to the standard Datograph.
This Datograph Perpetual Chronograph features a platinum case, housing the manufacture caliber L952.1. The watch is equipped with a sapphire crystal on both the front and display back, allowing for an unobstructed view of the meticulously finished movement. The dial is presented in a grey tone, providing a refined contrast to the case material. The movement offers a power reserve of 36 hours when fully wound, a characteristic noted for its focus on compact movement design rather than extended autonomy.
This reference appeals to collectors seeking a highly complicated timepiece that combines practical functionality with traditional German watchmaking aesthetics. Its position within the A. Lange & Söhne catalog highlights the brand's commitment to developing complex movements with a focus on legibility and mechanical integrity. The combination of a flyback chronograph and perpetual calendar in a manually wound format makes it a notable piece for those who appreciate traditional horological craftsmanship and intricate mechanical solutions.
Specifications
- Caliber
- L952.1
- Case
- Platinum
- Diameter
- 41mm
- Dial
- Grey
- Water Resist.
- 30m
- Crystal
- Sapphire
Key Points from the Discussion
- The Datograph Up/Down and Perpetual Chronograph are both stunning flyback chronographs, with the Up/Down Ref. 405.031 offering a 60-hour power reserve compared to the Perpetual Ref. 410.038's 36 hours.
- The A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Minute Repeater, a decimal repeater chiming hours, 10 minutes, and minutes, was a standout piece from SIHH, wearing comfortably at 44mm and being only 1mm thicker than the Striking Time.
- The Vacheron Constantin Harmony Dual Time, with its cushion-shaped white gold case, wears perfectly on the wrist and is also available in pink gold.
- The author's favorite watch from the event was the Zeitwerk Minute Repeater, preferring it over the Datograph, especially the 39mm Datograph over the newer 41mm.
- A fellow collector expressed admiration for the showcased Lange, VC, and JLC pieces, inquiring about the author's personal favorite among them.
- One participant noted the unfortunate policy of FP Journe forbidding photography inside their store, which limited sharing their pieces from the event.
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