Glashutte’s finest chronograph gets a ‘ghost-spec’ makeover

By Chris Hall

Typically so firmly tied to classical Saxon watchmaking traditions, there are times when A. Lange & Sohne nevertheless connects with the 21st century – and when it does, it really connects. The “Lumen” moniker first appeared on one of its watches back in 2010, when the Zeitwerk (already the brand’s most modern design) was given a glow-in-the dark alter ego. Since then, we have seen the same treatment given to the Grand Lange 1 and Grand Lange 1 Moonphase, in 2012 and 2016 respectively. 
Now, we have a Datograph Up/Down Lumen to join the set, and it is no exaggeration to say that it is the most emphatic execution of the idea to date. The standard Datograph Up/Down (if ‘standard’ is a word you deploy about such a phenomenally fine chronograph) has been illuminated from head to toe, the end result being a wonderfully spectral take on classic chronograph design. 
The dial has been replaced with a disc of ‘smoked’ sapphire crystal, treated specifically to allow as much UV light as possible to penetrate, while blocking out a reasonable amount of visual light. That’s important, because it preserves the overall dark dial that the watch was born with, but allows the Luminova around the edge of the dial and on the date wheel to charge up. The tachymeter scale, seconds track and brand logo are all picked out in Luminova, wit...