Miracles keep happening - Masterpieces of Engineering from Saxony
Glashütte, June 2012
The Loschwitz Bridge over the River Elbe in Dresden, commonly referred to as the “Blue Wonder”, is a masterpiece of engineering from Saxony, one of the 16 German states. The bridge has formed a link between the Dresden districts of Loschwitz und Blasewitz since 1893. The clear span of 280 metres caused a world sensation when the it was built. Around 100 years later, Dresden was once again the showplace for a world premiere of Saxon engineering art. With the DATOGRAPH, the watchmaking brand A. Lange & Söhne presented a chronograph of hitherto unknown precision and aesthetic appeal. The successor to this model is now coming onto the market: the DATOGRAPH UP/DOWN. For A. Lange & Söhne, this represents a welcome opportunity to show off this masterpiece with the other one, the “Blue Wonder”.
While watch collectors refer to the DATOGRAPH as one of the finest movements in the world, the “Blue Wonder” counts as the best-known and most beautiful bridge in Saxony. The bridge was given this unofficial name by the people of Dresden shortly after its construction – on the one hand because of its extraordinary design, which made piers in the Elbe dispensable, and on the other hand because of its light blue colour. The iron bridge is held together by over 100,000 rivets, the precise number still being a matter of speculation. In contrast, the number of individual parts in the DATOGRAPH UP/DOWN is known exactly: through the sapphire crystal case back, 451 components can be viewed, splendidly engraved, grinded and polished by hand.
The appeal of the DATOGRAPH UP/DOWN lies in the new power reserve indication at 6 o’clock, which shows how much of the power reserve, now extended to 60 hours, is still available. Instant consecutive time measurements can be performed easily with its ingenious flyback mechanism. The equilateral triangle formed by the big date, minutes hand and small seconds emphasises the aesthetic appeal of the chronograph and guarantees perfect legibility.
Aesthetic precision is also the key word for the “Blue Wonder”. Even after 120 years, this structure straddles the Elbe as a historic emblem of Saxon engineering, and is a major tourist attraction and photographic subject for travellers from all over the world.