A. Lange & Söhne 403.031 Datograph "DUFOUR" 18K Rose Gold Black Dial WELLENDORFF RARE

This A. Lange & Söhne 403.031 Datograph is the configuration Philippe Dufour chose for himself, the first new watch he ever bought, and his public praise for it gave the reference the name collectors still use: the Dufourgraph. Lange made it for roughly three years, which makes it one of the rarest first-series Datographs and a genuine prize for the collector who has waited for the right example. The manually wound calibre L951.1 powers a flyback chronograph with a precisely jumping minute counter and a large date, built around a column wheel and a hand-engraved balance cock visible through the sapphire caseback. The 18K rose gold case measures 39 mm by 39 mm with a thickness of 12.8 mm, compact enough to wear daily yet with the stepped, architectural presence of a serious chronograph. Its black dial sets gold Roman numerals and hands against recessed silver sub-dials, ringed by a white tachymeter scale, a warmer and more dramatic contrast than the platinum original. Originally delivered by Lange on a leather strap, this example is now fitted with an authentic gold bracelet by the German jeweler Wellendorff, a later addition that gives the watch a distinctly jeweled finish.