When it comes to chronographs, the A Lange & Söhne Datograph has established itself as a modern classic. A testament to the German watchmaker’s eye for effortlessly balancing form and function, it is characterised by its distinct subdials, positioned slightly below centre, and eye-catching oversized date display that, rather than overwhelm, serves to complete the look of the sophisticated dial.

For this year, the much-coveted model has undergone a serious upgrade that delivers both added style and practicality in spades. This is thanks to an ingenious combination of luminous and transparent elements that illuminate the dial, creating a radiant effect that goes far beyond the bog-standard lume details seen on many timepieces. With this, A. Lange & Söhne can claim to have created a watch that truly is as usable at night as it is during the day; as darkness falls, everything from the hour and minute hands to the outer ring and counters light up in a pleasing shade of green. And this is without mentioning the all-important date display, home to the most inventive lighting system of them all. The tinted dial features a coating that ensures a crisp and legible display during daylight hours and lets enough light through to charge up the date discs even when not visible. As the clock strikes midnight the new date shines with dramatic effect, meanwhile the dial also offers enough transparency to give a fascinating glimpse at the watch’s inner workings. Flip it over and you get an even better look at the L951.7 movement through the case back, finished in typically meticulous style and adorned with the trademark Glashütte stripes.

The Datograph Up/Down Lumen comes equipped with the features so beloved of previous iterations; the chronograph’s jumping minute counter allows for easy and exact readings of stopped times, while the flyback function – negating the need to manually stop, reset and restart the chronograph – makes the recording of consecutive measurements lightning fast. Limited to just 200 pieces in platinum, you’ll need to be equally quick off the mark to get your hands on this Datograph with a difference.

£84,000; alange-soehne.com