We'll just come right out and say it: The A. Lange & Söhne Datograph might just be the most important watch of the modern era.

With its combination of avant-garde and teutonic design languages, mind-blowing mechanical architecture, function-heavy use, and luxury materials, the Datograph has not only won the hearts and minds of collectors and enthusiasts the world over, it created and set the bar for modern high-horology. And it came from Germany, not Switzerland.

We are yet to meet a horological virtuoso who doesn't consider the Datograph to be anything other than a triumph of design and mechanical engineering. Indeed, even the maestro himself - Philippe Dufour - can regularly be spotted wearing his rose gold example from the first series!

From its hefty wrist presence to the depth and intricacy of its 'miniature city-like' movement, the snap of its Flyback chronograph mechanism and the ever-rewarding outsize date function, the Datograph is a triumph, pure and simple.

This particular first-generation example is finished in platinum, giving it perhaps the cleanest appearance of any Datograph configuration as well as a little added weight (lest you forget you were wearing it). It remains in excellent condition throughout and is accompanied by its inner and outer box set, blank warranty papers and signed deployant buckle.

Despite their popularity, we have yet to see prices for these special watches skyrocket out of control - something we fully expect over the coming years. After all, with watches as spectacular and important as this one, why wouldn't they?