A. Lange & Söhne: Collector Recommendations

Alik · 2022-04-28T20:55:48Z

Choosing between A. Lange & Söhne's Grand Lange 1 (41.9mm) and Richard Lange (40.5mm) for larger wrists. Collectors discuss design, legibility, and wearability.

Alik

WPS member · A. Lange & Söhne forum

25 replies6616 views1 photos

Alik, a seasoned collector, turns to the WatchProSite community for guidance on a significant A. Lange & Söhne acquisition. His dilemma, choosing between the older 41.9mm Grand Lange 1 and the 40.5mm Richard Lange, highlights a common challenge for collectors with larger wrists: balancing iconic design with optimal wearability. This discussion provides valuable insights into the nuances of these distinct references.

Looking to add a Lange to my collection at long last and I am wondering what you would choose between these two very different beauties?

The contenders: the older Grand Lange 1 (41.9mm) vs the Richard Lange (40.5mm). I specifically picked the older Grand Lange over the current model as it is a bit bigger than the current 40.9mm Grand Lange - the slightly larger size is important to me as I have a large 7.5-inch wrist.

The RL has the larger dial and better legibility despite having a smaller diameter (tried it on and it looks incredible). The GL is signature Lange, but has quite a busy dial. That said, I haven't tried the GL on yet as it is a bit hard to come by.

Which would you pick - the iconic but edgy Grand Lange, or the classic and versatile Richard Lange? Does anyone have any experience with this particular black-dialed GL? If so, how is the legibility?

Key Points from the Discussion

The older 41.9mm Grand Lange 1 is often preferred by collectors with 7.5-inch wrists or larger, as the standard 38.5mm Lange 1 can appear too small. The current 40.9mm Grand Lange 1 is also a viable option, but the older reference offers a distinct aesthetic.
The older Grand Lange 1's design, characterized by its 'controlled chaos' and 'wabi-sabi' aesthetic, is appreciated by some for its unique visual complexity, contrasting with the more balanced layouts of newer iterations.
Despite its busy dial, the time display on the older Grand Lange 1 is considered very legible, with the oversized date being a clear advantage. The 41.9mm size is deemed excellent for wrists around 7 1/4 inches.
A point of contention for some purists is the overlapping subdials on the older Grand Lange 1, which deviates from the original Lange 1 design philosophy of non-overlapping indications.
While the Grand Lange 1 offers an iconic and edgy aesthetic, the Richard Lange is often perceived as a more classic and versatile choice, though some find its dial too simple.
The preference for newer Grand Lange 1 iterations often stems from their redesigned movements and dials that eliminate the overlapping subdials, aligning more closely with the brand's design principles.

The Discussion

WTWTStyle

Apr 28, 2022

Lnage 1 already received many attention, it's time too try something new.

Alik

Apr 28, 2022

Surprised to see that as I thought the Lange 1 is the more popular design!

jleno

Apr 28, 2022

As you said, it's a unique and iconic design that will likely add more variety to a collection.

aperna

Apr 28, 2022

I’m not sure you can go wrong with either one

Alik

Apr 28, 2022

We have similar taste my friend! I actually prefer the look of that Lange 1 Moonphase to the Grand Lange 1 Moonphase. Had it been a couple of mm's bigger, I would definitely add it to the collection. How do you find the legibility?

Clueless_Collector

Apr 28, 2022

I tried on the GL1 older version but not this and size is great. The RL is a little to simple for my preference, but just me.

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