A. Lange & Söhne Collector's Guide

ZSHSZ · 2022-02-25T23:04:36Z

Explore the enduring appeal of a platinum A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Moon Phase, worn daily for 16 years without service. ZSHSZ shares its journey.

ZSHSZ

WPS member · A. Lange & Söhne forum

48 replies8397 views5 photos

ZSHSZ, a long-time A. Lange & Söhne enthusiast, shares a deeply personal account of his platinum Lange 1 Moon Phase. This article explores the enduring appeal of a luxury timepiece that has been worn daily for over 15 years, challenging conventional notions of watch care and preservation. ZSHSZ's narrative provides a unique perspective on the emotional connection collectors develop with their watches, especially when they become family heirlooms.

48 collectors discussing this on the WatchProSite forumJoin the Conversation →

Back in the early 2000’s I was a huge Lange fan, and managed to acquire five of them(not all at the same time), I liked everything about the brand, the philosophy design, studied the brand in depth, attended brand organized dinners, new product releases so the whole nine yards...
Then after Richemont, acquisition and Jerome Lambert’s departure, the love faded, but that’s another story for another time...
I sold them all except one, which I gifted to my younger brother, since I was tired of seeing him with a cheap watch and spotted him taking a liking on this watch!
So the watch in question was the Lange 1 Moon phase Platinum.
I gave it to him around 2006, and he wore it daily, almost every day, until I sold him last year my Rolex Hulk for a profit(retail dinner), and he started alternating this two, but the Lange started to get less wristime...
So last week I asked if he still has it, he said yes, and I inquired about the watch in general, was it serviced, how it runs etc.
He said: “No never serviced because it works”.🤷🏻‍♂️
I have to add, that this watch is worn in a way that most of us wouldn’t wear our G-Shocks, Housework, playing with the kids, yard work you name it. Ouch!!!!
So I took the watch sometime last week, timed it, and it run at 15s/day, which is not bad for a sixteen year old untouched Lange, but horrible for us purists;-)))
So next week, I decided to take it in to the service center and bring it back to spec, but I’m thinking of possibly keeping it for myself maybe!😜
Since I put it, On the wrist, I feel the Lange fire coming back in my veins, the heft of the Platinum is pleasing, and it brings back great memories.
Lastly, I’ll close with a couple of subpar pictures, to show the dents and scratches of this decade and a half old Lange.

Watch abuse, or used as intended?
What do you think?
Best,

Zsolt.

Key Points from the Discussion

Many collectors advocate for wearing luxury watches as intended, embracing the marks of a well-lived life rather than treating them as fragile investments.
While some embrace wear, others, like Darron, draw a line at certain activities, highlighting the personal tolerance for 'knocking around' a high-end watch. The possibility of laser welding for case refurbishment is noted as an option for significant damage.
The author, ZSHSZ, reflects on his own evolution from protecting watches to embracing their use, contrasting this with a perceived trend among some 'collectors' who prioritize investment preservation over enjoyment.
A parallel is drawn to the vintage car world, where a smaller faction prioritizes using their vehicles over merely admiring them, advocating for watches to be used as tools or jewelry, not just museum pieces.
The extensive wear on the Lange 1 Moon Phase evokes a strong emotional response, with one contributor noting that while significant wear 'makes the heart sing' as it signifies a watch used as intended, a single, isolated scratch can still be heartbreaking, illustrating the complex psychology of watch ownership.
The watch's performance after 16 years without service, running at +15 seconds/day, is seen as a testament to A. Lange & Söhne's robust engineering, even if purists would prefer tighter accuracy.

The Discussion

walidk

Feb 25, 2022

I think that is how it should be: a lifetime companion that is worn and enjoyed. Kudos to your brother for really putting it through its paces and making memories with it! I personally wouldn’t have it any other way. My dato has been a constant companion through everything short of intense workouts and swimming over the better part of a decade (here it is taking a break during yard-work 😉): It keeps amazing time (+/- at most 2 seconds/day and hasn’t been serviced since purchased new), works well

takman

Feb 26, 2022

You can tell it’s been well loved and enjoyed. Thanks for sharing the story and the photos.

Gelato Monster

Feb 26, 2022

Always and forever love ALS

vitalsigns

Feb 26, 2022

L1 MP is my favorite L1 and my second favorite Lange behind the Dato gen 1. Nice to see such a well-worn and loved piece. I hear you about Jerome Lambert. Same with JLC. Not the same after his departure. I wonder what Lange and JLC would be now if Gunter Blumlein and Jerome Lambert were able to stay at their respective posts. Cheers, John

MTR

Feb 26, 2022

And it’s so nice that this watch was WORN and not just “buried” in a safe. I like every dent and scratch. It’s amazing that this ALS watch seems to be less delicate than I thought…

aris d

Feb 26, 2022

And I thought that my wife had abused my Daytona...

Continue the conversation

This thread is active on the A. Lange & Söhne forum with 48 replies. Share your knowledge with fellow collectors.

Join the Discussion →

Key Points from the Discussion

Continue the conversation

More from this Forum