sham1
9718
Hi Roberto,
I wish brands would take into account our past purchases from any shop in any part of the world but unfortunately they do not. One has to have a purchase history in one particular shop to qualify for the special pieces. I have purchased five new Lange watches from an AD in Malaysia but that would not be taken into account at the Lange boutique in Singapore. I have even bought a limited edition 1815 honey gold thin from the boutique but even that will not be taken into account when being considered for any future special piece - the criteria is one will have to spend at least SGD60k on a watch from the regular collection. This practise does not apply exclusively to Lange. I have bought six new Pateks from my UK AD and only one from the Malaysian AD so if I am keen on a special piece, I would not get an allocation in Malaysia, possibly from my UK AD. But would it not be fairer if there is a universal database where all our purchases are taken into account because after all, the brand should be doing its part in looking after its loyal clients no matter where they buy their watches from.
Other industries have been applying the same business model for years. If someone wants to buy a Birkin or Kelly bag from Hermes, one has to put one's name down on a wish list but it would help tremendously if one has a purchase history in the shop. Similarly, I know of someone who buys almost every Ferrari launched so that when the limited edition models are launched, he will get an allocation. No one forces anyone to buy unwanted purchases to meet the criteria to be allocated a special item but for some people, they just must have a particular item be it a watch, handbag or a car!
The most beautiful watch ever!
While visiting the Lange boutique in Singapore, I had a chance to try on a watch I had only previously seen in photos. I knew it would be too heavy and too large for me but it was one of those watches, any enthusiast would not give up the chance of trying...
You are not helping my bank account Fabrizio! :-)
I have asked Lange Singapore to find our if there is any chance this watch might still be available to be sold on its own. The boutique had told me that I would have to spend at least SGD60k on other Lange watches which is their new policy before being al...
I sure hope that the Thai owner is not a purist!!! :-)
or he may return the compliment!!!
Fabrizio!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You have just defined 'money talks, bullshit walks!'
I love your determination Sham!! ;-))) Totally in agreement in disapproving of certain sales tactics (even more so when they officially come from a brand, as it consistently seems the case with the Lange boutiques recently)...
BUT, given that this is a dream watch, I totally wish the best TO YOU my friend, rather than to your wallet! ;-)) It is honestly beautiful and unusual to see such a reaction in front a watch (I think I can only compare it with the Patek "Boccadasse" for m...
Thank you Fabrizio!
I am a firm believer than if something is meant to be, it will be. And if this beautiful watch is unavailable then, I will have to make myself happy by ordering the soon to be released Patek 5231G - yes, I have psychic powers!
Only $60k sgd and you can get this watch allocation, sign me up!
I would say Yes and wait for it. Apparently Lange practices are not standardized across the globe….sad.
As a principle,
I don't like being forced into buingy watches that I am not keen on but Lange watches can be resold these days quite easily and at minimal loss, sometimes even at a profit. So if that is what I have to do to obtain the Rattrapnte then, so be it!
So are they saying this is still available? I’m confused…i thought all sold? I know there are sets available….
But are they going to break it up or still individual pieces of this Rattrapante available?
The watch is officially not available individually
There is an outside chance that they may be prepared to break up a set. An enquiry is being made. Please note that the Lange Boutique in Singapore requires a purchase of at least SGD60k to purchase any new limited editions. This is a new policy.
wow what a policy, soooo easy to say no
I suspect they want you to spend 60K and still won't give you what you want...
Actually not!
The sales person will first establish if the Rattrapante is still available before asking me to purchase at least SGD60k worth of watches. I must confess that the service I have received so far from the Singapore Lange boutique has been first class. They ...
thanks for elaborating, I understand and I think the bottom line is
if you are happy with the boutique and service all is fine. It was very interesting to know what kind of policies are around nowadays. I only buy where I get a 5 stars 🤩 experience but then again I don't have a grail watch in the waiting that they could s...
Agreed on all counts
especially on the five star experience and the madness currently prevailing in the market. I believe in buying what I like rather than what everyone else does. So no steel Rolexes, Royal Oaks or Nautliuses for me as I tend to be partial to dress watches. ...
I think it also depends on who owns the Lange boutique
Not all Lange boutiques are owned by the Richemont Group. Some are owned by Wempe, Sincere Watches or Middle Eastern based dealers.
Nico, I would agree with you 99.9 percent of the time
Most dealers may request that one buys a watch from a slow moving brand before one is 'allowed' to buy the sought after watch. In this case, at least Lange watches are generally quite sought after so spending SGD60k on one or two of their pieces would not...
Actually Nico I beg to differ
If people were not asked to buy 'unwanted watches' and could buy sought after watches as they pleased, it would encourage many more speculators to buy Royal Oaks, Daytonas and Nautiluses with the aim of selling them at a profit. True collectors will seldo...
I totally agree Nico!
There are many great watches out there and we are spoiled for choice. Just for the record the Singapore boutique is directly owned by Richemont unlike some other Lange boutiques so this is happening with the knowledge of Richemont. And again I agree with ...
Indeed
I could not agree more. On principle I walk away and I have had a pretty bad experience with that Lange dealer in Singapore when I tried to order an Odysseus and showed them my 3 Lange purchase history dating back to 2008 all at Wempe NY, they were simply...
I believe they were not keen on the purchase history from any other shop
but I doubt if they actually thought watches from their brand were not interesting! That would be a first!
When you don't pay interest to the watches from their brand owned by their clients, it is not a good sign, nor a good image for the brand. But that doesn't surprise me, since a lot of the watch sellers I know are not very passionate.
And not only from Lange, of course. They could sell ham, it wold be the same.
Agreed!
But most sales people are more keen on earning their commission from a sale. Customer service sometimes takes a back seat which is a big no no for me. I know of many watch sales people who know little of their products let alone that of any other brand. I...
Hi Roberto,
I wish brands would take into account our past purchases from any shop in any part of the world but unfortunately they do not. One has to have a purchase history in one particular shop to qualify for the special pieces. I have purchased five new Lange wat...
Yes however
Ferrari specifically keeps a database of purchases for this which is transferable and transparent to any dealer. It is still not a great practice, and you are subject to the dealer’s discretion as well, but from a brand perspective they will vet you posit...
Correct!
Ferrari have got their act together a lot better than any of the watch brands. That is why they are arguably the most recognisable brand in the world. A similar practise by the watch brands would not go amiss and would attract a larger clientele in the lo...
We should never tolerate poor service from any shop.
But a purchase history from another shop even though it is for the same brand will not guarantee us preferential treatment and we should not expect any special treatment either.
I agree
I am not in this world. Buy one to buy another is paying grey market anyways. This is what rolex was doing to get BLNR before covid. Buy this date just to get the next blnr.... now they don't even do that because DJ are gone!
The watch industry has blossomed lately beyond recognition
Companies are taking advantage of this either by increasing prices, reclassifying many of their sought after watches as allocation pieces or simply 'forcing' customers to buy pieces to obtain another. All three practices might be deemed as good business m...
For sure
It is not a a specific comment on your interest here and what the boutqiue said. Just lamenting how things have gotten. I feel bad that you can't spend (this large amount) money and get what you want. It really does look nice in the pictures. Good luck 👍 ...
Thank you!
I think it will take a minor miracle for me to secure this piece but if I do, it will be thoroughly appreciated.
I would always support this notion!
But if I have a chance to acquire my grail (and I only have one!), I should not let it go
That is not a problem!
In fact, that is a compliment to your watch selection. Few of us have bought so wisely!
even if so..I say so what
you have so many gorgeous watches, some are just not meant to be may be
True!
If a watch is meant to be yours, it will be. If not, I believe it was not meant to be.
I have never ever contemplated
spending so much on a timepiece but I may make an exception this time knowing that if there was a piece still available, it would probably be the last piece for sale. I will be 60 next year so my body parts have no value any longer! A few bank robberies s...
I probably won't ever see one in person...
...although a friend is on the list. But in the photos is looks amazing. It's great that you got the chance to see it.
The piece looks magnificent on you Sham!
I particularly like the honey gold. I have missed out many opportunities with Lange and now it feels like the barriers to entry are quite high, haha.
Nothing is too high for you Rahul! :-)
This Lange pales by comparison to your Patek collection!
I think if I am fortunate enough to be allocated one
the whole experience alone will make me treasure this watch for a very long time, if not forever. We all have our grails - this would be mine.
I am already asking myself
what can I sell to be able to afford this grail of mine. Body parts are not in the equation
Love this rattrapante. Do you have more photos? You will come up with a solution. I'm sure there is a $60k Lange that you will also love or can trade in the future.
I thought every piece was sold out. That's what I was told by my AD and Lange New York. I tried for this piece, which in all honesty was beyond my budget, but for this I was willing to make the sacrifice. I had no idea there were sets of three. May I ask ...
Thank you for your feedback!
The other two watches in the set were the popular 1815 ultra thin and the less wearable turbograph ie a tourbillon with a perpetual calendar. I have little doubt if the set of three were split that the 1815 ultra thin will be very marketable but less conv...
Thank you for your wishes!
Right now I do not have a predicament but on the off chance that they do break up the set for me, I would be facing a huge dilemma. Firstly, which two Lange watches to buy to meet the criteria - my first choice would be the 1815 up and down in rose gold p...
FWIW, I was told something very similar by the NYC boutique
They told me that they "might" consider breaking up a set if I was willing to purchase another "substantial" Lange even though I already have a couple in my collection. It is a truly remarkable watch, but I personally can't rationalize (or afford) a secon...
In theory and in principle, this practise is all wrong
but if I had to buy an unwanted Lange or two just to secure my grail, I would without hesitation. And also without hesitation, I would sell the unwanted Lange because I would never keep a watch in my collection that I did not truly love. I can safely say ...
In agreement, unfortunately this really seems official company policy for Lange --- and it can *only* leave a bad taste if someone is a passionate watch collector rather than a speculator (in which case, they would hardly buy a Lange anyway! ;-)
I can understand this brand's well-known issues to sell many of its watches, which have often taken a huge hit on the secondary market, but officially reducing the sale of a watch to a mere business transaction IS objectively pretty sad ;-) It's also surp...
Your support and wise words are deeply appreciated Fabrizio!
Let's see what Lange can do for me. I had already purchased an 1815 ultra thin in honey gold from this boutique so at least I am a current customer of theirs.
Will definitely keep everyone posted!
Thank you Fabrizio - I will need all the luck I can muster which will make this a memorable journey should the end result be a positive one.
Thank you all for your support and encouragement!
Unfortunately, Lange HQ has decided not to split the remaining unsold box sets so I will not be getting the Rattrapante after all. I have always believed that everything in life happens for s good reason so perhaps I will find something else interesting w...
Thank you very much Fabrizio!
It is ok. I am blessed with what I already have. Mustn't be greedy even though for me, that watch was THE watch
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