... whether you want chrono more than perpetual or the other way around.
Since I don't know the extent of your collection, I assume this will be the only watch for you (which is VERY unlikely because I have been there
).
"To keep a lifetime" may be the keyword here. The answer first: I bought Perpetual as my first hi-end watch thinking that it would be the first and the last expensive watch. Boy was I wrong. The following month, I already bought 1815 CHR and Lange 1. And then a while later Dato..... When I look back, all are great watches and the brand, Lange, is THE great brand. I have let go Perpetual because, while it is a great perpetual watch, I was/am getting old and the small sub-dials were getting a bit harder to read all the time. So, I would pick Dato, if I intend to keep a lifetime..... Also, Dato is more of an Icon of Lange than the relatively newer Perpetual is. There are simpler and easier to read perpetuals out there.
I can see your future having both and more of Lange and other brands... 
Good luck hunting!
Ken
This message has been edited by KIH on 2011-07-30 06:52:32