Independents

I love this watch. Super cool and unique design, inspired by vintage film camera. Very wearable. >20 years old but still look quite modern to me. Price hasn't gone crazy for these too. I've considered finding one to add to my collection, but stopped after...  

The case isn't too thick at 10.3 mm.

And I agree that a thinner profile will enhance its appeal 🙂

That being said in that category I think I would go for the GP Richeville Day & Night with its funky time display.

The GP looks cool too.

Really like piece and was thinking about it on and off - but at this servicing cost level it is a complete no-no for me. There is no reasonable justification for them IMHO.

NT

Source: Google Images ...  

I have many watches from mainstream brands (AP, JLC, Patek, VC, ...) serviced, and all of the servicing costs are less than 5% of the watch's RRP. I just couldn't stomach such high (>25% of the watch's RRP) servicing cost for this one.

It’s completely loco 🤪

nice watc, dont get me wrong

I always factor in the servicing costs.

I do take into account the cost of having a watch serviced by the manufacturer if it is needed as opposed to just a good watchmaker, but would pass on virtually any watch that required that level of expense just to service it and it is not even a Grand Co... 

Same for me.

Is the movement so unique that a competent independent watchmaker couldn’t work on it?

from what I've read. Complications include jumping hour, phase of the moon, and decentered minute and second hands. I wouldn't send it to a third party.

I do not really want any modern Lange due to the out of control service costs when compared to direct competitors like Patek. Patek and Breguet are both strangely reasonably priced.

AP, JLC, Patek, VC services are reasonably priced to me. Even Lange isn't so bad, I feel, for those references with published rates.

Any idea why so much? I am sure a competent watchmaker can do that for 20% of this price...

15K is way too much... At the other end, Haldimann provides complimentary basic services for life.

Just find one that is recently serviced.

so it may be better if you can locate one that was serviced recently given that these are >25 years old.

I recall reading an article/post that either all or some of the watchmakers were not paid in full by GPfeil who fell on hard times after the launch. One of those were allegedly Urwerk who did a TV screen watch with power reserve for that series. And not a... 

Thanks for these insights.

Would be insane if you need to service it for around the same price 🫣 not sure why and i would be careful to sent it to a third party watchmaker as its not always a good idea 😬

Another Gold/Pfeil but by Frank Jutzi at about 1/3 the price of the VIanney Halter I think I traded this when I got deeply into Grand Seikos and Credors… Can’t remember Wife said NO pretty firmly on this spacey watch. So I went for the classic and have ne...  

but the “story” was too complicated — couple of guys got multiple watchmakers to each make one or two models sold under name of Gold Arrow (but the arrow was actually blue) and Frank Jutzi … yadda yadda … everyone gets bored and goes back to their beer an...  

The VH Classic looks awesome on your wrist.

Never considered the servicing cost but if I did need a service I wouldn’t send it to vianney but rather to Luca Soprana at a fraction of the cost

Vianney has been improving quite a few things on the initial product and servicing this generation is indeed -very-costly. This means that once the upgrade done, the next service, simple one, should be much, much less. I've seen Classic serviced for aroun...