A. Lange & Söhne

Hello,

4 fantastic watches from Lange. For me it would be difficult to choose between the chrono and the RL. 

Thank you for your welcome and compliment, Dirk. Yes, similar sizes and wrist presence - very different prices though! In my experience, the 1815 Chrono is somewhat more "technical" and familiar in dial feel - whereas the RL is solely about telling the time easily & precisely. The Arabic vs. Roman numerals make a surprising difference too - the Arabic numerals lending a softness to the feel.

Thank you for your warm welcome and compliment, hora12reborn.

Thank you for your welcome, CR.

Thank you for your welcome and compliment, mblum3. Yes, I had an early introduction to the RL as I was at the Manufactory when it was launched in 2006 - I saw a tray of them, mint fresh. I must say it has grown on me over time after my very first impression was perhaps a little austere - now, I really enjoy the fine details on it and the sweep of the beautiful blued seconds hand. As for the Saxonia family, I've had a Datograph, Big Date and Big Date with Moonphase. The Data (OG, pink gold) was the standout - I have bitter regrets having sold that years ago. In the "more accessible" category, the Moonphase was my favourite - I found it had a bit more dial vertical balance and "life". Interestingly too, when people talk about Lange moonphases, they always mention the solid gold disc and the 122.6 years adjustment interval, but it's another aspect that I truly love: the fact that the moonphase disc is continuously driven off of the hour wheel. That "always in motion" part gets me every time!

Thank you for your warm welcome and compliment, Rhyzen. Indeed. I like the PG / argente dial / blue hand one too - but the black dial version reminds me that the first edition of every Lange chronograph featured a black dial, so it's very traditional in that respect. It's also so visually striking, particularly - I find - in the soft light of dawn or dusk.

And what's not to like?

Thank you for your welcome, John. Indeed! Cheers. I like the balance of my collection at this point: two with blued hands - two with gold hands, two with 2 sub-dials, two larger - two smaller case sizes. It also means that, even when one is being serviced, I still have its twin available + two other choices available.

I also own a WG 1815 three hander and it's such a fantastic watch for basically any occasion that doesn't require WR.

Thank you, watchestolove. Yes, it is. The 1815 was my first Lange and I wore it constantly. I, of course, wanted to like the 1815 Annual Calendar but it looks a bit "busy" to me with the three sub-dials. Plus, I can't read the date (a give-away on my age range!) And...it's a Patek complication (albeit not a manual wind).

Thanks for sharing it with us, and I look forward to seeing more of these watches.

Thank you for the compliment, Jay (Eire). That's a diverse duo! The Up/Down has gorgeous lateral symmetry to it and unimpeded the "6" in a way that gives the bottom half of the dial more air. The Zeitwerk was a slow-baker for me - the two I like the most are the last PG gold model (no surprise) and the Zeitwerk Date. The new straight bridge has become my favourite over the original "dog-leg" bridge. And the wind-vane to slow the discs down after they jump - how utterly brilliant is that!!

Thank you for the welcome, armanico. I admire your collection too. Yes: a quartet is a nice number for me and means that I always retain three with one in for service over a 4-year cycle. I do like odd numbers though - 3 or 5 - and if I upped my collection to 5 I would currently get...a Lange 1 (very possible), or an 1815 Tourbillon (I'd have to sell 2 other pieces) or the Datograph Perpetual with the ruthenium dial (my grail - even though it is in WG - for-which I would have sell everything except the 1815 Up/Down, and then some!!).

Yeah...I'm not a rectangular watch person. But, I could probably get over that if we were talking the Cabaret HWK! ;-) On the really early ones, I've always admired how Lange chose to make a new rectangular-shaped movement for the case.

Congratulations on your post and thank you for sharing these four Lange with us, they are stunning. Especially in rose gold which is also my favorite metal, just oozing class. Especially love the RL and chrono

Thank you for your welcome and compliments, Derrick. Yes, after discovering rose gold it became the approachable and classy gold for me. The RL has been the sleeper in my collection - it slowly grew on me from afar over many years and, after acquiring one and seeing it all-day on the days that I wear it, I’ve come to really love it. It’s the simplicity, the precision, the fine details - and the design of the centre seconds drivetrain. I’ve always had one chrono in my collection - now, with the L.951, I’m fortunate to have one of ‘the’ great chronos.

That wheel train on RL with its separate bridge is beautiful indeed. Good to see that you are thoroughly enjoying your watches, thanks again sharing them and your knowledge with us too.