Comments:
The ‘quiet luxury’ of Lange watches
Have been thinking a bit about the ‘quiet luxury’ thing that is (or was) in focus when it comes to fashion.
In the watch world, I guess Lange is the equivalent of Lora Piano, Cucinelli and the other Italian brands that come to mind when this term pops up.
My three fairly simple Lange watches are ‘quiet luxury’ to me. Maybe the 1815 Thin the most due to the color of the metal, the enamel dial that you need to know about and the special decoration of the movement. The least quiet one is the Lange 1 due to the dial color and the layout
Anyway, it’s not as if I need additional excuses to love all three of them.
Claus
Lovely pieces. Quiet luxury is a good term.
To me quiet luxury maximizes the relationship between owner and object, rather than noisy luxury, which muddles that relationship by bringing in the outside world/observers.
So quiet luxury=owner and cherished object
Noisy luxury=owner, object, outside world/observers
The latter brings in a "third wheel," if you will, on, say, a romantic date.
Noisy luxury is ok, but it is a different relationship between the owner and object than quiet luxury.
Cheers,
John
Noisy luxury, now that’s a good juxtaposition!
But I totally agree on this. Like the difference between a tourbillon watch with the word tourbillon on the dial above a cut-out and a watch with no wording and the tourbillon only visible through the case back.
Quiet luxury indeed 👌🏻👍🏻🙌🏻
Dress watches generally are a genre that I would wish more of - hopefully someday again 🤞🏻
You have a wonderful trio!
The first one is my favorite among them, but all three have a great appeal.
Best, Emmanuel
What a beautiful and classy looking trio of A.Lange & Sohne watches.
The first and third are my favourites as the exude class and the less is more aesthetic.
Marc
Actually, I agree. 1 and 3 are restrained and discrete. The Lange 1 is more of a statement
I like formal done right, I like informal done right.
At the end of the day, the key thing is elegance and being true to oneself. Put a crazy rock star in a Savile Row tuxedo, and it may look slightly out of place with the personality - put the same rock star in a Neapolitan tuxedo, and it might "jive" well. Elegance is almost always "done right."
Yes, but…
…I think part of the quiet when it comes to watches is size on the wrist. Your examples I think all fit nicely, are smaller etc.
But a modern Dato, ZW, Triple Split and some others in the Lange collection do not fit the quiet luxury definition as they are 100% attracting the outside eyes when on all but a few (larger) wrists.
And as noted by Patrick, your strap choices here also play into the quietness. I too have removed my Lange from the shiny straps they come with. And it makes a big difference.
A delightful trio, Claus - congrats on it. Nice photos too.
The 1815 Thin is refined and pure. The movement is wonderful as you say, with micro-beveled teeth on the gear-train too. I remember being surprised when it was released - it’s in my top 3 Lange’s I don’t own but love. Charming.
The Lange 1 with the blue dial gets the balance right for me: a stone-cold legend but with a novel dial. That same shade of blue is always used by Lange - they don’t do a lot of dial colours, but the few they do are lovely. Wear this one any day.
And the three-hand 1815 - beautiful! The first Lange I fell in love with back in the late 90’s and looks even better today than in that first iteration. The combination of the blued hands, Arabic numerals and pink gold case is enduringly pleasing.
Tremendous trio
I remember well a 2000’s WatchTime magazine article, a head to head comparison between the 1815 and the PP 5196. The Lange took the battle!
I would, in fact, buy a 5196j not long after reading the article
If I can locate the edition I’ll pass on the info
Beautiful collection of ALS
My favourite of the three is your lange one. Very special shade of blue.
Quiet luxury indeed!
Lange is quiet luxury personified
That 1815 Thin you mentioned rose gold, enamel dial, movement decoration only visible through the caseback it’s the epitome of knowing without needing to show. The best compliments come from people who understand, not from across the room.
I’ve always felt that way about Lange. They don’t need to shout. The conversation is between you and the watch, and maybe the occasional fellow enthusiast who spots the three-quarter plate through the sapphire. That’s the relationship that lasts.
Lovely trio, Claus.
Bill