A. Lange & Söhne

of this Frankened Dato as I would like you guys to see the watch as real and raw as possible. I 've asked a very good watchmaker friend of mine from Asia to help me with this watch so I can seriously think about it. Would really love your opinion if this is a YES or NAY....... From the forum collective answer, I will decide to either keep this version or change back 6 months later (yes...i still have the luminous hands) I look forwad to your thoughts and I will seriously consider your points of view Lovesss*CL

Although I like the original luminous hands as well, I prefer the blued hands if I had the choice for the Pisa.

Congrats on the successful experiment. And John you can always switch them back since you have the luminous hands.

This looks more balanced to me than the 1815 Chronograph WG, with the big date and bigger sub-dials.

And a lovely watch for sure!!!

As per the hands, i´m not an overly huge fan of unauthorized modifications.
Sure 22" wheels can do well on a Rolls-Royce, but for most of the time to me it seems there´s a reason they don´t come with these straight from the factory...
Aside service/warranty issues (unauthorized modifications terminate all warranties that may apply), i think the Pisa Dato already is special. It just don´t need the blue hands and the heavy contrast is not my preferred choice. It´s certainly a very legible configuration this way, but then i quite like the luminous hands.

It´s still a very nice watch

Cheers,

Peter

Thanks for your view .
May I ask what will Lange do to my watch if I send in for servicing in future?
Will they confisticate my watch or my hands?
And if I change my hands back to original before submitting for service, will that make any difference.
Thank you very much for your advise.
Lovesss*CL

Hi John,

actually i have NO idea!
"Aftermarket" parts and modifications have been subject of discussions (and court decisions) before; i do recall Cartier and Rolex having confiscated parts/watches in the past, but frankly i´m not aware of the handling and legalities in all regions of the world.

The most easy thing to do may be to get in touch with the Lange service you´re submitting the watch to!
From a brands perspective i´d guess the primary concern is to not held responsible for possible defects/problems caused by the conversion work.
From a customers perspective i do see changing the hands is a likewise small "fix" to do and easily retrofitted.
Therefore i´d guess there´s a solution all sides can live with

Cheers,

Peter

the Lange product book. When I last try it , it does wear bigger than a Dato.
I note that the Lange website was saying otherwise.
Dunno which one is the correct answer.
Lovesss*CL

ps. Happy Holidays to you and my heartfelt thanks to you for being a wonderful moderator

Hi John,

i think so!
And in fact, the Lange catalogue mentions a diameter of 39.5mm! So i think that´s correct.
But i´ve never measured one myself

Actually i´ve found the Dato to be slightly heavier, which to me makes a (very subjective) difference in terms of "heft".
Heavy is big, so size does matter in more ways To me that´s been one reason the Double Split appeared outright HUGE on the wrist; it´s certainly not a small watch, but the very massive and very heavy case probably adds much to the overall impression.
But i do see your point; while the 0.5mm difference in diameter may be hard to notive at arm´s length, the 1815 CHR is 2mm thinner. And that´s something easy to see with an unweaponed eye, resulting in a seemingly larger look to me as well.
I think proportions can make a great difference.

Something subjective may be the choice of dials as well. Personally i find white dials to visually enlarge the watch, such as with the white dial 401.026 and the black dial 403.035:

(images by A. Lange & Söhne)

All in all, best to do is to try one

Happy holidays to you as well!!!!

Cheers,

Peter

(PS: a small addition - i´m trying to help out, but i´m not a moderator of the site )

1815Chr is yummy.
How I wish it is 0.5mm smaller, larger crown , larger and centralized subdial.
I guess there's no perfection.
It still is a wonderful piece
Lovesss*CL

From many post, i do see comparisons of the 1815 CHR and the Dato.
These days such are probably obsolete, because the 1815 can´t be had any longer.

But then, do both may do well together, rather choose one over the other.
And particularly because the 1815 is discontinued, i´d guess one may end up with both and just choose which first?

Cheers,

Peter

I had an 1815 chrono, and loved the blued hands.  That was what made it so hard for me to trade that watch.  Your modification looks great, especially if you want a bit more dressy of a look.  Good choice, and enjoy the watch.

Godspeed,

Scott D

back to the original hands IMHO.  The original stands on its own.

blue hands please. more contrast. still beautiful either way.

cheers. kevin

.

however, that's just my opinion.  beautiful watch anyhow. btw, is yr dato a limited edition?

do the change for me ? I love the Dato movement and I really want to 'perfect' the watch for myself.
If in future, I've a change of heart and decide to sell ( I seriously doubt so), the future owner can decide if he wants the original hand.
It is totally replaceable. And as for service issue, one can always put the original hand back before going to Germany and I think my next servicing will be 7 years later
Meanwhile...I'm going to have some fun
Lovesss*CL

is GORGEOUS !!!
One piece that really speaks to me alot.
Hope you enjoy that beauty often
Lovesss*CL

ps. This Dato is a Pisa edition limited to 10.

soon a dato platinum in black dial will join. so i'll have the pp5070, vc les historique and dato as the white trio chronos. hahaha can't hide my excitement. it's a good year.

Congratulation!!!
and you are right that you must have the Dato to complete your Chrono collection
Lovesss*CL

No message body

maybe that's why I ask the forum. A bit not sure myself too ;-)....very rare.
However, I think a totally silver hand with no luminous bit will be a total winner for me
totally stealth ...like the lange 1.
Lovesss*CL

yay for me!!

 

sh

Hi CL,

Just my thought,your modification is beyond doubt--very nice!and execellent job.

but just like others mentioned the "originality" counts too.So?its yours,do what you like,it doesnt matter what others think?In fact,this shows Lange,their clients' intention and taste!And client's ability to design that might put their design department in the state of shock.

well done!congrats.

BHK9

I'm a Capricorn with Virgo rising star. It means I'm a constant pain to myself in term of what I deem perfection.
Now I'm in the process of having a very well known watchmaker to make an exact Dato rhodiumed gold hand
without the luminous bit. So in the end , I can seriously conclude which is the best.
For me though I would like to think that I'm a purist, I can accept minor modification such as this as long it is done by people I respect
And most importantly, it is reversible.
Please note that my respect for Lange is tremendous...just that I have my personal peeve
If a change of the hands can make me happy while owning this timepiece, I think it is a worthwhile process.
I share my thought with this forum only because I feel that my watch is also the watch of the people here
Lovesss*CL

Hi, CL,

and in this case [personal rant mode on] I consider the original version "un authorized".
Watch design over the centuries developed some unwritten rules - one of them, since introduction of
luminous materials, was -if luminous hands, luminous indications are a must as well.

So, luminous hands without at least  some luminous dots on the hours are an absolute no go for me personally.
Some of those design rules aren't that stupid
What I'd do - change the hour and minute hand to silver, but no luminous.
Change constant running seconds hand to silver - keep blued for chrono seconds hand and minute register.
That's not my "idea" - it's the most traditional set up and makes a lot of sense - as time keeping and chronograph is
well seperated and it looks beautifull as well.

Best regards

Suitbert

 

going that route
Thanks for the confident booster.
What you said is exactly what I'm thinking.
I was initially concern about what Lange will think but I guess I'm just trying to
achieve my 'dream' watch. All these done within the lange design perimeter...meaning still having the exact hands shape and design.
For sure, I'm not trying to be smart and funny...hehe
I just want my grail piece to please my eyes all the time whenever I look at it
Thank you again so much for your encouragement.
Lovesss*CL

you decide to take pretty pictures; I happen to like the pictures you just
posted!

But looking at the blued hands on the Rhodie dial I would say "nay"; to loud
a combination for this dial imHo!! It looks a little odd, a little "off" I
guess. The hands work on the 1815 in WG but not on your PISA. I think that
the old hands give the watch more, uhh, alure? even with the luminous mass
in them.

But I think Suitbert´s idea of having "white" hour and minute hands sans the
luminous mass will result in a VERY nice Frankenwatch. A brilliant idea
Suitbert.

So blued steel hands for the chrono sweep-seconds and chrono minute counter
and "white" hands for the hour, minute and constant seconds hand ... and I
will make sure there is an empty spot under next years Christmas tree!!

Edwin

.

It is more about the blue arms.

I prefer it the origin way and wouldn´t change anything!

oliver

The blued hands are what made the 1815 Chronograph so compelling in spite of some distractions that apply only to that reference number. Here it is just right. Do not, I mean this, do not go back.

 

Congrats on finding someone to help you out. I still wish I could make the hand changes on my RG/silver dial Dato that I mentioned in a previous post.

I love it this new way.

Bill