A. Lange & Söhne

Dear fellow Purists,

It's decision time. Prices for the Lange is going up significantly here, and I need to decide between the Dato and Langematik Perpetual (both in PT) real soon. My goal is to get both eventually, but unfortunately, at this moment, I can only afford one....

In terms of movement, I LOVE the Dato, but in terms of sheer appearance, the understated dial and the practicality of the LP seems more logical. The fun of the Dato movement, and the elegance and practicality of the LP.... this is just too hard

Can fellow Purists share your long term ownership experience with either piece (or even better, both)? I wear my watches and I can definitely see myself alternating betwen the Dato and LP when it's done, but for now, I have to choose one to start the journey.....

Thank you for your help!

-- Matthew

Hi Matthew,

Nice to learn that you are picking a Lange.

From appearance both have their signature date window,dato has two sub dials for chrono and so does the perpetual.But the perpetual has the beautifull moon phase and leap year dial which dato does not.On the case,both have crown,where dato has the push buttons for chorno which perpetual does not.One is craft with beautifull back case with manual winding chrono movement whereas the other one,with the langematik automatic movement.Here you can see one has its adantage and one dont and ise versa.very interesting.

I would say...down to earth!that is yourself.Firstly,are you into winding or auto?Then are you fond of chrono?and do you appreciate fine-craft movement or just a practical day to day guy?These questions should be able to let you determine which one to pick.If you still unable then........

GO FOR THE DATO PERPETUAL(you will own both world)

Just my thoughts,hope it helps....

BHK9

Ah, the DatoPerp is good. I had the three lined up in front of me (Dato, LP and DatoPerp) and I was like in a wet dream

But first, I like to wind the watch and I like chrono a LOT. However, I have never had a perpetual calendar before ( have the PP 5056P), and as far as PC goes, the LP is about as good as it gets (I sort of like the PP PC's as well, but really don't want to play the sick game w/ the AD's any longer). First time I saw the LP in metal, I was stunned.

The DatoPerp is very interesting, but somehow I think the LP dial works much better, and there is the price.... it works out to be almost exactly the same price as a Dato and and LP together..... Had I not seen the LP side-by-side w/ the DatoPerp, I would say, just go save some more for the DatoPerp and be done with it, but I have now changed my mind.... Having both the LP and Dato is probably better for me.... eventually......

About the Dato Perpetual...

I also find the dial too busy...

Between the Dato and the Perpetual, hey, I asked to myself the same question 3 years ago...

I decided to go on the Dato, and I don't regret it...

But if one of these days/months/years, I can go on a perpetual, I' ll do it.

Now, what to pick first?

I'd say the Dato.For its movement, also because this is an iconic watch, the watch that make me interest me to Lange watches...9 years ago!

Because of its quite martial esthetic, not to speak of the movement, that is useless...LOL

Then , you will be able, later, to go on the PC...

But for a 1st Lange, I'd go on the Dato.

My 0, 0000000000000000000000000002 Euro cents.

Nicolas

 

Nicolas,

Thanks for the insight. The Dato is also what got me interested in Lange in the first place as well.

But just trying to put things in perspective, and to verify my theory that if I get the LP now, I can choose Dato or DS down the road. So I went to my AD again and have LP, DatoPerp and DS laid in front of me. A glance at the DS, the movement clearly is in a class of it's own. Dato(Perp) is not in that class, but the DS is practically unwearable for me, due to size. And the dial of the DS is, um, not what the watch deserves, IMHO. The architectural feel of the DS movement, intricate and awe-inspiring as it is, seems a tad too architectural to me..... but I digressed.

So, my gut feeling is that, the LP, as far as PC goes, is at the very highest level. Pretty, practical, wearable, supremely well made, but not as much fun as a chrono. The Dato movement, and the iconic dial, fun and austere at the same time, totally classic, but the movement is not the best Lange has to offer now. The DatoPerp though, is just not very convincing in this company.....

Alas, I haven't made much progress, have I

I still have 2 more days to decide..... why is this soooo hard

if I were you ....

Buying my 1st  Lange , I will pick the iconic Lange 1 or the Datograph.

If im considering a dress chrono , only the Patek 5070 and the JLC Duometre can rival the Datograph one of which is discontinued and the other not ready for delivery.

If im considering a PC, there are just too many out there besides the LP .

So I will definitely take the Dato 1st  and consider the LP later

 

George

Hi, I totall understand your dilema! 

However I think we should stay away from the watch arguements look at the $$ spent.  If prices go up, then they go up for all models.  so it seems sensible for me to buy the most expensive watch now.  that way your total expenditure of both together over time is smaller.  In absolute $$ terms the increase is likely smaller for the cheaper watch.....

any thots?

Matthew,

Go for the Datograph because that is a watch you NEED.

Later, you may WANT a Lange Perpetual or A.N. Other brand of perpetual (look out for the SIHH reports) 

Go with the heart and not the wallet.............................

 

Datograph size comparison with 31 Days

 

Regards,

MTF

This message has been edited by MTF on 2008-03-24 01:55:26

First of all, what do you prefer ? HW or Automatic ?

Well, in my case, I'd prefer the Datograph because the chronograph caliber from Lange is outstanding and because I really think the dial of the Perpetual too busy.

But it's a very nice choice to do !

Fr.Xavier

Hi,

Earlier,proposing the DatoPerp is the last resort.Like you,i am avoiding it for those reasons mentioned above.

MTF's susgesstion is totally practical and acceptable.

Xavier's call should make your vision very clear on Chronos.

therefore,Lange's concern and your need is well adress go for the ultimate "Dato".

Thanks

BHK9

Matthew et al.

Datograph or Langematik Perpetual? A few thoughts:

Both pieces are priced similarly, well, not exactly, but close enough to not
have the future price increase(s) dictate to you which you should take
first. Well, that would be my position with regards do (bi-) annual price
increases.

You like the Datograph´s movement and the "fun" the watch will provide you,
but you like the understated elegance of the Langematik Perpetual´s dial and
you like the practical Perpetual Calendar complication.

When I saw the Datograph for the first time in the metal, in 2002, when I
bought my Lange-1, I didn't like its dial AT ALL!!!! But, over time, that
feeling has changed; changed dramatically I must add. I got more (and more)
used to the dial of the Datograph and in 2004 I liked it enough to dare and
purchase one. But . I was certain that, when the time had come to send the
Datograph to Glashütte for its first service, I would ask the good people at
Lange GmbH to change the dial for a totally black dial (w/o the Argenté
subdials).

Now . my Datograph has yet to visit Glashütte for service, but I am
ABSOLUTELY certain now that I don't want the dial of the Datograph to be
changed, as it is this dial that is absolutely giving the Datograph its
characteristic, odd if you prefer, look. It is the dial that gives the
Datograph its charm, its odd appearance of mixing the beauty of applied
markers (both stick and romans) together with its Teutonic cold "no
nonsense" and perhaps "in your face" contrasting subdials .

So . what I am trying to say is that you might not be that impressed with
the dial as used on the Datograph, you might (!!!) not be saying anymore
that in a few months or years.

Also, between these two watches, the Datograph uses, and please correct me
if I am mistaken, the original "space saving" Outsize Date design (with two
"concentric" discs) and it beats with the heavenly beat number of 18.000 bph
and it has a hairspring with an overcoil (Breguet, Philips). The date
mechanics on the Langematik Perpetual are a new(er) design and it beats with
a rate of 21K600 bph.

I absolutely adore my Datograph and it IS with no doubt, together with the
Lange-1, one of the two icon classics that Lange has created in their short
history.

So . between the Langematik Perpetual and the Datograph . may I suggest you
get the latter?

Have fun!! I can imagine that picking between two loved ones is hard. I
still am not certain what I prefer to buy for my next watch ... DoubleSplit,
Datograph-Perpetual or Lange-31. They all have their Pro´s and Con´s but
they share one common Con, well they share a Con and a Pro: I like them all
and would love to own them all but buying the first will make the chances
very slim for the others to ever become part of my collection as they are
all so darn expensive.

Edwin

So crunch time came, and I submitted to my urge to play with things mechanical

But Edwin is absolutely right. While I am not entirely convinced about the Dato's dial yet, it does have strong character and I am turning around to it. The LP is something I respect a lot, but it, well, keeps its distance in that it doesn't really want to be fiddled with (being a PC).


So another happy Dato owner here.

I am sure the Dato will grow on you more and more and more ... Congrats
mate; wear it proud and in the best of health.

Edwin

I had to go through the same difficult choice 3 months ago. I chose the Dato because of the beautiful movement and the great color combination of the metal and the dial. Same here, Dato was the first Lange watch appealed to me.  

Congratulations!!!

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