A. Lange & Söhne

Yesterday, I had the chance with a group of French fans to attend a dinner organized by Lange Western Europe (Jacques and Lucia) at a famous restaurant in Paris: Apicius.

This event was a great opportunity for all of us to share our passion about the Saxonian Manufacture and to enjoy a very nice dinner in a warm atmosphere of friendship. I always write the same but believe me, the "Lange Family" is a true concept, you can feel it when you meet people from the Manufacture. There is a special touch when Lange organizes an event, all the attendees feel very comfortable, it is classy and relaxed at the same time.

The great surprise was the presence of Claudia and Martin of the Lange Akademie and they didn't come with empty pockets! They brought with them a wide selection of the 2012 novelties. And it was something unexpected because only a few pieces of the 2012 collection are travelling through the Globe to be presented to ADs or to collectors. We were very honoured by Claudia and Martin's presence and by the ability to discover in the metal these novelties.

Jacques and Lucia were as always perfect hosts and we spent a wonderful evening sharing with the Lange team and between them our feelings about the current collection, our expectations, our wishes.

I propose to share with you a lot of pics of this event.

I) Atmosphere

Apicius is a very prestigious restaurant located in a mansion  right in the center of Paris close to Champs Elysées. The scenery was ideal for such gathering!

II) Attendees

Guests are coming:

As you can see, a very relaxed atmosphere:

The charm of the ladies:

The Lange team, Lucia, Jacques, Claudia and Martin:

One of the guests is fascinated by the moving dial of the Richard Lange Tourbillon:

Lucia explains to a guest why the 2012 Ladies' watch uses an automatic movement. Bad news for his wallet, sure that her spouse was seduced by it during the dinner!

III) 2012 collection watches

Obviously, a lot of the attendees were expecting a lot to discover the new Datograph. Some expressed a kind of relief, despite the new size, it didn't appear to be too big on their wrists. I like a lot this watch despite its enlarged case. I know that it brings endless discussions when compared to the "classic" Datograph but I really think that Lange team did it well, especially when you have to consider that creating an evolution of an iconic watch is always a difficult mission.

It will never replace the classic Datograph in the heart of the collectors but it is currently one of the ultimate chronographs of the industry.

The WG Saxonia Thin symbolizes the purest offer from Lange: two hands, neutral colours... It is without any doubt a very elegant watch and I like its slender side.

But I would have prefered a more daring attitude about the dial. This watch was giving a perfect opportunity to use a blue or a black dial. It is the reason why I still prefer the PG version.

My fav of the year is maybe the new Grand Lange 1: smaller than the previous version, it features the balanced dial lay-out of the original Lange 1.

 

The Lange 1 Timezone gets the "night owls" style and it works pretty well, actually much better than with the Lange 1 which was too quiet for my taste.

As I wrote before, Ladies' watch becomes automatic... which is a clever move!

The novelties all together with 2 surprises:

The 2 surprises were the Zeitwerk YG and the Richard Lange Tourbillon, two of the most original Lange watches of the last years:

Even if I love this Zeitwerk, my fav version by far is the WG one:

The Richard Lange Tourbillon is a very intriguing watch. Lange creates a problem (the large bridge over the Tourbillon)... and at the same time, solves it by using a moving dial.

I would love to see this watch without a Tourbillon and with an enamel dial... to be totallt faithfull to the original pocket watch.

The Lange 1 Tourbillon PC was sadly not present but at least, the Richard Lange Tourbillon gave us a beautiful view on a Tourbillon.

IV) The courses

Shall I need to add that it was a fantastic dinner?

Just have a look at the Menu:

You don't speak French? Don't worry, here come the pictures!

An original way to eat crab:

This is what I call a complex Langoustine!

They are proud of this huge pieces of veal and they are right!

Perfectly cooked:

The Soufflé was delicious:

V) The watches brought by the guests

Lange fans brought their watches of course. Sadly I didn't shoot all of them but you can enjoy this selection:

PT Zeitwerk:

PG Cabaret:

Datograph Perpetual:

Old vs new 1815, you can feel the 4mm of difference but you have the same pleasure when you have them of the wrist:

One of the differences is the hands material:

New vs old Datograph, 13 years of difference...

My report is over now with this last pic which creates a   kind of hyphen between two periods of Lange history.

I would like to thank a lot the whole Lange Team for the perfect organization, for the kindness, the availability and the in-depth explanations. I know that all the guests appreciated a lot the event and the ability to discover quite quickly after SIHH the 2012 novelties. But the most important was to share all together our passion for Lange.

Fr.Xavier

 

 

Your photos are always great! On another note, looking at both 1815's in your photos the 36mm version seems to look better on your wrist to my eye than the new larger version. I have a tendency to stay around 39mm give or take but going forward I'll have to keep some of the "small" Lange pieces in mind!

Tony

Are 40mm too big for an "elegant" watch?

Actually, I don't have  a clear answer, it really depends on the taste of each of us... But 36 or 40mm, I like them both even if the 36mm has the little something which makes it more elegant IMHO.

I own a 36mm1815 and I have a lot of pleasure to wear it.

Fx

of the Lange 1 at 38.5mm is about perfect for a dress watch.

Tony

First, your idea of the RL with no tourby in enamel will have me sign up in a heart beat

This enamel version of the Richard Lange "regulator" comes back very often to my mind...

Original pocket watch was superb:



Fx

I know you are close to the decision makers. Your idea would be an absolute hit. I know making enamel dials is difficult but this would be a more affordable watch and they could limit annual production.   I know I'd wait for an order. 

Thank you for the excellent report and, as is the norm, your great pictures. After all the ink that has been spilled on the subject, I think that your comment on the new vrs. old Dato hits the nail right on the head. 

No message body

This PG cabaret is beautiful.

I own a PG Cabaret but with the silver dial. This black dial version is truly gorgeous and more original.

Fx

... and watches!  I have to go to Paris.... definitely sooner than later....
Thanks for the report!

Ken

You know it!



Fx

as I said before, it was a great evening, thanks to you, the Lange team and all the friendly participants.

Concerning the Dato, it is definitely my favorite of the Lange 2012 novelties.

I had an issue with the power reserve but in the flesh it remains very discrete :

- the gap between the indicator and the dial is not as wide as we could think it is from pics;

- The mirror polished triangle is not as obvious as it seems, as from many angles it remains black ("black" polished);

- The red printing of the "down" phase of the RdM scale is not too strong (as in pictures), and thus make the RdM less obvious on the dial;

- Finally the dial matt finish in contrast with the shiny indexes is very modern and quite pure and the RdM holds with it perfectly. Much more than I thought.

The only thing that may finally be an issue for me is the size. The proportions are better, but for my liitle wrist, it's a bit too wide ...

On another level, I prefered the WG Saxonia Thin to last year's RG version.

Thanks again!

Mark

Impossible for me to sleep! I was thinking all night long about the Zeitwerk, the Datograph... anyway, thanks a lot for your presence and for your comments about the new Datograph Mark!

Fx

Thank you very much for the quite rare shot of a YG ZW.

The WG ZW is a nice, perfect daytime wearable, allrounder, but it lacks a bit noblesse:

it looks very technical.

The PG, that I saw, looked very good already but I feel the YG one will knock  me off completely.

 

Many thanks

Moritz

is the high contrast between the dial and the timebridge. I like it a lot. For me, WG version is the iconic one.

But of course, YG version has its charm...

Fx

I had to kill to get this piece, it is so difficult.  But I love it, I think the movement is a thing of beauty.  I know many differ, but I feel it is important to have this baby in the collection.

Joe

 

It is always a pleasure to do them.

Fx

And it looks like you had a superb moment, too.

Apicius is one of the place to go, for sure.

As for the watches,  you perfectly described it: There is clearly an hyphen between two periods.

I am not sure I am in love with the current one...

Best,

Nicolas

This message has been edited by amanico on 2012-04-19 21:55:32

And I do believe that the hardcore fans of Lange like you will always prefer the original Datograph. But I still think that as an evolution, new version is a great achievement.

Thanks for your comments!

Fx

Hello Xavier,

Thank you for sharing this with us!

I am certain that you all had a good time, and that veal looks awesome!

Tschuss

Stephen

And you perfectly know Lange team's warm welcome...

Fx

And exquisite wrist shots!

No message body

All the watches look great, but I would have loved to see the new perpetual calender tourbillon.  The design is very attractive and different with the months on the edge of the dial.  Of the watches present, the Time Zone and the Grand Lange 1 are my favorite.  I love the finish on all the movements, especially the blued screws.  I look forward to having the opportunity to see some Lange watches in the metal.  I would love to try some these watches on.  Thanks for the report.

 

Stewart

nt

Some friends were there and gave me a very positive feedback.
Hope I could attend it one day