Patek Philippe

The Patek Philippe been this......

And the Lange & Sohne been this....

Well, I have just done that and I must say I AM OVER THE MOON. The Datograph! what a piece of horology, what a perfection in the details and in its way of working, I mean everything which should be smooth is and everything which should be firm is changing the time is firm and precise, pushing the pushers is like butter, the winding is soft and almost sensual. The dial is so neat and clean through the crystal, I don't know what king of crystal it is but the "see throu" is different and the mouvement......well, not only the finish but the layout, what an accomplishment, in my eyes anyway.

Now please don't take me wrong, the Patek is a beautiful watch, I love the combination of the rose gold and the dial with its blued hand and railtrack, I wouldn't have purchase it otherwise, however it never had enough wrist time because I never felt so comfortable always scared to scratch or damage the edge of the bezel, I felt that edge was too much of a magnet for scratches. I don't know, but that's how I felt with this watch. Strange to say but it almost is like a beautiful object that you place somewhere and look at but you would dare moving too often for fear of damaging it.

What are your thoughts on the two.

Kind regards

Francois

 

 

I'm not a fan of the sector dial. If it was the plain dial, it would be a harder decision to make. 

sector dial which attracted me to that particular PP AC as I don't like the replacement with plain dial! "Les gouts et les couleurs" very individual.

Kind regards

Francois

 

Tastes differ from a person to another, i am a fan of this particular PP (in white gold though) and the rail track adds a lot of character to it, and although it's a Patek Philippe annual calendar handsome piece of horology i'd do the same move like you did and get the Datograph, i was ready to pull the trigger on one a few years ago then went for the flyback 1815 chrono instead, while it's also a watch that  i am still enamored with since i got it, the Dato remains in my to buy list for sure, both are magnificent timepieces but IMO the Lange is a step above with its magnificent movement...i'd wear it upside down without any hesitation mon ami enjoy it for years to come and please post more pics of this beast so that we can drool on our keyboards. Salut!

Yes the "sector dial" AC is a beautiful watch, for me in rose gold, but..hey..taste! However, the Datograph is much, much more special, it is almost, well, almost "unique" different in almost any aspect to any watch I have ever worn, (not that there were some many, mind you! this is an engineering prowess mixing art and horology in a sublime combination which makes your inner feelings come to the surface and feed from the nectar of its aura. Well, you know what I mean
Kind regards. Francois

 "this is an engineering prowess mixing art and horology in a sublime combination which makes your inner feelings come to the surface and feed from the nectar of its aura" i couldn't phrase it better, très poétique mon ami

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How are you? I already knew that you would approve as you do not like annual calendars, actually I don't know why, personally I think annual calendar are very nice, especially the PP 5396R (sector dial) but having already a perpetual calendar from JLC "Master Perpetual" what is the point of an AC? The Datograph! What else can I say? It is "la creme de la creme des chronographes" punkt schluss, un point c'est tout, that's it!
Well, that is my opinion for now. Talk soon!
A bientot l'ami et merci. Hope you have good weather during your holidays. Francois

I do uderstand the appeal for a Date, a Day Date, a  Triple Date, a Perpetual Calmendar, but the " in between " AC, I don't like this idea.

With the Dato you just enter the fabulous family off fine Chronographs.

 

There are not that many which can compete ith a Dato... Just the Duometre, and the Patek Rattrapante, while I would classify the Patek 5070 and the Vacheron Malte or Lrs Historiques as belonging to the family of cool Chronographs.

Best, and yes, the weather here is just fantastic!

Nicolas.

 

From a stubborn to another! A+ Francois

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the ALS Dato is the more iconic piece among the two.

Kind regards, Francois

Indeed I had the same few years ago and made the same move: let a PP go for getting a Datograph also Platinum version (the rose gold one is beautiful too but for me the only "real" Dato is the Pt version).
I confirm to you the Datograph is gorgeous to look at: masculine, elegant, unique look, modern and sophisticated but... an important thing to know about is that it is not the most comfortable watch on earth due to its relatively heavy weight (a massive block of Platinum, thus a feeling of solidity but also sometimes some discomfort on the wrist), and also it is very high on the wrist (a thickness of 12.8mm simply not adapted to my chickens wrists).
In short the Datograph is a true beauty, certainly one of the finest chronographs but it was not adapted to my morphology.
Probably the 1815 chrono in WG version would have fit better on my wrist but instead of making this choice I came back to PP and traded my Datograph for a chrono perpetual calendar (3970) which was more adapted to me (I should rather say to which attractivity I could not resist in spite of the money I had to add on top obviously).
As for my opinion on the 5396R I can understand your fear of scratches on the flat bezel as it is certainly the weak point of this watch: I can hardly imagine it can stay in mint condition if you wear the watch regularly even if you are very cautious. This is the advantage of a smooth rounded bezel like on the 5125 (also annual calendar).
I will not comment on the sector dial as this is a pure question of taste: it has its detractors and its fans.

All that being said, the real question behind is not only between 5396 vs Dato but more between PP and L&S (just like the often seen question for choosing between a Calatrava and a Saxonia).
And there is no real answer to this question: they are both the finest watchmakers, both of them the epitom of their national watch industry one being swiss the other being saxon=it's a question of philosophy, brand image, positioning in YOUR mind.

Finally and this is surely not the most important as we talk between watch addicts out of any speculative perspective, it is to be noted that if you talk about a sought after model for both brands, a PP watch will be probably easier to resell than a L&S if the strange idea comes to your mind that you don't want to keep the watch for whatever reason.

My 2 cents...

This message has been edited by Mike H on 2012-08-16 10:49:41

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Enjoy Mike. Thank you for you nice and quite thourough reply, for me the Datograph's size is perfect on my wrist as for the weight I have to say that I do like a "substance" on my wrist, I have other platinum watches and believe me the GP Rattrapante Foudroyante or the JLC Septantieme are quite heavy and a delight to wear. You said it very well that the bezel on the 5396 is its weak point and that why I never felt really comfortable wearing it, after all no one wants to have his/her watch scratched but at the same time not wearing it is almost a sin. As for the resale value it is really not on top of my decision making, first I want to wear a watch I like and feel good with, if one day comes when I want or need to resale, if the value has gone north, great if not well....no one lives for ever!

Kind regards from Down Under. Francois

If you do not enjoy that much the 5396 because you don't feel relax with it on the one hand,

and the Dato falls well on your wrist in terms of size and weight,

then there is simply no doubt ! The first criteria among all others is the pleasure that the watch brings to its owner when wearing it.

You will be fascinated with the beauty of the dial and even more with the one of the caliber.

Wear it in good health !

Cheers,

Mike

I am not able to answer your question, because it depends which specific reference we are talking about.

In your specific case I would have done it in a second. The Datograph is just too hard to beat, even when I personally decided against one.
AC and sector dial is very nice, but I don´t see RG on my wrist and to me the writing on the dial is too big.

Example: 5950A - can´t imagine to trade this one for an ALS Double Splitt. Both are outstanding and gorgeous, but the former fits better on my wrist.

To take the best from both, is my may ...

Oliver

PS: Congrats, you got yourself an icon!

Yes a Datograph platinum for a PP 5396 in rose gold....(y a pas photo) as the French say! No question! Now, like you, I wouldn't  trade a PP5950A for a ALS double split, what's the point? For a nice house perhaps

Kind regards. Francois

 

with the trade.

To answer your question:  "No" I would not.

I do not understand however why keep a watch with which one does not feel comfortable, just because it is a Patek? I have to say that between the PP5396R which I have traded for the Dato and the JLC Master Perpetual 37mm in white gold and anthracite dial, the most pleasurable to my eyes is definitely the JLC and I wear it very comfortably. I believe and hope that there will be Pateks still available for purchase for a long time to come, well after I am gone, so for now, for me at least I just want to wear the watches I really like and if I find a piece I like even more and need to trade to get it, well, I will trade the one I like the least regardless of the status of the brand.

Kind regards. Francois   

it has the same sharp end bezel and it is real easy to ding at the edge.

but would not even consider today because of the bezel's edge, pitty!

Cheers, Francois

But my answer would be YES, in an heartbeat

My decision was not in a (heartbeat) but in a eye blink the Dato is faaaarr above the 5396, when talking about horology one should not and could not compare the two, and yes this was a wonderful decision I made! I am extremely happy to be able to wear a Lange & Sohne Datograph on my wrist. 

You made a big mistake!

Am I missing something here? For me the 2 cannot be compared, the Dato is way above in terme of ...well, everything. I still love PP though and eyeing one at present.

Cheers.

Francois

My initial response was too emotional, short and unfair.  Truly you can't go wrong either way.  Both are marvelous timepieces .... it's just that I'm a bigger Patek fan.  This message has been edited by Threpeater on 2012-12-27 21:32:25