Independents

and you can try mine on!!  Thank you my friend!  It is one of the best watches I have ever bought in terms of dial beauty and movement finishing and that is saying quite a lot!   

Enjoy it my friend . Have a great weekend

Seldom have I owned a watch that I have been so reluctant to remove from my wrist!

Cant wait to see it in person my friend 🙏🏻

If you are going to Salon QP in November, you can see one as Marco Lang normally exhibits there. If not, see you at the SIHH!!! 

.... that looks as it would have been made just for your wrist....

It’s completely clear to me why you can’t take it off.
So: Don’t do it!! 😊

Best, Thomas

but I know the longer I keep wearing only the Friedrich III, the question of why I need more than one watch will crop up! Such is the allure of this masterpiece

although I am still flashed and fully satisfied by my new acquisition (IWC MR in Platinum) I am more and more fascinated by and driven to the brand Lang

is missing? Will have to write it again.

Dear sham1,

although I am still flashed and fully satisfied by my new acquisition (IWC MR in Platinum) I am more and more fascinated by and driven to the brand Lang & Heyne, especially to the models Friedrich III., Konrad (my favorite one on WG with enamel dial) and Georg. 

I will start now nice and easy, that means collecting all the necessary information to be able to make a decision same time later (when I feel “ready” for acquisition again 😎). 

Most important for me in this phase is what “knowing purists” like you think and feel. 

So what is your personal experience with this brand and especially with your Friedrich III. after a longer wristtime now? Are your still happy and satisfied? Are there any issues (the Georg had some as I could read)? Would you still buy another Lang & Heyne?

Many thanks in advance 

Thomas

After owning the Friedrich III for exactly 16 months today, it remains one of my favourite watches. I think it has enjoyed no less than 50% of wrist time in the last 16 months. The watch has been reliable and has shown even greater accuracy than what Marco Lang himself confirmed to me years ago. In addition the delicate looking movement has proven to be robust when someone who wanted to have a closer look at the watch dropped it from a height of five feet on to the hard floor, My heart dropped further but the watch remained in tact with zero damage! Not many dress watches would have survived that. The Konrad in white gold is also one of my favourite watches - a very under rated and unknown Remontoire! The only reason I may not buy a Lang & Heyne is due to the departure of Marco Lang from the brand.. For me, Marco Lang was Lang & Heyne.

Very glad to hear it's intact, what a nightmare scenario!

It was a stranger, someone who I had just been introduced to at a watch event who wanted to have a closer look at the watch. I did text him later that night in jest to say the watch had stopped working and he owed me XXX!!! He did apologise but it was quite muted considering the possible damage that could have occurred. That was 7 months ago and the watch has proven to be surprisingly robust.

Very impressive that the Lang held up! Regardless, accidental damage is one of my biggest fears with these more delicate pieces...

I am pretty careful with my timepieces even with the Rolex datejust but I do realise that not everyone is as careful.  Some people may accuse me of being a slave to my possessions but they are all the result of one's hard earned money and they do provide so much pleasure! 

thank you for your detailed answer.

Good and reassuring to read.

But what a terrible experience!
Therefore I very unwillingly let other people try my watches on their wrist or hand them over to them. One time my own AD dropped my Reverso from 1,50m and I managed somehow to catch it with my knees before crashing on the (stone) floor. I was really lucky...

Unbelievable that your watch has kept intact!! Also the accuracy remained stable to the same extent?

Do you think the fact that Mr. Lang left the company has any impact on the quality of further produced watches? Or is it just about the emotional connection?

All the best for 2020 and thanks again
Thomas

that the quality of watches at Lang & Heyne will remain high. So for me it is just the emotional connection with Marco Lang.  You can read a very good article he wrote on sjx watches as to why he left and what he is now up to.  On a separate note, accuracy for me is terribly important and I am quite blessed that my Pateks, Moritz Grossmann, Lang & Heyne and Rolex datejust are all keeping brilliant time ie between a one to second variation daily (measured over a period of time).

Accuracy is also very important for me. There were times when I almost “manically” measured the reliability and accuracy of my watches. Especially in the first period after purchase. I have liberated from that ... stressful ... behavior and see it much more relaxed today.

Nevertheless I also have the luck that my watches are very accurate. And most important: no watch loses time (what I hate).

I have to confess: the Johann is growing on me more and more.

All the best
Thomas

you can't really go wrong with a Lang & Heyne.  Not many know much about the brand but fort me personally, they represent the best Germany has to offer followed by Moritz Grossmann.  I am however looking forward to the new German brand, Marco Lang!! 

My last concern: the service or repairs can also be made from an excellent “normal” watchmaker? What about spare parts if the company for instance goes bankrupt?

There are independent watchmakers where this isn’t a problem because damaged parts can be replaced by standard parts and some independents where this could become a big problem.

As I read the movement of the model Johann is based on a Unitas caliber (at least with regard to the design of the movement), so perhaps here I am not so dependent on the development of the company.

Best
Thomas

Many of us fall in love with the beauty of a watch and conveniently forget to consider the servicing of a watch especially from an independent brand with limited distribution outlets.  I too worry and sometimes a simple 3 handed watch makes so much more long term sense than a highly complex watch.  All the best with the Johann!  It is a rare and lovely timepiece!