A. Lange & Söhne

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My 5th element: the Richard Lange Boutique Edition

I already did a review of this watch and you also know it very well. So I will not introduce you what is a Richard Lange Boutique Edition. Because this watch is the latest Lange piece which has joined my collection. I prefer to explain why I did this choice. My 5th Lange, my 5th element in my collection.

Actually, my Lange collection was made of the hereafter watches before this purchase:

- a platinum 1815  (first edition):




- a WG 1815 chronograph (first edition):




- a PG Cabaret:




And a WG Lange One Luminous:



4 is a nice figure but I much prefer an uneven number... so I took the decision to purchase a fifth Lange.

I started to analyse the situation with my budget (let's say around 30K euros) and I faced the context below:

- I didn't want to buy a 1815 since I already have two
- I'm not a great fan of the Saxonia line because I much prefer the character of the 1815 design
- the pieces which are seducing me are much more expensive than my budget

... and quickly I realized that:
- in my collection I didn't have any representative of the Richard Lange line
- and that I didn't have either a big second hand...

The Richard Lange was knocking at the door. I had then the choice between 3 versions:
- the platinum one: the most beautiful and its hands are really fantastic. The contrast between the two hands and the big second hand is very appealing. But the price was too expensive for me.
- the pink gold version features a similar contrast but I didn't want to buy a colored watch since I already have several.
- the Boutique Edition with its WG case is a bit different from the two others. The main blued hands make it "closer" to the 1815 line. There is no contrast between them and the second hand... but the behaviour of this second hand remains the same with the same seducing power.

I like a lot the "simple" Richard Lange watch. I consider it as one of the ultimate 3 hand watches of the market. Its simplicity, its purety, the spirit of the collection dedicated to chronometry, all these details give the proof that we are in  front of a very special watch.

It features a very balanced case (diameter of 40,5mm for a thickness of 10,5mm) and a dial only dedicated to its purpose: legibility and the data display with accuracy. The peripheral scale highlights the chronometric ambition and nicely decorates the dial which manages to be, despite its simplicity, exciting enough: it is absolutely not boring and I don't mention the second hand which permanently animates it.

Of course, the key elements of this dial are the roman figures. Long and prominent, they give to the piece a kind of pocket watch atmosphere. And obviosuly, they contribute to the overall elegance.

A Richard Lange watch is powered by the caliber L041.2. This caliber is a pure marvel on a daily use. You just touch the crown, you don't even need to make it turn once that the watch starts to work. Really amazing. When I think that I need to wind some watches I own a looonnng time to make them wake up...

Anyway, this movement brings pleasure when you wind it but it is a different feeling that with a 1815 watch. You feel that you wind a more powerful movement and its 30,6mm diameter is fine for the 40,5mm case. Its frequency is 3 hz and its power reserve 38 hours. This power reserve could be perceived as too short according to our contemporary standards but it is fine since you need to wind the watch everyday. And the winding experience is a part of the pleasure brought by the watch.

Two elements are fundamental on this movement and the first one makes it recognizable at first glance:
- the specific bridge dedicated to the second hand
- the balance wheel with eccentric poising weights and an in-house spiral.

Its finishes are excellent, following the Lange standards. I would have preferred to see more parts but it is more enjoyable than a movement of the 1815 due to its additional bridge, the way the balance wheel is highlighted and the small openings on the 3/4 plate.

The Richard Lange Boutique Edition comes with a black leather strap but I changed it since I never wear a black strap: I put instead the navy blue strap of the new 1815 Chronograph Boutique Edition... which is perfect due to the subtle touches of blue brought by the hands! The case diameter is perfect for my wrist and reinforces the "instrument" atmosphere. I like this presence on the wrist, a presence which manages to stay sober and elegant.

So these sentences explain you why I purchased this Richard Lange. In fact, we can spend hours describing these reasons but at the end of the day, we know in two seconds when we fall in love. We put the watch on the wrist and we say: yes, here comes my new baby. And this story happened when I tested the Richard Lange Boutique Edition. I found then reasons to purchase it but the decision was already done!

Here are a few pictures I quickly took today: