The watch itself is quite solid, but the criticism is an emotional response to a brand, perceived as being “above the frenzy of mass luxury”, releasing a watch designed for mass luxury appeal. Whether fair or not, it is perceived that a conventional bracelet would be more suited to the lug design and the bracelet design was chosen so it looked like a Genta watch and sells like a Genta watch.
It’s not healthy for any brand to aim to remain completely flat in sales over the years, so the only way forward as a business is to increase volume and/or increase average transaction price.
Lange appeals as an insider’s luxury bran, equal to Patek, but unlikely to be worn by the main antagonist in an Oliver Stone Wall Street drama. As of October 24th, that feels a bit less true, but I think the watch will win over many who initially dismiss it. The attention to detail is Lange’s DNA and it is clear this watch is detail-oriented. In coming years, I think the product team will take the line in a direction that enthusiasts of the brand will appreciate.