A. Lange & Söhne

galt
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Here is a different view

There is quite a bit to unpack there. Also, so much room for interpretation—I think in the end—the buyer will have to make up their own mind—as it should be. The arguments put forth below, are not to argue that Lange is “better” but just to offer the counter argument to what was said above—which I think is at the very least highly debatable. And as such---here is the debate offered in goodwill to further the discussion.
First, seems like a large portion of comments are not particular to Lange and in fact probably even more true for Patek and Rolex.

For example, you say Lange is overhyped and needs to wake up and stop making multiple watches with minimal changes. Seems difficult to say if your benchmark is Rolex and Patek. Are they not the co-kings of doing just that—making endless varieties of watches with the same case or movement. For case design, take the Nautilus, Aquanaut, Calatrava, President, Submariner, Sea Dweller, GMT etc etc. For movement, for Patek, the large rotor automatic movement is used throughout the entire range in sports and non-sports models directly and as a base for more complications. Same for the perpetual micro-rotor movement. Same for the manual wind movement in the calatrava 5196 (and other watches) which would still fit in a watch from decades ago with a significantly smaller case size. Not necessarily a bad thing---but contrasted against Lange—not sure you really have a case that Lange uses “the same old movements” or makes minimal changes. Especially considering how many watches Patek and Rolex make. In fact, I would argue it is amazing how much movement variety Lange has given the low production numbers (I would say the same for Journe as well). 

Second, there are a big portion that are anecdotal.
On reliability. What you (or I here) is certainly something short of any kind of real statistical sample.
Exclusivity. You are just saying there are lots of Lange watches for sale. Again, not sure your sample is really scientific. There are a ton of VCs for sale right? Ton of Patek’s for sale right? Not the steel sport watches—but those are not apple to apple comparisons to what Lange offers.
Regarding Rolex being perfect, that is a bit anecdotal as well. You can find plenty of examples of Patek and Rolex having their fair share of problems. Like the watchfinder video about the wrong number glued on to a explorer. Or example of consumers with defects in their Patek pieces straight from the factory—I myself experienced the well-known sticky date problem with Patek on an aquanaut. Bottom line—neither of us have enough statistical information to make a well informed comparison.

Third there are some questionable claims. Not that you are wrong—just that there is plenty of space to disagree.
Finish: You say they are only finished well because it is easy to finish German Silver. The counter argument to that is that has nothing to do with why Lange chooses German Silver—it is tradition. In addition, very few would argue Patek’s are finished better than a Lange and nobody would argue Rolex is finished better. As far as Vacheron, only some of the pieces have the Genève seal so that speaks for itself in terms of finishing across the range. I don’t necessarily think this is bad overall as it gives buyers access at different price points—but it is a finishing difference. Lange is known for the same finishing all the way up and down the line.
You say when Lange was independent it was more solid. I think many would certainly beg to differ that an East German watch company under communism was producing better pieces than they are today.
Taking a licking and keep on ticking comments: Again Lange is not in that market sports watch market—so not sure it is apples to apples. Further, Rolex has been producing watches that take pressure for a very very long time. Not sure that is a new innovation really is it? If anything, Rolex is quite late to the ceramic game compared to other manufacturers which are making cases and bracelets out of the material. The multi-color bezel is unique to Rolex as far as I know. I think those arguing Lange is innovative would point to:
Tripple Split
Zeitwork
Annual Calendar with one button advancement of functions
Annual Calendar (saxonia calendar) with zero reset, big date and very thin compared to any Patek annual calendars.
Datograph, big date, split seconds unbelievably finished movement with chatons
Lange 1 Moonphase with day night---it is pretty innovative compared to Patek’s moon phases which are nice—but have not changed in decades
There are many more—but these are just off hand.

This is not to say that Rolex does not produce a fantastic watch—they do! However, it is a very different beast than a Lange. They are mass produced rock solid good looking watches. That is not Lange at all. Patek also makes a fantastic watch. However, it is on a different planet production number wise. There are simply not enough watchmakers around to allow them to dedicate the time to each watch at those production levels.  I would put the non-complicated and normal complicated models sort of in between Lange and Rolex. When it comes to the very complicated pieces—I think that is where Patek really shows its stuff. For example their split seconds chrono with the thin case---impressive. Same with the minute repeaters—definitely the best our there IMHO.

Anyway—I hope the above at least provides a different perspective.

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