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Thoughts about movement number?
Did anyone else notice that the Lange 1 Daymatic's calibre is L021.1, meaning development was begun in 2002? I count at least 7 movements that were started after this one but released before:
L031.1 Lange 1 Time Zone
L034.1 Lange 31
L041.2 Richard Lange
L042.1 Cabaret Tourbillon
L043.1 Zeitwerk
L044.1 Richard Lange PLM
L051.1 "New" 1815
Now, I certainly I understand that developing a new movement takes several years, and that due to both the development time and market conditions, the order of new releases will not match the order of the development of the movements. However, I am now left wondering whether the L021.1 movement hasn't been "ready" for some time, but has been put "on hold" until now (especially since more "complex" movements that were started later were released earlier). If that is indeed the case, I am wondering why and what that means for other releases we can look forward to in 2010? In other words, after starting so many new movements in 2004, what does the subsequent movement pipeline look like (although, notice that L032.1 and L033.1 have not been released, as far as I know)? I would not be surprised that 2005 saw fewer new projects, and those started in 2006 may not be ready for release in 2010. Bottom line, I think the release of this L021.1 calibre may signal that we may not see many new releases in 2010 as we did in 2009, which of course would not be surprising since we saw so many in 2009 (RL PLM, "new" 1815, and Zeitwerk, excluding metal/dial variations). So I think we may need to look forward to more new variations in 2010 than brand new calibres.
Lastly, I am also wondering whether the release of so many new calibres in 2009 (and the possible "dearth" of new movements in 2010) may have contributed to the management disagreements between Herr Krone and Richemont. But that is pure speculation on my part.
Curious to hearing others' thoughts on this. Here's to hoping I am proven wrong in 2010!
Announcing the Lange 1 Daymatic
It's just past 12 a.m. Singapore time on 15 December 2009 so here it is. Highlights of the new Lange 1 Daymatic (what a name): 39.5 mm case diameter Automatic movement with 50 hour power reserve Day and date indicators I look forward to seeing this at SIH...
central rotor, inhouse balance spring
It all sounds very promising. Having the day instead of the power reserve makes sense on an automatic. Would like to see pictures of the movement! On the other hand, it is always dangerous making something that is very close to an icon like the Lange 1. T...
Great news!
Any movement pics? Would love to see how it looks. Thanks for the information. Vte
I think I like it
But what I would REALLY like to see is pictures of the MOVEMENT. That may end up being the deciding factor. Although looking at mine, I still need to get used to the mirror-reversed placement of the main dial...
Very, very nice...
Love the Day indicator. Not sure why "Automatic" was added to the L1 line up. I am intrigued to understand the rational behind the movement. For me, Manual is part of the Lange DNA ( With respect to all fellow enthusiast that own a Langematic ). will wait...
Speaking as a person who only wears automatic watches, it's about time.
I hate winding watches. I don't particularly enjoy the feeling, and it bothers me that I am placing unnecessary wear on the gaskets. Furthermore, I keep the watches I wear frequently running on winders. Thus, I'm not a candidate for a manually-wound watch...
wow
One cant say it's not a passionate response ! I surely did not know some people felt so strong about winding a watch. I guess you got your watch then . hope to see some wrist shots soon all the best rabs
Nice to know...
I didn't know that you had such a strong preference for automatic watches! This watch has your name all over it!
For those of us that wears their watch in the left hand...
... its more logic to have the sub-dial of the time on the right side of the dial. When the watch is half hidden under the sleeve, its possible to guess time I think its a fine tuned version of the Lange 1. Slightly bigger case, but with harmonious propor...
The other cherry on the cake...
... beside the red "S". its the positioning between the Lange 1 and the grand lange 1. The size of the case is at mid-distance from the 2.... and the sub-dial of the seconds is finally back to its place, not stepping anymore in the sub-dial of the time. M...
Lange isn't the first one?
"For most watch enthusiasts who wear their timepieces on their left wrists, this layout has the advantage that when they pull back their sleeve, the first thing they will see is the most important information: the time. " I believe that's exactly what FP ...
Waow!... i haven't digged into the FPJ archives...
... but i impressed, thanks for letting me know that . Because its the 1st thing that came to my mind when i saw the sub-dial on the right side of the dial
yes and no i guess...
But of course, Lange did come out with its eccentric dials long before FPJ did... Anyway, I was just kinda surprised that Lange would use more or less the "same" line in its press release... that's all...
Very interesting...
Hope to get some movement photos of this very interesting timepiece! Again, a bit of a surprise from Lange, but not a bad surprise. I'm slightly flustered by the fact that the watch's DAY display starts on Saturday. In Europe, my understanding is that the...
Adjusting it is an easy job my brother
You just set the date 1st, then using the internally recessed pushpiece to set the day of the week, so like today is Tuesday the 15th. So you just synchronise them. The day starts on Monday bro, if you see the bottom it's Montag, and then ends on SUnday, ...
Reading it backwards...
I assumed the day display moved from top to bottom, when it could've easily moved from bottom to top. Which ultimately makes more sense since it's universal that Sunday is in red. I thought it started on Saturday because I was reading it from top to botto...
It starts on Monday, not Saturday...
Patrick, It does start on Monday (from the bottom), not Saturday. S.
:) it starts on monday and ends on a fiery sunday!
.... The red "s" is for sunday, and it starts down on monday Do u like it more now? K.
Interesting piece
I like how Lange thinks about the fact that an Automatic watch not needing a power reserve indicator. That is the one true and complete perfect logic, one that I hope all other manufacturers follow. The centralised and full rotor should be visually intere...
Stephen, with ur latest acquisition....
... no wonder all the rest is gonna look almost ridiculous )... The fact that they have a brand new movement, created from scratch is something we have to discover still. I am personally hoping for a mini-rotor... Maybe it can do it I know that an automat...
Ohh , my latest acquisition!?
Lol, yes i have to say a very big sorry that Lange just can't have a good and simple hand wound watch! But of course, i don't believe that this Daymatic is but the only one released this year! Hmm, i won't dare to say that this is a new movement, they too...
Not impressed at all....
I confirm that the argument of having the time on the right side of the dial has been used by Journe a few years ago.Anyway,seems like that whereas the tech dept at Lange still manage to develop and improve amazing movements,their design team is scrapping...
Think Lange 1 is already slowly becoming a Royal Oak...
It's been out for so long, it's got so many variations and it's still not yet discontinued since production 15 yrs ago...
I don't expect them to discontinue it...
I have to respectfully disagree. I can't say I think it is becoming Royal Oak-ish. I haven't gotten that feeling. It's not unusual for a brand to offer some different dial and hand combinations for a popular model. Look at Patek's 5146, which is offered i...
Tough crowd...
Maybe Patek should discontinue the Calatrava and Rolex the Submariner? The L1 is iconic and I hope Lange will never discontinue it. Interesting variations (that are true variations, not just dial changes) keep it fresh.
100%
The design is a classic and should be produced. The trick is to not ruin the damned thing with silly changes. This version of the watch is very nice I think and does no disservice to the original.
I agree 100%
Not to mention the fact that this ISN'T a Lange 1 or any variation thereof. I don't understand why the fact that it shares iconic Lange styling cues means it has anything to do with that other piece. That's like denouncing every Breguet with guilloché...
Royal Oakish?
imagine for a second that Lange starts making LE's for each boutique or everytime the CEO meets a personality and decides to make a LE in his name. Nightmare! ) Karim
If only Lange would make a "Stephen" edition
Just imagine, A 47mm Platinum cased hand-wound with Midnight Blue dial in enamel... Wunderbar! Stephen
I can live with handwoundmovement
w/ blue enamel dial but think a 47mm case on a dress watch would be a disaster. Perhaps you should try on the 31 day?
I did try the 31 Alec
And if i had the funds, that would so be on my wrist! Unfortunately, i am a very poor man, so that is but a dream! Ciao Stephen
poor? no wonder ...
Stephen, I cringe every time I have to buy razor blades or almost anything up to - and beyond - a bottle of Talisker. Sure, I would love to have the 31 day "Monat" just to see how accurate it can be, from day to day, with its 10 sec constant force "remont...
I love the way you describe your life mein Freund!
Oh how i wish i have such a life! Btw, my RL PLM is doing average +1 sec a day, while my RL is doing about +3 sec a day. My dream , would be to buy a house in Glashutte, and live there until i turn into bones. While my Lange's continue to shine as bright ...
I think we are still far from it
but I fear something like that as I think Lange has a big identity,I can t really see Lange offering a wide spectrum of watches and models ala AP or even ala JLC.They should be careful with their marketing strategies,as many collectors might have somethin...
In defence of Lange
Lange has created a new movement - entirely new calibre with automatic winding and new functions - for a watch that is similar to the original. That is a first class way of doing things, instead of creating a new dial and hands for an old movement. I do a...
Well, i was trying to articulate
what you said when I read the royal oak comment... The royal oak and ROO can;t hold a candle to Lange 1 imo.
I love it. I bet they debated endlessly about doing 3 letters for the day. Does anyone
know if there will be an english version? Also, stainless steel would be hot.
No news about it..
and I don t think its going to be discontinued anytime soon.In times of financial difficulties I think brands tend to keep their most recognizable models.Mo
you are right
Why generate a substitute for a left-handed icon? By the way, somebody should start a poll - geographically and professionally - of right-and-left watch wearers. Not of right and left handed persons who wear watches. Shake hands with someone, and even sub...
To me, this is it.....
Lange has officially "jumped the shark." Its been a wonderful ride. Their movements are truly spectacular. Best, asg
Well I think your point is a bit exaggerated but
it is clear that with a production off less than 10000 watches each year, you can't come up each time with something complete new. It still has a new movement, a new diameter case, a new feature (although not spectacular), ... and yes, about the design, I...
i agree..
.... with u have said. But yearly production is i think around 6'000 pieces per year. KArim
Thanks SJX for the press release.
I'm happy to see it "in flesh" within one month and I can't wait to see its caliber. Fr.Xavier
Much better
From the pics I already like this piece more than the Zeitwerk or the Lange 31. When do we get to see pictures of the movement? A
There is much to like here …
I do like the fact that they have inverted the dial. This was one of the aspects of the eccentric F.P.Journe dials that I liked and something that annoyed me about the Glashutte and Lange watches – you couldn’t get a glimpse of the time with t...
Thoughts about movement number?
Did anyone else notice that the Lange 1 Daymatic's calibre is L021.1, meaning development was begun in 2002? I count at least 7 movements that were started after this one but released before: L031.1 Lange 1 Time Zone L034.1 Lange 31 L041.2 Richard Lange L...
Interesting and welcome addition...
... to the Lange 1 family.. I do think there is a spot for an automatic Lange 1, and Lange have done well by flipping the dial so it is easy to distinguish between an automatic Lange 1 and a manual one. Unfortunately not my cup of tea. I would prefer the ...
I like it........
I'm just not used to the dial layout yet, I would have perferred the regular dial layout on this watch but in time maybe I'll get used to it. I'm very curious to see the movement. Tony
Hm, yeah, okay
sure, why not...... I suppose you could grouse about Lange diluting the L1, with an automatic inside... or adding another complication.... but it's okay... sort of hmm-whatever....
Very interesting
Hope to see the movement and nice to see something new and interesting from ALS. Thanks SJX
Very nice
design, I like the plat one. The red S does stand out Hope the name Daymatic not been "slang" like today in Aussie (no offend here) .... LOL thanks JX
Mirror image of original Lange 1
But it makes more sense. With the new design, I don't need to pull my long sleeve to read time. On hindsight, the original Lange 1 should have this design. Regards Ling
Not Impressed
For a while I thought the Daymatic was a prank until I saw it on timezone as well and also the fact that it is still December and far from April Fool's Day. I own an original pour le merite (the tourbillon version), the Anniversary, and the Wempe Gangrese...
Glad I waited...
A surprise indeed. Eagerly waiting to see the case back. Getting mixed reviews but I must say I'm liking it. Thanks SJX.
Mixed feelings....
Although the design is a winner, I do have mixed feelings.... a spin off Lange 1, it is beautiful and the day function is very nice.... However..... I am skeptic about the automatic movement... personally I prefer the manual.. We have to wait to see the m...
can't get excited by this
In one respect (and one only) this reminds me of the Lange 31: the new feature is pointless. Just as I don't need a watch that needs winding only once per month, I also don't need a watch whose vaunted new complication is to tell me the day of the week. J...
I'm not very excited about it...
Perhaps last year's new models (Zeitwerk,RL PLM,1815), created enormous anticipation for this year's novelties. Unfortunately L1 Daymatic doesn't stand up to it. Let's hope that Lange has another surpise too. Aris
question
First of all, thanks for the pictures and info. Nice piece from L&S. Have a question - looking at the technical specifications, it looks like this is an automatic watch. Is this going to be the first automatic from L&S? Thanks!
Actually no
AL&S already produced some automatic movements ,they go under the denomination of SAX-O-MAT.The most notorious/famous models in the collections are :the Langematik first of all in all its variations,the wonderful Anniversary,and the Saxonia Automatik.I th...
thanks
Thank you for enlightening me. Had forgotten about them. I realize that those have the smaller rotors - would the Daymatic have a full-sized one by any chance?
uh. so gorgeous
THANK YOU for he Write up. ! lovely New Addition to the Lange Family . reversing the Date and the Time's Dial make a lot of sense.! i think it looks much better that way. but WISH it was in 46mm like the Lange 31. Cheers Tony