Okay, first , Lange has only two case designs , so no innovation there .
The finishing is nice , but the “ German Silver “ is a much softer metal than brass, so it’s much easier to work with ,also because of this softness the movements are not temperature adjusted therefore in the worm whether they run slower, in cold whether they run faster compared to they’re Swiss counterparts .
Reliability used to be good but lately I hear more and more out of the factory defects .
About heritage, the new Lange has nothing to do with the old Lange , that right is more closer to Glashutte Original.
A low production number didn’t mean superior necessarily.
Exclusivity ? I think you get that with any similarly priced watch , also secondary marked dealers are stuffed with Lange ,and you can get any model you want without serious difficulty (without premiums ).
Innovation? Lange used to be innovative but for a while they’re just pulling limitless layers of skins from the existing lines .
I think Lange died after Ghunter Blumline . All the major lines were designed in that era , after that what do we have ? Zeitwerk and that’s that ...
They can’t even go back and make historical re-editions because if the long pause that the brand had .
Now Vacheron is much better as it’s proven every year at the SIHH , or Patek for that mater .
But I consider Rolex way more innovative in the field , starting with technology , improving real life performance, metallurgical improvements.....
What other brand places a ceramic tube in the bracelet link to avoid wear ? Or designs a Chronograph movement where the start/stop /reset pushers requires the same force , or a diver that can withstand tree tons of pressure , or a multicolor ceramic bezel, or a watch that you can place in fire or a freezer and keeps on ticking ... so that’s innovation to me .
I hear people talk about Rolex hype , sure dealers created some of it , but let’s be honest if the product is not solid enough to support the advertisement it ends up dead .
What make Rolex wear the crown ?i
It’s not just the watches , it’s they’re care for perfection, the service quality, the attention to the costumers , so the whole package . Not that many brands can say the same .
Simply put when you pick up a Rolex from service you have no doubts that your watch is perfect , Richemont brands can’t compete with that at the moment , not even Swatch .
Love it or hate it , Patek and Rolex are making a solid product and that’s the reason for they’re crown .
I remember when Lange and Vacheron were independent they were more innovative and somehow more solid .
With all this being said , under no circumstances try to bash or discredit Lange , I only want to express that it’s also hyped up as many other brands .
Yes I hear a lot of people saying that you can’t compare Lange to Rolex , it wasn’t my intention, I just tried to express what I consider innovation.
I like Lange but it’s time for them to wake up , and instead of making multiple watches with minimal color changes ( 25th anniversary ) make something that knocks people’s socks of as Patek does , so they’re watches don’t sit in the Boutiques.
Hope I didn’t offend anyone , I was just expressing my experience /pinion with the brand .
Always love to be proven wrong 😉
Best,
Zsolt.