A. Lange & Söhne Richard Lange White Gold Review

I must admit that I have been one of those who for years have made strong requests to get from Lange a WG version of the 3 hands Richard Lange. So it was with an undisguised pleasure  that I could handle this watch only available in the  Lange boutiques (even if it is not a Limited Edition).

The 3 hands Richard Lange was the first watch of this specific line of the Lange collection that embodies the quest for the best accuracy and precision. As such, in order to highlight this feature, it was the first contemporary Lange with a large central second hand.


Despite a size similar to the 1815 (40.5 mm vs. 40 mm), it clearly differs from its "cousin watch", due to the use of Roman numerals that enhance its classicism and to the lack of the railway scale around the dial. And of course, I don't even speak about the big second hand, the main specificity of the watch.

This is a watch that immediately appealed to me when it was presented in 2006: its simplicity does not hide the quality of its finishings. The feeling and pleasure while winding it, the layout of the movement which is characterized by the central second hand bridge  (due to the indirect seconds train) and the special regulating organ (balance wheel with counterweights and in-house spiral) are the main assets. My regret at the time was the fact that the only available neutral metal was platinum leading to a significant price difference compared to the versions in YG and in PG.

 
Over time, it is the PG version that I have begun to appreciate more, the color of gold bringing a touch of warmth around the dial and also over since the hands use same material.

In contrast, none of the original Richard Lange have used the famous blued stainless steel material for the minutes and hours hands. The release this year of the WG Richard Lange  fills this gap. It combines the silver dial, the neutral metal of the case and blued stainless steel hands, an always winning formula with Lange. But at the same time this successful recipe is precisely  my main point of concern when I carefully analyze this watch. Lange had an opportunity to take advantage of this release, several years after the platinum version to propose a  radically different dial color from the one already used. The watch would have been perfect for this kind of alternative approach: the purity of the dial, the large second hand would have created the right context for a darker and more daring color. Readability would surely have been reduced (it is difficult to improve the readability of the combo  blued hands & silver dial) but this new version would have gained spice and interest. And even more important, it would have clearly differed from the platinum Richard Lange which remains in the same colors range.


Don't get me wrong: the WG Richard Lange is a beautiful timepiece,  one of the most elegant three hands watches with a superlative quality. I only expressed the regret that Lange has not added a small touch of madness on this watch instead giving the feeling of having used the most obvious solution. Moreover, unlike its predecessors, the second hand has  the same color as the two main hands which is a slight pity if we consider the  objective behind the watch: to highlight the second hand to reinforce the chronometric goal.


Despite these remarks, the WG Richard Lange will meet the expectations of any high end watchmaking lover. The finishings of the dial remains subtle and perfect and the winding experience  always provokes the same feelings of pleasure. The weight of the watch contributes to the perception of the overall quality. The movement is obviously still the L041.2 with its balance counterweights, the stop-second feature and the in-house spiral. The power reserve of 38 hours can be perceived as too short but it was adjusted to get the most stable behaviour throughout its duration. Anyway, it is large enough for a daily winding.

The new WG version on the right and the PG version, one of the first Richard Lange, on the left:


The discretion and the refinement of the WG Richard Lange  can be appreciated when it is put on the wrist: the beautiful ballet of the long and thin second hand that performs six steps per second is certainly the element that gives the most charming side to the watch. Case dimensions (40.5 mm diameter and 10.5 mm thick) are very balanced. When the watch was released in 2006, I found it too large. Honestly, I think now that its size is perfect, at least to take advantage of the big second hand.


The WG Richard Lange  is a great achievement because it combines all the ingredients that make the success of a Lange watch. As such, it will not disappoint the collectors who look for a high level 3 hands watch. However, I have the regret in my mind that Lange didn't take a more daring attitude because the context was favourable for a different aesthetic proposition. And the risks were very limited: the demand will be much higher than the offer for such boutique edition watch, produced in dribs and drabs. Anyway, the balance remains obviously very positive.


Pros:
+ a very elegant and legible classic watch
+ the superb ballet of the central second hand
+ the beauty of movement L041.2 and the pleasure to wind it
+ the specific regulating organ

Cons:
-  a lack of surprise: the feeling that Lange has used the most obvious solution to create the combo dial & hands
- the second hand has the same color than the two main hands