quattro
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An A. Lange & Söhne hands-on experience
During my recent stay in Paris, I went to try on the new A. Lange & Söhne 34 mm 1815.
The only available variant was the rose gold one, ref. 220.037, to which I was most attracted anyway.
I was able to compare its fit and presence on the wrist with the rose gold 38.5 mm variant, ref. 235.032 (my wrist is 16 cm).
The matte blue dial of the new 34 mm, with white contrasting markings, is really beautiful.
And I liked it more than the silver dial with black contrasting markings of the 38.5 mm variant.
And I also liked the rose gold hands of this smaller variant more than the heat blued ones of the larger variant.
But, I have to be honest: the 34 mm variant felt a bit too small on my wrist.
Why? Maybe because it's a modern watch, not a vintage one with great historical significance and great presence on the wrist, like the 31 mm Patek Philippe ref. 1415: so it feels (or felt to me) like a downsized watch whereas the 38.5 mm feels/felt just right.
Double standards? Blind love for any significant vintage Patek piece and picky judgement when it comes to a modern proposition by A. Lange & Söhne? I hope not, but I may be biased of course (I think the expectations differ), and I asked myself this question. My judgment or impression may not be/have been impartial. All I can do is telling honestly how it felt to me.
Anyway, I was also able to try on the rose gold/black dial 39.5 mm 1815 chronograph, ref. 414.031.
And, for me, this was/is the truly stunning piece, both technically and aesthetically.
Especially this dark dial variant with rose gold hands, which I really like better than the rose gold/silver dial variant with blued hands ref. 414.032, that I was able to try on in 2022.
The case design is the same, though.
Unfortunately, I wasn't allowed to take photos of the movements, but, from this standpoint also, the Chronograph outshines its time-only siblings.
Thanks for reading.
Best, Emmanuel
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Explore A. Lange & Söhne's Datograph, Zeitwerk, and 1815 models through a collector's NYC boutique visit. Discover why some watches shine in person.
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An A. Lange & Söhne hands-on experience
During my recent stay in Paris, I went to try on the new A. Lange & Söhne 34 mm 1815 . The only available variant was the rose gold one, ref. 220.037 , to which I was most attracted anyway. I was able to compare its fit and presence on the wrist with the ...
Nice review Emmanuel. I was in a boutique a few weeks ago, and I noticed that the sales person did not wear a watch.
Normally, you would see them wearing something that represents the brand that they are selling. He informed me that because there’s such a limited production regarding. Lange that every piece is allocated for sale.
Thank you, Tony!
Well, here in Paris, it seemed that they would have been very happy to sell any of these three watches. Different situations, or did I miss something? I couldn’t tell. Best, Emmanuel
The Dark Dial 1815…
…. this just commands respect. Absolutely love it! The petite blue actually looks perfectly nice on you. The typography of the numerals is next level cool.
Yes, the 34 mm looks quite nice on photos
but felt a little small in real life. It’s hard to tell exactly why. And the black dial Chronograph is indeed in a class of its own. Best, Emmanuel
Thanks for sharing this, Emmanuel.
Your perspective resonates. My wrist is smaller (154mm), and the 34mm fit me perfectly. Looked great. But I'm just not used to watches that small. I did like the 35mm Saxonia a lot (like a 219.028 WG/blue dial). If you ever have the opportunity to try an ...
I really think that our expectations and habits
play a great role in the way we perceive the size of a watch. And yes, I would probably like the 206.027 very much! Best, Emmanuel
Thanks for your interesting thoughts and pictures of these A. Lange & Sohne watches.
I must admit of late I am not so concerned about the size of a watch case but just if it feels comfortable or not on my wrist. But then I have also only recently realised that my wrist has shrunk as I have gotten older it used to be 19cm but somehow is no...
I agree that feel on the wrist
is much more important than officially measured size. But I fell in love with the 31 mm Patek ref. 1415 and found this 34 mm ALS a bit small: whether it is a consequence of different expectations or of objectively different presence on the wrist, I couldn...
Surprised by your verdict…
On pictures the 34mm one looks perfect for your wrist size 😊🤷🏻♂️
And the worst is that I almost agree!
On photos, the 34 mm looks quite good, I think so too. But it definitely felt a bit small while on my wrist. So, should I trust the photos (which might be more objective) or my “live” feeling (based on direct experience, not on photos)? I wonder and could...
I’ll be honest with you.
The 34mm watch to me fits your wrist. The others do not. And I type this while wearing a 40.5mm 1815 which objectively is also too big for my wrist. The lugs extend beyond the edges of my wrist; not enough to look wrong but if one actually looks closely I...
Thank you for your very honest and interesting feedback, Jay!
I tend to agree with you: on photos, the 34 mm looks rather better than the two others. But it’s not how I felt about it while on the wrist. “Why” is what would be interesting to know. Is it because (rather close) photos make the watches look larger than ...
Excellent photos and reflections, Emmanuel - nicely done sir.
I agree with you on the 3-hand 1815: I adore the new blue dial but it simply appears too small on my 18cm wrist. I have, and frequently wear, the 38.5mm version though so I am conscious that I may have a familiarity bias - but it is honestly how I feel. P...
Thank you very much for the kind words, aviya!
I definitely think that the way such a 34 mm size feels on the wrist depends a lot on one's expectations and habits. As I tried to write it, if it were a vintage watch with great historical value and/or if my other watches had a similar diameter, I think ...
Cool report, quattro!
The 34mm looks great. They do wonderful things with blue... ...
count me with those who think the 34mm looks great on you
it's not so small as to evoke the 1940's, and it drapes your wrist very nicely. That said, I know I don't wear my 34mm Villeret very often... maybe because of that. I have so much respect for the Biver six pieces of Blancpain - each of the complications i...
What exactly is the list of the 6 Biver-era Villeret?
I think it could make for a beautiful post.
Hmm...
Ultra-thin, Triple date/moonphase, Chronograph, Perpetual Calendar, Tourbillon, Repeater (if memory serves). Beauties all...
To me, judging by your pictures, 34 mm look more than o.k., it looks good.
Thank you for the review.
I agree that the photos look good.
But it felt a little small in real life and it's hard for me to tell if I should trust the photos (maybe more objective, but probably also visually enlarging the watch) or my "live" feeling (maybe influenced by the habit of wearing larger watches). Best, ...
I agree with you
34 is too small for you.. In wristshots, the watch is visually enlarged. So even if it looks ok in wristshots, it’s already too small. And in your pictures, it already looks kinda small.. Case in point : 37mm Camaro.. in wristshot, it’s fine.. but with my...
I really relate to what you say (and say very well).
Yes, photos enlarge any watch visually and the feeling on the wrist is quite different. The only confusing thing for me is that it has also happened that I've found my 40 mm Laurent Ferrier, which I like very much on my wrist, looking a bit too large on a...
Thanks for your compliments
I understand the LF despite being 40mm is only 47mm lug to lug? Thus it should wear fairly compact.. plus the sides are curve with a broad bezel.. so visually it should wear materially smaller than a 40mm..
I haven't tried it on, but I know what you mean..it's almost like the opposite issue of the 5196...
...which felt like a vintage watch that had been increased in size for a modern market, so never quite looked right...whereas this is a modern watch that has been downsized to fit the recent trend towards smaller watches. I used to have an 1815 Up/Down, w...
Do definitely try it on if you can:
it’s a very beautiful piece and it might fit your wrist and taste. Thanks for your comment. Best, Emmanuel