A.Lange & Sohne - Thoughts on the Richard Lange (in response to Roger's request)

Thoughts on the Richard Lange (in response to Roger's request)

In response to RogerFrancois7’s request, I am posting my thoughts on the Richard Lange.

1. This is my first Lange & Sohne timepiece. I have collected IWC watches for several years and have a range from the uncomplicated (e.g. Portuguese Jubilee and Mark XI without a date wheel) to the complicated (e.g. Portuguese Perpetual Calendar). I do miss a date wheel but for the right watch, it is something I can live with.
2. Several colleagues of mine have Lange watches. The Saxonia Automatik seems to be rather popular but there is also a Lange 1 at work. I almost bought a platinum Langematik at auction last December but it went for silly money.
3. I located the Richard Lange and funded the purchase through the sale of a Vintage Collection Portofino and a white gold Reverso, plus a few dollars more.
4. When I held the RL, it was love at first sight. The weight, the spectacular pink gold case and the simplicity of the dial.
5. I have mixed views about display backs. I travel a lot and the Reverso had to be demagnetised frequently. I travel more with a 1960s Ingenieur than any other watch because of the antimagnetic properties and, frankly, the Ref 666 doesn’t attract much attention in steel or gold. But let’s face it, a Lange movement cries out to be displayed.
6. The finish is impeccable but it will attract scratches. The 40mm case and its height leave the watch vulnerable. I have long discovered that cuff links will cause havoc with the highly polished surfaces of a watch. I seldom wear a large watch with double cuffs. So far, the surface is good but there are some fine scratches appearing.

7. The movement looks fantastic but there’s more to it. The sound of the winding action is precise. There’s no movement in the crown as you wind. It oozes quality. To set the time, the crown pulls out easily and it is not difficult to stop the second hand precisely on the second. When the minute had is set precisely on the minute marker and the crown is pushed in to start the watch, there is no movement of the minute hand. Such precision!

8. The simplicity of the dial, consistent with the overall simplicity of the watch, has delightful touches. The sunken inner dial; the perfect application of the sub-seconds, seconds and Arabic numerals over the Roman numerals, all combine to give clarity and harmony. The creamy colour of the dial is as good as the IWC 5001 RG dial.
I love the red Arabic numbers over the quarter markers.

9. The hands, particularly the blued second hand, are the final touches. Both the pink gold hands and the second hand reflect light in totally different ways. You’ll never get bored looking at them.

10. Does it keep time? Well it’s not an important issue for a mechanical watch. I don’t get hung up too much about 1 second to the day accuracy but this one is pretty good. It loses a second or two a day. I prefer a watch to gain slightly but that’s OK with me. It’s still early days. I have had it about 3.5 months and it usually gets worn one or two days a week. Nevertheless, 1 to 2 seconds a day is in line with the performance of a deck observation watch. It usually takes a good 6 months for a watch to settle down in my view.

11. Conclusion

A fine watch. It feels like a scientific instrument. A keeper (unless I see one encrusted in diamonds, someone has to take a stand against brand abuse) and possibly the first of several Langes, if I just could pick up a Langematik at the right price at auction …