WatchProSite|Market|Digest
WatchProSite|Market|Digest

Horological Meandering

Lange was bound to lose the first comparison

 

By virtue of being a direct response to the Royal Oak and Nautilus, it is a pretender.

But the Nautilus was one a pretender too. Now it is the darling.

To me, the Lange dial is successful. The case and bracelet are quirky, but not bad. I’m interested in learning more about it. I cannot say if it is at the level of icon, but it is fighting an uphill battle against competitors with strong marketing.

I suspect it will fail to become the leader here, because of marketing. Is Lange able and willing to do what it takes to get the Odysseus on the wrists of the people hitting up bottle service in Miami? It is a feedback loop. Success amongst non-watch people will drive demand for watch and non-watch people, many of whom will desire the watch just because it is not easy to obtain. This is important for me too - if it’s hard to get, you appreciate it more.

To get there will take time and unyielding support for the model. As soon as the Odysseus is heavily revised, the clock is reset. The Nautilus was a follower to the Royal Oak for almost 40 years, only recently stepping out of its shadow.

At the very least, the Odysseus must make it through two decades without being replaced and without major revisions. This is where the Vacheron 222 and Overseas fell short. Odds are against this model too. If Richemont is practicing optimal strategy, then it is probable that the Odysseus will give way to the Odysseus 2.0, rather than mature into the Odysseus 1.1.

  login to reply
Related Content
expand_more
A. Lange and SöhneAudemars PiguetNautilus5811OdysseusPatek PhilippeRoyal OakVacheron Constantin
💰1729 Marketplace Listings for Patek Philippe›
22 Comments view entire thread 

The young pretender is no contender

 
By: Onemorewatch : December 12th, 2019-18:19
Finally got to see this in the flesh and I have to say I like it a lot. The bracelet is super comfortable and with it’s brushed look, easy adjustment and quick release link removal is just superb, the size is just perfect and the pushers not nearly as pro...  

✅

 
By: Mikesr  : December 12th, 2019-19:34
Haha , I love it. That’s mine on the right. Awesome For once I did something correct. Hurry, somebody tell my wife. Lol

You can already predict this one will go down with a hefty discount down the road?!?

 
By: Clueless_Collector : December 12th, 2019-19:39
I feel nowadays a lot of the comparison is based on “market” value. If Nautiluses are sitting in display cases today where you can buy anytime, the verdict may be different. That’s just my opinion but you probably know I’m biased too, lol... Just curious,... 

I don’t think anyone can say for sure

 
By: Onemorewatch : December 13th, 2019-02:40
A prediction is just that.. a prediction. What we do know however is that Lange preowned pricing is soft so whilst by no means guaranteed it can be said it’s a reasonable assumption. A fair comment on the nautilus but history suggests there is little foun... 

🤔

 
By: LS : December 12th, 2019-20:49
I'm not sure I understand the customer they had in mind for this one. I guess it's not for me then.

I have now also seen it in person. The bracelet feels exactly like on an IWC pilots watch. Very nice for a USD 7,000 watch like IWC but not good enough for Lange. If you are Lange you simply

 
By: Abu Alex : December 12th, 2019-21:06
...have to do better than that! Enjoy your Nautilus and pat yourself on the back for having exercised discipline in not having been tempted to buy another watch 😂🤣

Unpopular opinion from me.... it looks MUCH better than the Nautilus

 
By: ik2000 : December 13th, 2019-00:28
Of course, just my opinion. 1. Thinner bezel gives it more class. 2. I thought the lack of symmetry for the right hand side bezel protrusion would be a problem for most people, but when looking at it side by side with the PP.... well it is much more symme... 

I agree.

 
By: mjv : December 13th, 2019-07:30
I feel the same about the points you made. Side by side helped me to really see the differences. Take care, Mike

I want to take a look in person at this blue dial+steel+bracelet ALS before having a final “opinion”, but I’m also highly unconvinced..

 
By: FabR : December 13th, 2019-02:13
Doing what everybody else does because it’s popular is often a good recipe for disaster, *unless* you enter the field with something groundbreaking...This really doesn’t seem to be the case, and your Nautilus comparison is actually pretty nasty..😂😉Cheers.... 

I hear that you have also seen some "further models" of the Odysseus

 
By: COUNT DE MONET : December 13th, 2019-02:58
They could be much, much more appealing than this Odysseus, from what we can see in predictions on the internet. But still, to me this Odyssesus is a very masculine watch as an entry level already. Your Nautilus too, but it is not entry level.

I haven’t seen further models -

 
By: Onemorewatch : December 13th, 2019-03:07
The expectation is from the boutique however that this is a new family as allowed to a one off model. I actually like this one with its Zietwerk type layout but I imagine in a new family it’s only a matter of time. I didn’t wear the Nautilus with the view... 

I agree w minority.

 
By: shafran : December 13th, 2019-03:31
Based on the one pic, the lange is nicer than the nautilus. I think the naitilus is so hyped that our opinions are often jaded.

I dont really understand the argument.

 
By: Reuven Malter : December 13th, 2019-03:45
Its a nice watch, but you can get it with discount so its not a contender. I would say that this is a real reason why the lange is a contender. I would not buy it because you pay for two basically useless complications, but with a simple date plus a very ... 

I like the Lange

 
By: watch-er : December 13th, 2019-09:37
better. All the talk about the Lange bracelet is interesting to me. I have not handled this watch but have always heard Lange makes one of the best bracelets for finish and feel. On the other hand, PP with their pins makes one of the flimsiest bracelets o... 

Lange was bound to lose the first comparison

 
By: jmpTT : December 13th, 2019-10:54
By virtue of being a direct response to the Royal Oak and Nautilus, it is a pretender. But the Nautilus was one a pretender too. Now it is the darling. To me, the Lange dial is successful. The case and bracelet are quirky, but not bad. I’m interested in l... 

I like the watch but not the bracelet.

 
By: ZSHSZ : December 13th, 2019-13:20
First move would be to put it on a rubber strap... Comparing the two is pointless, the Nautilus is in a different league .

Not a huge fan of either dial... ( it's a bracelet contest w preferences)

 
By: Mostel : December 14th, 2019-13:53
Odd comparison... except for the idea that expensive SS bracelet watches are automatically comparable... but my opinion of the Lange (obviously having never worn or seen it in metal) is that it will do VERY VERY WELL and only suffer the normal Lange disco...