Comments:
Which Lange tipped the scales for you?
While washing dishes last night, I noticed the beautiful, prismatic light reflections caused by the interaction between the mother-of-pearl guilloche dial on this Lange 1 and my little over-the-sink xenon fixture. This was my first Lange, and I've had it for over 18 years now. It was the Lange that led me to conclude that it doesn't get much better than this. I fell in love with this specific dial back when it was first launched. I kept staring at the photos, time and time again. The attraction was purely aesthetic, not technical, both with the dial and with the original Lange 1 movement (I especially loved the sub-bridges that are no longer present in the current Lange 1 movements).
While I rarely wear this piece now, I still never tire of it. It was the Lange that ignited and furthered my interest in the brand. If it wasn't for this dial, I don't know if or when I would've ever bought a Lange.
Did a specific Lange watch tip the scales for you? And if so, how and why did it happen -- was it aesthetic appeal, technical appeal, exclusivity/rarity, or something else?
[Note: I took this pic below while washing dishes last night, but as you can see I didn't bother to set the date. I haven't set dates ever since the whole stay-at-home situation started.]
Agreed 100%
All Signature Lange pieces which explains why they are so collectible! Quite interestingly the largest watch here on the left is 39mm while the other two at 37mm and 35.9mm might even be deemed too small by today's standards. But it just shows, size does not matter - the dials however do! 
Agreed!
center for me. Is that the PLM with fusee mechanism? That would be my ultimate ALS. With the red 12 , not familiar, an even more limited release?
Ha, Nico, I had a feeling these 3 would appear here :)
Thank you for sharing them, my friend. The one on the right -- the 1815 Moonphase -- was my second Lange (but in rose gold), less than a year after the MOP guilloche Lange 1. It took me much longer (by about 10-12 years) to warm up to the Datograph and the Langematik Anniversary, primarily because chronographs and watches without dates usually aren't my top choices..
I was half way in my Lange collection. I wanted to find a Cabaret Platinum Black dial, a Lange One Pt Black, and a Richard Lange. Damn... Now ,with my 1815 Moon phase only, things are tougher... [nt]
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For me,
the nicest Lange 1 have ever seen thanks to the beautiful guilloche dial. Thank you for sharing! I do not currently own a Lange watch but I would love one with your guilloche dial.
I had a similar Lange many year ago .
Wish it was still in my collection, such a beautiful watch
For me it was the piece I believe is the ultimate conversation piece...
the Zeitwerk. Aesthetics-the “time bridge” digital display, the black dial against white gold, the centered power reserve and seconds dial all just fit perfectly. Then the movement—wow! I saw the movement and it is just impressive to look at. Technical-the remontoire providing the escapement the constant force and releasing it every 60 seconds to change the minute. Also, it so versatile. You can wear it with jeans or a suit! Of all my pieces, it is the one that I almost always get asked about when I wear it. What’s amusing is when I wear it into competitor’s boutiques (JLC, Roger Dubuis, Patek, etc). They all spent more time asking me about my Zeitwerk than showing me their pieces. I was laughing inside!
Beautiful piece
Bought it last year
Lost it to customs who deemed it reproduction
And it was destroyed. After getting lawyers involved
Recuperated my money. Will get either this or the Ginza
Boutique langematik with similar design but not in MOP
Lost it to customs who deemed it reproduction
And it was destroyed. After getting lawyers involved
Recuperated my money. Will get either this or the Ginza
Boutique langematik with similar design but not in MOP
This is a most unfortunate story!
May I ask which country customs did this to you?? I am sorry for your loss.
Customs
US customs in Puerto Rico
Sadly lost this piece, used the money for a 1815 anual calendar in white gold, which I like but every time I see a photo of the soirée get sad
Sadly lost this piece, used the money for a 1815 anual calendar in white gold, which I like but every time I see a photo of the soirée get sad
This is a huge loss, I am very sorry for you
I am glad you got your money back but some things are not replaceable.
Sorry to go off topic but just checking - you wear your beautiful Lange when washing the dishes? 😳 I think I over protect my (modest) watches! [nt]
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Yes! The watch doesn't know or care that I'm washing dishes. It doesn't seem offended at all! :)
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For me it was initially the Datograph and then the Zeitwerk for both aesthetics, design, and architecture. Afterwards, there have been several others but what tipped the scales were these 2. [nt]
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Datograph 1999
For me, seeing that picture of the dato got me obsessed. I was too young then but I was hooked. Some 10 years later I was in a position to buy it but couldn’t make it happen. Every time I saw it at a store, I would walk, try it on, and keep thinking if only it was a bit less top-heavy and more comfortable (mind you I am 6’4 and have bigger wrists). So when the up/down was announced in late 2011 I couldn’t wait to try it on and bought it a short while after that. Haven’t bought another watch since as this has effectively become my daily go-to.
Now the other Lange that also really got me was a Lange 1 with grey dial that I doubt I will ever see in person let alone acquire due to its rarity: the Dresden moonphase 109.033x. Although I am not a fan of the lumen on the 109/192 Lange 1s, that watch is the exception. One can always dream...
Thank you for this great post and sharing your beauty with us (110.030?)! Its great to read others’ thoughts on their first Lange loves.
All the best,
Walid
p.s.: your Lange spreadsheet resource is by far one of the best things out there for us Lange fans so thank you for that as well!
Thank you...
... for the kind words, Walid, and moreso for sharing your story. Yes, that's a 110.030. I had never bought a high-end watch before this, and I was very nervous buying it sight unseen from an overseas dealer back in 2003. I managed to find someone local to me who owned a 110.029 (the non-guilloche version originally known as the "Soiree") and met him at a bar/restaurant to see it. As soon as I saw it, I knew I'd love the guilloche version and decided to buy it right away. The strap in the pic is the same strap it came with -- a custom short strap made by Kaufmann and stamped with Lange's stamp (since Kaufmann used to make Lange's straps).
Two different Langes for two different scales
The first tipping of the scales was from "who are these weird German guys and how dare they charge so much?" to "wow, these are beautiful, I dream of owning one some day." It was the rose gold Lange 1 that tipped those scales. I was totally taken by the lustrous movement finishing, the big date plus power reserve functions, and, most of all, the asymmetric balance of the dial.
Even then, though, it was a far-off grail-type thing. No way was I going to ever actually buy one!
So there needed to be a second tipping of the scales, from "Langes are for guys who are richer than me" to "I can buy a Lange." And I know EXACTLY what tipped those scales for me: in 2015 when Lange downsized *and* down-priced the basic Saxonia. They shrunk it from 37mm to 35mm, and cut the price from over $20K to just under $15K. That tipped the scales for me. I was like.... maybe I can actually do it?
Here's proof that I did it: