A. Lange & Söhne

So I know this was discussed previously but I can’t find the threads.

I was discussing the quality of Lange finishing from 2004 to today with someone I met online, and while my perspective is that the hand finishing standard has went down his perspective is that it has improved.

It would be great if someone could repost the original comparison threads here for our review or share their current perspective.

Thanks!

What matters is how the finishing looks wether it was made by machine or by hand. The overall finishing has decreased as they stopped finishing the base plate but the the overall effort remains the same – Chamfering made by machine and polished by hand.

IMHO collectors would prefer the human touch to be significant in watches that are priced at super-premium levels. If one wants a very industrialised machine made , machine finished caliber and case , with zero human artisanal effort ; brands like Rolex and many more would fit the bill at a much lower price point.

Some brands like to cost cut on finishing and raise prices at the same time so the more we know as buyers the better we can make informed choices.

Every component  on any watch is machine made. The only thing done by hand is the polishing of screw heads, swan necks, bridges, chamfering and plate surfaces.
Bracelet and cases are – if at all – manually guided with a template to ensure high yield at low tolerances.

Best
Thomas

but, aesthetically I prefer the older Lange 1 and Zeit movements. The newer ones are more technically advanced, but also a bit plain. You'll find some Hodinkee articles that compare these movements.

Great stuff my friend, can you also point me in the direction of those articles?

Lange 1:
watchesbysjx.com
www.hodinkee.com
Zeitwerk:
www.hodinkee.com