Comments:
Lange Watchmaking Experience
I had the opportunity to attend a watchmaking experience hosted by Lange in Bel Air. Wonderful time spent with great hosts, wonderful guests, fantastic watches and I got to try my hand at polishing a gold chaton. We had to remove a gold chaton from a unfinished 3/4 plate, polish it, and then insert it into a finished 3/4 plate without scratching anything. I did OK!!
It's not easy!
I've been to the factory in Dresden a couple times and have attended a Lange Akademie in California too. And every time they have me doing something that isn't easy. I remember the first time I went to Dresden, I was polishing a metal part and putting it on three different (progressively finer) sandpapers making a figure "8" pattern. After several minutes they told me that while my part was able to go into a watch, but the next time I did it, it never came out quite right after over ten minutes!
Agree!!
I had the 3 different sandpaper too. It takes patience and attention to detail. Makes you really appreciate the work that goes into creating these engineering and artistic masterpieces. Mine was inspected at the end and it actually turned out quite nice. The instructior said that it may not get much better due to the humidity and dust in the less than clean room conditions we were in.
Yes! I saw the three sandpapers on the glass block!
I also noticed the napkins said The Macallan. What kind of Scotch did they serve? Anything special?
Such experiences allows us to appreciate the work...
behind crafting these wrist objects that we love.
That WG 1815 Rattrapante looks awesome! I wonder how many "extra" on top of the supposedly 100 they made.
That WG 1815 Rattrapante looks awesome! I wonder how many "extra" on top of the supposedly 100 they made.
Are you suggesting Lange cheated and made more than the limited edition number?
Generally a few extra prototypes are made but not sold. Are you suggesting that Lange sold more than 100 pieces on a piece that was officially limited to 100 pieces?
Lange can do what they like...
But for me there should not be more than the number on the denominator.
Do you know what do they do with these prototypes?
Do you know what do they do with these prototypes?
Hmm, I don't think you fully answered my question, can you clarify please?
Are you suggesting that Lange has sold more than their limitation? Thus, if Lange promised the limitation of 100 pieces, do you suspect Lange sold more than 100 pieces? If you suspect this has happened, can you give us a little more details as to why you think this and why you have made this statement casting a suspicion?
I'm not biased for you/Lange nor against you/Lange. I'm just curious why you think Lange has made more than the limitation on this specific piece. I've never heard anyone making such a statement before against Lange. But Lange is hardly a perfect company when it comes to certain things (early 1815/Saxonia models for instance were not fully finished for instance, an expose was made). Lange does often number their limited editions, so it'd be definitely funny if two #38s were in the same room!
To answer your question in the typical scenario, it is standard practice for many brands to make a few "extra" pieces that are prototypes. These pieces are generally never sold, although mistakes do happen. Big companies often destroy the pieces, but sometimes the person tasked with destroying them may keep them! Thus, companies have a policy that two (or more) employees have to be present to witness the piece being destroyed. Of course, the policy isn't always followed. These prototypes will eventually get "caught" if these watches are returned for service, the serial number may be logged as a prototype, and the company may refuse to service the watch. When a company says your watch is "One of 200 watches" then I understand your suspicion; but when a company like Lange actually engraves on the case your watch is #38/100, that shows confidence - because if there are two watches with #38, and the owners find each other on the internet, that would be a PR DISASTER for Lange.
And to answer your question in the other scenario, there are also a few brands that make MANY MORE than the limitation allows. For example. Ferrari's limited edition cars are known to have somewhat badly kept secret overrun production cars that are sold to customers!!! For example, there was a limited edition Ferrari Enzo V12 mid engine car. Ferrari claimed they only made 399 of these cars. Then they made one for a charity. So that math brings it up to 400. However, well over 400 VIN numbers exist on these cars (prototypes get VINs too, but the number exceeds registered prototypes) in Ferrari's service computer. Furthermore, let's say some owner has an accident and the car is totaled. The VIN Is resurrected after an accident. Thus, some car collectors say, Ferrari has built around 500 customer Enzos (not prototypes). However, collectors are not "experts" and thus, in a court room, their testimony isn't valid without evidence - the evidence is difficult to obtain conclusively.
You would imagine a lawsuit against Ferrari for false advertising. In many countries, as an original customer at a Ferrari dealer, you can sue Ferrari for contract breach, torts, bad faith, etc. However, in most countries, you would have to prove that Ferrari's bad actions cost you money. In the case of the Ferrari Enzo, the car went up in value even though they made extra vehicles. So you didn't experience a direct financial loss. Thus, this practice is kind of an open secret among Ferrari owners - this happens, one doesn't complain, as long as everyone is making money.
I am not suggesting anything, dear Patrick.
I just saw a 000/100, that's all!
And if all the numbers filled out, there will be more watches than the denominator.
All good if the prototype(s) was/were to be destroyed.
This particular watch in WG case/pink gold dial was released >2 years ago.
And the same model in PT case was launched >10 years ago.
Is it usual to manufacture new prototype(s) for a changes in case metal/dial?
And if all the numbers filled out, there will be more watches than the denominator.
All good if the prototype(s) was/were to be destroyed.
This particular watch in WG case/pink gold dial was released >2 years ago.
And the same model in PT case was launched >10 years ago.
Is it usual to manufacture new prototype(s) for a changes in case metal/dial?
The 000/100 Lange watch should not be sold.
So if you saw a Lange with 000/100 (these are usually carnet watches or press watches) that was sold to a normal customer, then that would be strange! Right, obviously if there was a 101/100 that would be strange too!
Yes, Lange does manufacture new prototypes for changes in case metal and dials. The Berlin office (the design office) wants to see different shades of pink dials. Then, they'll narrow it down to 2-3 shades of pink. Those 2-3 will be cased with hands and usually dummy movements (but sometimes functional movements) and the final design is chosen. These prototypes don't always leave the design office, but do sometimes make it out to trade shows (where they're shown to jewelry store buyers, and sometimes collectors).
Yes, Lange does manufacture new prototypes for changes in case metal and dials. The Berlin office (the design office) wants to see different shades of pink dials. Then, they'll narrow it down to 2-3 shades of pink. Those 2-3 will be cased with hands and usually dummy movements (but sometimes functional movements) and the final design is chosen. These prototypes don't always leave the design office, but do sometimes make it out to trade shows (where they're shown to jewelry store buyers, and sometimes collectors).
Excellent photos, Dimardi!
Loving that pink gold Zeitwerk Date, and the house in Bel Air!
What a terrific experience - thrilled for you.
Congratulations and thanks for sharing these photos and wonderful watches!
Best, Emmanuel
Superb photos of what sounds like an amazing event!
And I hope you're well, my friend!