A. Lange & Söhne

This message has been edited by MTF on 2007-05-25 09:25:27

This is what Lange is all about -- super clean design -- no bling whatsoever -- its all about the minimalist design on the outside and the incredible craftsmanship and technology on the inside. A watchmaker's watch.

I'll have to see how it sizes out in "real life" but I'm quite impressed with this new direction.

As for the price, well, shoot, I really didn't want that Aston Martin V8 Vantage convertible *that* much....

"Breath-taking" comes to my mind as well, but in a negative sense. Successful minimalist design can also be very exciting and provocative. I don't think this applies to this watch, which, to me, is inelegant and overly utilitarian. As I've said before, while I'm greatly impressed with the technology behind the 31-day power reserve, a totally unnecessary complication, Lange could have, and perhaps should have, created a more interesting dial layout. This is also the first time I've seen pictures of the crank. Overall, this is an extremely expensive exercise in "more," which will undoubtedly make Lange a lot of money.

G'day,

well, one can´t dispute about taste or preferences; on the "look", it´s certainly left to each.
One does like it or does not, that´s probably a very personal take.

Obviously there´s a lot of enthusiasts who like it, including a couple of folks who got the chance to try one of the 4 prototypes in Geneva.
Among these, reactions are pretty wide spread. A good share does like it as it is, a good number could do with a different dial and for some it´s too large; the number of the latter is surprisingly small, because it seems to be a wearable piece despite the absolute dimensions. Which, on a side note, are not larger than a variety of other introductions in Geneva or Basel for the last 2 years.

Lange is pretty tight about sales, but among "unusually well informed circles" word is SIHH results on the "Lange 31" is much exceeding any expectations and there are considerably more order than production capacities.
So for a not that small number of folks, obviously it´s perceived different.

But then, one might do well to keep in mind making a new dial, with different proportions for the indications, certainly is not the most challenging thing ever; it happened before new SIHH introductions were changed before actual delivery and it may or may not happen to the "Lange 31" as well. So, hmm, why not wait a bit, as this certainly will not happen before the end of next year.

As per the complication itself, of course it´s unnecessary.
This fate is shared with every Sonnerie, Tourbillon, split-second or minute repeater - in the end, you don´t need a mechanical watch compromising +400 mechanical movement parts to tell the time.
On the other hand, with dozens of brands featuring many hundred models sporting a tourbillon escapement and a good number of chiming timepieces on the market, there are really not that many truly new creations.
The idea of making a watch that runs for a full month in fact is not new; many clocks do so, since centuries ago.
Just that it wasn´t realized in a wrist watch before and thus the seemingly simple thing to have a power reserve of 31 days, where the watch does not more than to run accurate, might be less thrilling on casual view.
But despite the appearance and lack of "flashy" complications, one might ask as to why no other brand ever brought up something likely before, when wrist watches are the main pillar for an industry over almost a century?
If the seemingly simple goal is easily achieved, i´d guess it would have been done much earlier.

On making money (or return of investments), i´d play the devil´s advocate and say it´s highly unlikely Lange will make big money with this.
A simple three-hands movement is between 3-5 million Swiss Francs at development costs, before the first piece comes to life. This doesn´t include costs to actually manufacture the later watch.
Now the "Lange 31" is certainly not a simple watch and not a simple movement, therefore one might be tempted to keep in mind the development is slowly returned. Lange today does a few hundred chronographs only and the "Lange 31" is for sure not going to be made in higher production figures; again there are no hard facts, but estimates possible to gather did not exceed a production of 50-100 pieces per year at best. It´s quite a tricky mechanism, the case itself is difficult to produce and far from being a standard watch case and all this is done in the same way all Lange watches come to life, which is a slow and costly way first and foremost.
So given there are something medium 7 figures CHF in production costs in it and a few dozen pieces to be made each year, how can it make Lange really big bucks?
Doing such would need to establish a serial production of some volume, which to some degree is prevented by the mechanism. Just to name one detail, the movement of the "Lange 31" doesn´t rely on (cheaper) artifical diamond or silicium parts; everything is steel or "classic" brass parts, which are more difficult to produce than it would be by using some late technologies.

Over all, a couple of details may allow to conclude the 4 prototypes we´ve seen so far may not be the final stage of this model.
And on a close look, one might be surprised the movement actually *may* allow for other dimensions.
We know the barrels to measure 25mm in diameter and given the length of the two mainsprings, that´s probably a fact one can´t work around. Aside this, a closer view may tell a different story:





It´s for sure not a small movement, but then i´d guess the next 18 month until delivery of the first pieces, which are filled with ongoing R&D work on the "Lange 31", may bring a surprise or two...

Having seen it, i´d be very careful doing some definite statements. Personally i find the idea a very nice and very interesting one, the mechanism to be both tricky and new, the design to be something one might argue at length over.
But if one thing, to me the outer appearance is the least interesting aspect of the "Lange 31". At least the one we´ve seen so far, which may or may not be the final stage!

Cheers,

Peter

... and perhaps my assessment of the watch may be too harsh. I think that what bothers me most about the concept of the 31 is that Lange decided to create a new timepiece that, instead of inventing a new complication or a unique angle on an existing one (perhaps the 31 IS a unique angle on an existing compication; the power reserve), they created a "revolutionary" timepiece that's about more and bigger, a trend not unusual in many consumer industries today. Perhaps Journe has spoiled (or brainwashed) me into thinking that a watchmaking genius can actually redefine how time is viewed.

Another point that I ponder is that Lange creates, arguably, the most meticulously produced watches available today. I've owned several over the years, and I've always appreciated the buttery-smooth winding of the watches, regardless of the model. As a matter of fact, there have been countless threads in the Lange fora about this very topic. It's an important component of owning a Lange. With the 31, Lange has actually seperated us from this aspect of their design, giving us a watch that virtually runs by itself without human interaction.

And, one more thing: the crank. While I'm on the subject of NOT being innovative, I wish Lange had developed a better way to wind this machine than something as literal as a crank. It's the first thing that comes to mind when asked: "Hmmm... how does this watch wind with a 31-day power reserve?" I got it! A crank!

All i can say - i did and it´s quite a nice experience!
It´s smooth and, unlike pocket watches, it allows for a "back-and-forth" action just like turning a conventional watch crown.

Well, have a look at the 2006 and 2007 news.
Most is about "design", little is about "function".
To me, the interesting point of the "Lange 31" is it not doing something *visibly* different than other watches.
This is a huge contrast towards the dimensions and price; just if looking at what it does exactly, i think there are reasons for both. Whether or not it speaks to you is left to each, but probably no really great watch will speak to everyone.
I may remind of the IWC 5441 "Portugieser", which was widely regarded too large upon introduction and today is almost universally regarded one of the most beautiful pieces utilizing a pocket watch-sized movement. And original Portugieser models are among the most collectible watches out there, which was unthinkable only 20 years ago. There you go.

The concept of a key-wound watch is not new and probably a compromise.
In fact, it is trying to keep a balance between customer comfort (31 turns versus the 500-560 turns by the crown with an unchanged crown-winding mechanism), size and manufacturing problems. There are in fact different systems, such as those in use by Parmigiani (Bugatti, utilizing a powered key-winding system) and Ulysse Nardin (the Freak, which is basically a backwinder by means of the case back). And i´m sure that´s well known to Lange, thus it may lead to a different solution over time.
What you don´t see easily is the ratchet mechanism and torque limiter of the "Lange 31"-key, which itself is an interesting mechanism. The winding key looks quite simple, as does the watch. But both are not and this i find quite interesting.
And again, there´s no such thing before - despite the +300 years of watchmaking and key winding so far.

I do see it as an initial stage, which is to some extend backed by the tentative delivery schedule; the "Lange 31" to me is a great concept, just that *today* it´s quite a different model from Lange´s portfolio otherwise.
On the other hand, it is the very nature of concepts to be "fluid" and open for new ideas or developments, which may or may not change the overall appearance.
One particular detail is the use of a Platinum case; the key is crafted in steel and the use of a a steel case would have caused danger of "contact erosion" by having two steel surfaces rubbing against each other. This was a major consideration when choosing the case material, apart from the fact the movement of the "Lange 31" requires too much work to produce many of these or somewhat cost-effective (hence it deserves a precious metal case as it will come with a certain price tag due to the development and watchmaking challenges it represents).

One then may ask as to why Lange felt need to present the "Lange 31" today, when there´s still work done on it.
Without this being anything "official" or officially backed, i´m personally tempted to suspect it is the lack of "talking pieces" otherwise. The new models is the Saxonia line, which is to replace almost complete at least 2 other model lines.
Apart from that and the "Soirée" models, there´s not that much news. And dropping a pretty cherished line like the "1815" probably is not good news without any compensation, thus i´m tempted to believe Lange decided to release the prototypes of the "Lange 31" by now to equal out.

To be candid, the sheer dimensions, the "unusual" look for a Lange timepiece and the price tag initiated not only overwhelmingly positive feelings on this end too.
But having seen the "Lange 31" in nature and having a closer look at it, i´m pretty impressed. It is far more than just a large chunky case with a big indication on the dial....

Cheers,

Peter

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