Chromatic Fugue
1850
If it were me...
and in fact it WAS me, I would go with the 5196P. Several considerations here:
1. The 5196P has a “wow this is really nice” factor that must be experienced on the wrist to be understood. (I discovered this for the first time two days ago, so I’m a recent convert.)
2. The 5196P is super legible. Not so the Darth: non-lumed silver hands often blend into a black background, making the time hard to read depending on the light.
3. While charming, the geometry of any Lange 1, with its main dial to the left, requires more effort to read, particularly for those who wear their watch on the left hand under a cuff. Lange tried to address this concern with the Day-matic, but I’ve never understood why they couldn’t have flipped the layout from the beginning for all Lange 1s: same golden ratio, greater convenience.
4. No question that the back of the Lange 1 is more interesting to look at than the back of the 5196P. But it’s a great deal less interesting to look at than the back of a Dato or 1815 Chrono: the three-quarters plate covers most of the movement. Of course that three-quarters plate is very nicely finished.
5. The 5196P is surprisingly light for a platinum watch, in part because of its thinness. The Darth will feel quite a bit heavier and thicker. I used to think that I liked heavier watches, all else equal, until I discovered that I actually don’t. But this is obviously very subjective.
Of course, you can’t go wrong either way. It’s ultimately just a question of what makes you happy.
Seeking advice!
5196p - Le classique...
Haven't owned either, but I'd pick the Lange in this case
No doubt I'd pick the Darth...
If it was me....
The Lange, for sure!
