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PostPosted: Sat Mar 19, 2011 1:09 pm 
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Let me start out by saying :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool:

I always had this misconception that Lange where Patek wannabes for some reason, and shared their downfalls IE diminutive cases and high price tags. Was I ever wrong!

For one thing, their watches are all unique in many ways! The Zeitwerk was insane! Never have I seen so much engineering prowess across a brands range! The Lange 31, with its massive 31 day power reserve and huge 46mm case was a shock, dont know why there isn't more buzz about these awesome watches?

The boutique had two high power loupes on table stands and I took them for a whirl. I am still a bit taken back by the pure perfection of their finishing, impeccable to the most minute detail. Every brush line, polished edge, decorated gear, all flawless! I mean flawless! I sneaked my Glashutee under the loupe and I have to say that wasnt bad either :D Though it cant be compared to the sheer perfection of A Lange, the quality is quite close and the value exceeds.

But the watch that caught my eye the most was a mid range watch, the Lange 1 Timezone in RG with a solid German silver dial was GORGEOUS! A dressy watch with a little extra, I found the Lange 1 to be a great watch but as I often do with pure dress pieces, a little boring after a few minutes. The Lange 1 Timezone adds interest while keeping the look clean and classy, and with a case size that compliments its theme at 42mm. Quite the stunner! And the movement was something else!

My Glashutte seems to be a more expensive purchase than I thought, now I am into those damned German watches too! :roll: I cant even consider another watch this year, especially one that costs 30K, but baring any Basel surprises, I will be on the hunt for one of these fine pieces next year! Patek schmatek, A Lange is where its at!

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PostPosted: Sat Mar 19, 2011 2:21 pm 
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DUDE, TOTALLY! lange and glaschutte. we have talked about taking on lange and i think its a great idea myself. awesome stuff, i couldnt agree more.


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PostPosted: Sat Mar 19, 2011 2:27 pm 
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I have been wondering if I should get a GO or should I just save up for another year and get a Lange. I have only seen then in person twice, but both times I could even tell from a distance that they were basically perfect. Most high-end watches you have to look at them for a few seconds to really appreciate the quality of their manufacture, but the Langes just exuded it from the first millisecond. I would love to look at one under a loupe.

///M

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PostPosted: Sat Mar 19, 2011 2:28 pm 
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There is a Lange AD that I walk by most working days and they really are exceptional pieces. I agree entirely that no one comes close to the quality of finishing on them and their pieces always stand out mechanically - they 31 day power reserve, chain and fusee, etc - incredible pieces.


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PostPosted: Sat Mar 19, 2011 2:37 pm 
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There isn't a Patek out there that I would rather have over the Lange 1 Moonphase. I posted a few shots of that watch on here last year and it's an incredible piece. I think that there isn't a lot of buzz about them because of the cost and limited market. For 1/5 of the price I am overjoyed with my Glashutte PML XL....but that Lange is :drool:

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PostPosted: Sat Mar 19, 2011 2:54 pm 
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I've seen photos of Lange's with Swastikas engraved on them. I'll pass on that brand.


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PostPosted: Sat Mar 19, 2011 3:26 pm 
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dhalem wrote:
I've seen photos of Lange's with Swastikas engraved on them. I'll pass on that brand.


If you let politics play a role, then you better stay away from IWC, Rolex, Omega, and quite a few others. The Big Pilot was exclusive to Nazi pilots. Think of it as as salvaging something good from a terrible era.

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PostPosted: Sat Mar 19, 2011 3:28 pm 
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Plus the swastika has a VERY different meaning in other parts of the world.

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PostPosted: Sat Mar 19, 2011 3:31 pm 
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Altair wrote:
If you let politics play a role, then you better stay away from IWC, Rolex, Omega, and quite a few others. The Big Pilot was exclusive to Nazi pilots. Think of it as as salvaging something good from a terrible era.


If you read the history, they had a much larger role than the others that went beyond just supplying pilots with watches.

And I'm not sure I'd call the genocide of 6 million people 'politics'. A close friends's father was is Auschwitz. It wasn't 'politics' for him when at 9 years old he watched men wearing that symbol murder his family.


Last edited by dhalem on Sat Mar 19, 2011 3:59 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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PostPosted: Sat Mar 19, 2011 3:32 pm 
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jimbob wrote:
Plus the swastika has a VERY different meaning in other parts of the world.


I'm pretty sure the swastika in this case had a VERY specific meaning. This wasn't a Hindu symbol.


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PostPosted: Sat Mar 19, 2011 4:35 pm 
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dhalem wrote:
Altair wrote:
If you let politics play a role, then you better stay away from IWC, Rolex, Omega, and quite a few others. The Big Pilot was exclusive to Nazi pilots. Think of it as as salvaging something good from a terrible era.


If you read the history, they had a much larger role than the others that went beyond just supplying pilots with watches.

And I'm not sure I'd call the genocide of 6 million people 'politics'. A close friends's father was is Auschwitz. It wasn't 'politics' for him when at 9 years old he watched men wearing that symbol murder his family.


Please, lets not play on words, you understood my meaning. :roll: The fact that A Lange supported at the time Nazi efforts is both unfortunate and expected, the government didnt leave firms much choice, in fact they confiscated personal vehicles for scrap, we can go on listing the seemingly endless deplorable acts of the Nazi regime, but the point was made in my original post.

Still, if someone is so close to the event that they would rather not have any reminder of it, then that is of course their logical choice. It was a disaster of epic proportions, but personally I dont let the Maltese cross on Vacheron watches bother me, sure its the sign of the Knights Hospitaller used during the crusades and all over their models, but I personally link it with the modern watch brand. Similarly Panerais constant use of the Fascist "Pig" torpedo on some watches and their advertising. I just find it odd that you would try and degrade an entire brand, in a thread that speaks highly of their technicality, and then snap when someone offers you their advice/opinion.

Lastly, the A Lange you are thinking about is a different company. The original stopped production soon after the War as their production facilities where completely obliterated. The Current A Lange is a Richemont affair, and is more a capitalist enterprise than a Nazi relic, evident by their watchmaking standards and lack of era-correct designs, those brands I mentioned and a few others, relate much more closely to WWII than the current A Lange. I can compile a list if you wish

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PostPosted: Sun Mar 20, 2011 7:32 am 
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Hi All!

I have a friend who lives in Switzerland & last year she mailed me a Swiss catalogue from A. Lange & Sohne among others – it’s by far the nicest best of its kind I have ever seen! Though, IWC & Jaeger Le Coultre provide very nice detail ones as well & I am sure others do too.

My dream watch is the Double Split! :drool: :drool: :drool:


Cheers,

Enezdez

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PostPosted: Sun Mar 20, 2011 8:39 am 
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Not to mention about a hundred other brands u could tar with the same brush volkwagon for example. Pretty much any german brand from the 40s I mean both BMW and mercedes emblems are representing propellers and they weren't just powering crop dusters. Switzerland supplied both the allies and axis with steel should we stop buying Swiss watches.


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PostPosted: Sun Mar 20, 2011 8:40 am 
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Ot tho Altair you are right they make fantastic watches and I'd def rather have a Lange than a pp or a vc.


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PostPosted: Sun Mar 20, 2011 9:52 am 
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Sadly, all of the Lange 1's and the 1815 are out of my price range.

Then again, if I could afford one of those, I'd probably be complaining that Datograph Perpetual was out of my range.

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