It's no uncommon for brands to finish watches differently at different levels. You won't find the same hand polished anglage on the lower end watches that you may find on the higher end pieces from the same brand. I can't speak to the consistency of the finish with ALS specifically.
Knowledge is power...that is the way I prefer to look at it. The fact is, very few makers do this the "best" way, so as I've said this is very common.
It's difficult because you really can get into the weeds on this stuff, and sometimes finding the value you seek in every detail can suck the life out of this hobby. In the end, if you buy a watch and it makes you smile when you put it on, it's money well spent, regardless of the details.
Cheers, Al
The Richard Lange gives me great pleasure, even with this newly acquired knowledge. This is partly due to what I paid for it; what I deem to be a fair price on the secondary market.
This brings up another interesting topic of why certain watches and watchmakers attain cult-like followings. There is no doubt a degree of herd mentality that defies reason.
I want to emphasize that this is exactly why I participate in forums, to gain knowledge, because as you correctly stated, it is power.
Pleased to hear that. I hesitated to comment in this thread on that issue, as I don't want to seem like I am attacking someone's watch, and I certainly don't want to spoil it for anyone.
I think there is also simply a lack of knowledge out there, so one of the main reasons I participate is to share mine, however limited it might be.
Finishing is something that most collectors don't understand to a high degree, and typically if it gives a pleasing overall appearance, most people are happy with it. It is partly a "what you get for your money" question, and again to a degree that sort of thinking can suck the fun out of this.
Take my reply here with a grain of salt, since barring a radical change in my finances, neither of these brands are something I would have the capability of purchasing in the foreseeable future. But reading through this thread, and the lauded praises of the Journe pieces accompanied by pictures of watches that in no way are appealing looking to me, made me wonder if it was some sort of elaborate joke. The amount and size of text on the dial is extremely off-putting. The hands as @Archer pointed out are, um, not my favorite either. In short - I don't get it. In no way do I look at any of the Journe pieces and see something that appeals to me.
So put me in the Lange camp, even though it's not someplace I will ever actually be. But to be completely honest, I'd rather have a GO Panomatic Lunar and an extra $20K in my pocket.
The "market" is not really my concern when I am buying watch.
this has been discussed before.
if you can drop 50 or 200k on a watch that immediately loses 30% of its value and never appreciates from there. . good for you
most people who spend 100k on a watch do actually care if it holds value
the trajectory of the two brands in terms of holding value could not be more different. its just a fact
. . .if its not relevant to you no worries buy what you like
Yes, it's not the first time you have said "the market has spoken" or some such thing. This seems to be a big focus for you - I'm just saying it's not for me.
i am very glad that you can drop 100k or 200k on a watch and not care about its value. this is not true for the vast, vast majority of watch buyers even in this category. i have exactly the same philosophy on 5k watches. not when its the price of a new car or small house.
I fully expect watches to lose value, because most of them do, at least in the short term. The idea that a watch won't lose value, is mostly a very new thing from the Rolex craze, and other like brands or very hot watches. I don't chase the latest and greatest "hot" watch or brand - that's not what I'm interested in.
i dont know if this is really a new thing at all. Pateks have always been used a store of value. maybe not as an appreciating asset. . but certainly something that held its value. this was certainly true in the 30s 40s 50s with PP, Vacheron, etc in that time frame
Thanks, I always do. I'm not in this to make money, or make an investment. I just like watches, so I buy the ones that give me pleasure. If they give me pelasure and put a smile on my face, as I've said it's money well spent.
but when lange wants people to drop 80k on a new watch that is immediately worth 50k. . for *most* people that is highly relevant.
and it is a major change in the past few years because lange's used to do just fine in the secondary market but something significant has changed
Is It? People drop huge amounts of money on cars that depreciate the minute you drive them off the dealership lot. Why does it matter? If you are trying to flip it for profit, or if you can’t really afford it and might have to sell it to pay off debts or something I could understand, but if you have no intent or need to sell, what’s the issue?
If it really bothers you, buy it on the secondary market and let someone else take the hit. This idea that unless a watch is gaining value it’s somehow “not worthy” is one of the saddest things to hit the watch collecting community in my view.
And you seem sure that it can’t go back the other way apparently. The “market” is fickle and can turn on a dime. Just ask all the guys who were paying big dollars for Rolex bubble backs, and ended up losing on them when the frenzy died off and tastes changed. The market isn’t static and brands go up and down, so if you are in for the long haul, none of this matters.
If you want to collect based on the whims of the “market” that’s clearly your choice, but your posts seem to want to put down any watch that isn’t a darling of that market...at least that’s how they come across to me.
Cheers, Al
