A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Owner Review : Elegant, distinguished and balanced

A few years ago, I decided to invest in a beautiful classic and dress watch, which was missing from my collection. Three models had caught my attention: the Patek Philipe Calatrava 5196, the Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Traditionnelle and the A. Lange & Söhne 1815. All three magnificent in their respective styles. Proceeding by elimination, I dismissed the Patek because of an antediluvian caliber much too small for the 37mm of the case, and a premium not justified by the services offered. The Vacheron was very attractive, both aesthetically and in terms of its caliber, with a beautiful re-entrant angle rare on the basic models of haute horlogerie houses. But I found it a little cold, especially in its white gold version, a material that I preferred. So that left the A.L&S 1815, whose aesthetics, close to old pocket watches, and the finishes impressed me. Looking at the 1815 range, I was quickly drawn to the power reserve model ("Auf/Ab"), which I found more interesting and original than the base model. The two counters for the small seconds and the power reserve are offset at 4 and 8 o'clock, which creates a "symmetrical asymmetry" on the dial with the most beautiful effect. What's more, the end of the power reserve indicator is red, which brings a discreet touch of color that brightens up the watch. In addition, the services offered placed it well above its competitors: flame-blued hands, hand-engraved balance cock, gold chatons, absolutely impeccable finishes thanks to the double assembly process, automatic return to zero of the small seconds at the end of the power reserve. When worn, the 39mm diameter by 8.7mm thick case has almost perfect proportions on my 17.5cm wrist. The only downside: the original large-scale alligator strap, while of good quality, is extremely rigid and therefore takes a long time to get used to the wrist. But this problem was quickly resolved by the acquisition of a midnight blue alligator strap custom-made by Camille Fournet, a house that I highly recommend. This watch has become a must-have in my collection, and I take it out for every formal occasion (important business meeting, dinner in a chic restaurant, black tie evening, etc.). If I had to drastically reduce my collection, this would be one of the models that would remain, so much do its quality of production and its style, classic without being off-putting, fill me.