It's all about air

Sep 11, 2014,16:01 PM
 

An older and I presume wiser collector once told me that the secret to a great tourbillon compared with a good tourbillon is the amount of "air" you get.

I think he meant the sense of airiness that a great tourbillon gives.

We've all seen the el-cheapo tourbillons that clickety-clack away like buzz saws in their tiny apertures.....






NOT the airiness desired....but a fun "tourbillon".


Regards,

MTF

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Lange and Sohne 1815 Tourbillon: Chronometric precision and exemplary watchmaking.

 
 By: 219 : September 9th, 2014-14:38
[The new Lange 1815 Tourbillon introduced at SIHH 2014. With a second hand stop and zero reset function.] There is something exceedingly reassuring about Lange watches. You just know that the watch will be ‘just so’. Not just so in the sense that any old ...  

Wonderful report!

 
 By: TheMadDruid : September 9th, 2014-18:15
A fascinating watch, and thanks for the detailed explanation of it, and of the manufacture. Great!

Many thanks for the kind words. It was the first time I had been to

 
 By: 219 : September 12th, 2014-09:58
Lange and I have to say that I was very impressed. It is traditional watchmaking and a drive for a perfection that was very apparent. Andrew H

Meaning of the word Glashuette a philological approach

 
 By: COUNT DE MONET : September 10th, 2014-00:39
Many thanks for this detailed post and enjoyable to read post! I have mentioned years ago before but would like to mention it again at this occasion: The name Glashuette implies that the town did have in its origins a glass industry. Glass back those year... 

Not a big fan of the 1815 Tourbillon, I must say. I much prefer the RL PLM you posted in

 
 By: amanico : September 10th, 2014-02:09
Your article. The 1815 Tourbillon, with its big hole in the dial doesn't please me at all. While the RL PLM is a true Watch for Connoisseur, with its discrete sophistication, the plain enamel dial, its subtle warmth. Best, Nicolas

Different view

 
 By: MTF : September 11th, 2014-15:29
Nico, The current Mrs MTF and I collected A. Lange & Sohne watches....not a drawer-ful like some people here ;) ...but enough to appreciate the different aesthetic of the 1815 Collection compared to the Richard Lange line or the seminal Lange 1 range.... 

I think the 1815 Tourbillon is also a connoisseur watch.

 
 By: foversta : September 14th, 2014-01:33
Actually, I don't know what is a definitive definition of a TRUE connoisseur watch. Do you mean that there are obvious common criterias to fall into this category? It would be too simple. Each connoisseur has his own criterias... What I can say is that th... 

My definition of a Connoisseur watch is a watch with hidden virtues.

 
 By: amanico : September 14th, 2014-01:38
Like, for example, the sophistication of the RL PLM, which doesn't " jump ' to the eyes. Here, we immediately know that there is a Tourbillon, it is impossible to not see it, as it makes a hole in the dial. And an imposing one. But you are right, to each ... 

That is actually an excellent point. The sound of the stop and reset

 
 By: 219 : September 14th, 2014-02:20
is exact. Just perfection to execute such a difficult mechanical event: time and time again. They test it around 50000 times (they have a machine that does this by the way) before being satisfied that the mechanism works as conceived. You can witness it a... 

Before actually seeing and handling the 1815 Tourbillon I would

 
 By: 219 : September 14th, 2014-02:16
have whole heartedly agreed with you. But you can see how some people would like to see the tourbillon and bridge work. A matter of preference. Andrew H

Excellent report

 
 By: alphabeta81 : September 11th, 2014-14:47
The tourbillon is stunning, and finish is beyong reproach, but the RL PLM still stands out ?(much like the PP 5078 does for me) as simple refined complexity, which is a rare class of horological mastery

I did not see any comparison

 
 By: MTF : September 11th, 2014-15:35
alphabeta81, I agree; it is a detailed report cramming much information into a small page space. Perhaps it was a mistake to include a photo of the Richard Lange PLM in a review of the 1815 Tourbillon? There was nothing in the report to indicate a compari... 

Thanks, but think both the

 
 By: 219 : September 14th, 2014-09:07
1815 tourbillon and the RL PLM are understated watchmaking excellence. The tourbillon is not placed there as a 'shout' to see what you have; more an expression of watchmaking prowess. Andrew H

It's all about air

 
 By: MTF : September 11th, 2014-16:01
An older and I presume wiser collector once told me that the secret to a great tourbillon compared with a good tourbillon is the amount of "air" you get. I think he meant the sense of airiness that a great tourbillon gives. We've all seen the el-cheapo to...  

Thanks for posting these great photos and your report. I appreciate....

 
 By: CR : September 13th, 2014-17:59
... that you use the historic context of the company when discussing the features of the watch.

Thanks for your comprehensive article Andrew.

 
 By: foversta : September 14th, 2014-01:23
It is a watch I had the chance to wear during 2 weeks and I wrote an article about it. I postpone the publication for obvious reasons and I will come back to it in several months. Fx

I will be interested to see your thoughts on the watch. For

 
 By: 219 : September 14th, 2014-09:10
myself, loved the finish, execution, and size of the watch. Very wearable and a glance at the wrist where the tourbilon is mesmerising. Andrew H