The Grand Lange 1 "Lumen" event: comprehensive report

Dec 09, 2012,01:22 AM
 

Ken and I we were very happy to participate to the Pre-SIHH event organized by Lange to unveil the Grand Lange 1 "Lumen". During these 3 days, in Dresden or in Glashütte, we could appreciate the warm welcome from Saxony and from the whole Lange team, visit the Manufacture, enjoy the beauties of the monuments of the capital and obviously discover the newest watch.





"25": this figure was the common thread during the whole stay.

25 as the symbol of the big date display.

I remind you very quickly the reason behind the use of the 25 in all the Lange presentations and catalogues:


- the first reason is an historical one. The Lange watches of the rebirth were presented to the public the 24th of October, 1994. So the date 25 was used to get the correct date on the pictures in the newspapaers of the day after .

- the second reason is to avoid a confusion with a second timezone indicator. So a date higher than 24 was required.

- last reason is aesthetic. 25 is a harmonious number because there is a symmetry between 2 and 5. Flip 2 and you get 5.

The big date is the sparkle which led to the creation of the Grand Lange 1 "Lumen" and this timepiece is a beautiful watch.

It doesn't bring anything new in terms of horological contents when compared with the Grand Lange which was introduced at the beginning of the year. But it has an unusual charm which makes it very attractive.

But before discovering the watch, I propose you to browse some pics of the atmosphere around the event and the presentation.

Dresden:
alang.watchprosite.com

Wristshots:
alang.watchprosite.com

Lange boutique:
alang.watchprosite.com

Visit of the Manufacture:
alang.watchprosite.com

Grand Lange 1 "Lumen" event:
alang.watchprosite.com

Close look on the Grand Lange 1 "Lumen":
alang.watchprosite.com

Conclusion:
alang.watchprosite.com

Ken's live pics:
alang.watchprosite.com

Fr.Xavier

  This message has been edited by foversta on 2012-12-09 02:22:09 This message has been edited by foversta on 2012-12-09 10:15:58 This message has been edited by foversta on 2012-12-12 12:24:42


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Thanks or re insight [nt]

 
 By: Horology75 : December 9th, 2012-01:26

Part 1: Dresden

 
 By: foversta : December 9th, 2012-01:27
It was my first stay in Dresden during the Xmas period! Honestly, I was a bit afraid by the negative temperatures and by the difficulties to move in the city due to the snow. But in Saxony, it is not like in Paris, snow is not such mysterious thing which ...  

Fantastic job Fx

 
 By: Mark in Paris : December 9th, 2012-03:40
I couldn't believe there was again another picture each time I was scrolling down the post. You seem to have walked quite a while and I imagine now easily your attraction for this town. I also thought before that Dresden had been mostly destroyed during t... 

Thanks Mark!

 
 By: foversta : December 9th, 2012-14:28
I dedicated a specific post to the wristshots! I couldn't do it differently! ;) fx

Part 2: wristshots

 
 By: foversta : December 9th, 2012-01:29
Of course, I could only wear a Lange watch to attend this event! Please find below some wristshots I did during my stay: In Dresden: During the dinner at the Bülow Palais: Peter Chong's LOG Cabaret: Ken's superb moonphase watch: At the Zwinger: Luminous a...  

Part 3: visit at the Lange Boutique

 
 By: foversta : December 9th, 2012-01:31
The Lange boutique in Dresden celebated this year its 5th anniversary. It is located in the historical center of the city, between the Frauenkirche and the Fürstenzug. It is a true flagship store, being the first Lange boutique in the world. I couldn't mi...  

Part 4: visit of the Manufacture

 
 By: foversta : December 9th, 2012-01:33
It was my first visit at the Manufacture in Glashütte since 2005 and a lot of things have changed! New buildings, more people, Lange keeps growing in terms of capacity and skills. But of course, the objective is to keep a limited production in order to pr...  

Part 5: presentation of the Grand Lange 1 "Lumen" event

 
 By: foversta : December 9th, 2012-01:38
The Presentation of the Grand Lange 1 Lumen event took place in two different locations. First location was the Villa Via Lapis in which the watch was presented in details. Then the guests were transferred to the Castle "Albretchtsberg" for the dinner. Ev...  

Part 6: close look on the Grand Lange 1 "Lumen"

 
 By: foversta : December 9th, 2012-01:41
Let's have a closer look on the Grand Lange 1 "Lumen" now. In a few words, I like this watch because it brings something very fresh in Lange world and it has a quite daring design. Somehow, the Grand Lange 1 "Lumen" is a logical watch but yet surprising. ...  

A very interesting evolution, with a little "but",

 
 By: Mark in Paris : December 9th, 2012-04:39
First thanks for this detailed review, especially with adding these figures that helps to find our way in the Lange collection. I think that I will be completly seduced if I see it in the metal as it seems to have a very strong personnality. A huge Bravo ... 

Thanks Mark for this good point.

 
 By: foversta : December 9th, 2012-14:30
You make a good point with your remark even if in terms of quality, the watch follows the high Lange standards. You are touching here the question of perceived quality and I believe that each of us has his own definition. Best. Fx

Part 7: conclusion

 
 By: foversta : December 9th, 2012-01:43
Ken and I, we spent 3 great days in Saxony. Presented in December 2012 and using the Grand Lange 1 base, the Grand Lange 1 "Lumen" is in a sense a link between the 2012 and the 2013 collection. So the timing was perfect! Even if it is a beautiful watch, w...  

Congratulations FX for

 
 By: patrickh : December 9th, 2012-02:20
these posts. You enjoyed to be there. Lange did a good job with this novelty. Did you take time to make a movie of the date change at mid-night to see the change: jumping change or training change on this model? Best regards, Patrickh

Patrick, it is the classic big date display.

 
 By: foversta : December 9th, 2012-14:31
The instantaneous system is used only with the Lange 1 PC Tourbillon as far I know. Thanks for your comments! Fx

Fantastic job FX

 
 By: Dje : December 9th, 2012-03:37
Hi FX, Thank you for your excellently done and pleasing report. I'd love to visit Dresden and Lange one day. The new watch is quite appealing and I too appreciate its contemporary presence. No fuss, just pure modern style. Lange excelling! Best Dje

Thanks Jérôme for your kind words!

 
 By: foversta : December 9th, 2012-14:32
I hope that you will have this opporunity because Dresden is a city with hidden treasures... well, less hidden now thanks to the huge collective effort. Best. Fx

Wonderful, wonderful report Xavier and

 
 By: samwan : December 9th, 2012-04:55
fantastic pictures of an innovative yet traditional piece. It is important for us (sitting at our homes) to see the wrist-shots and gauge how the watch actually and looks and feels, other than from the officially released pictures... I predict the 200 pie... 

Insider Trading!! :)-

 
 By: Hororgasm : December 9th, 2012-10:17
Best, Horo

Thanks Sam for your comments!

 
 By: foversta : December 9th, 2012-14:33
About the sales figures, we will see but I think we will not have to worry with this one. ;) Fx

You are right...

 
 By: KIH : December 9th, 2012-05:28
... warm welcome and "attention to detail" organization of the event is sooooo Lange. Very much appreciated. And, thank you, Fx, for the comprehensive report. Excellent summary and the detailed journal of this whole event. Ken - just came back home....

Thanks Ken!

 
 By: foversta : December 9th, 2012-14:41
Thanks a lot for the live pics, it was a pleasure to see you there! Glad to see that you were back to Japan! Best regards. Fx

I reserve my feelings for that watch till I see it.

 
 By: Hororgasm : December 9th, 2012-10:35
Whilst the "lumen" concept is easy to understand, it's difficult, at least for me, to appreciate like the craftmanship involved in the Zietwerk Handwerkskunst. I didn't "agree" with the ZW Phantom, and had felt the blacked out glass has got little horolog... 

Thanks Horo!

 
 By: foversta : December 9th, 2012-14:42
And of course, don't hesitate to post your comments once you see the watch! Fx

Danke schoen for this presentation!

 
 By: BluNotte : December 9th, 2012-18:15
Dear Xavier, I enjoyed your coverage, and description of the watch! I cant wait to see what powerhouse will SIHH 2013 bring forth to us! Danke und Tschuss Stephen

Thanks Stephen.

 
 By: foversta : December 10th, 2012-11:57
The Grand Lange 1 "Lumen" is a platinum watch, so are you tempted? ;) Fx

Somehow not so

 
 By: BluNotte : December 10th, 2012-16:33
Platinum it may be, but i hardly see any Chronometrical-added value to it, but thats just my 2 Rupiahs of course. Tschuss Stephen

what a wonderful report.

 
 By: glorygunners : December 9th, 2012-06:40
thanks for this! Cheers, GG

Thanks GG!

 
 By: foversta : December 9th, 2012-14:43
I enjoyed a lot to do it, especially to prepare the Dresden pictures. Fx

Thanks Xavier

 
 By: AllThingsWatches : December 9th, 2012-10:04
Fantastic report. I love the watch. Like I said bride it's a risk and outside the box for lange but a home run!

Thanks ATW!

 
 By: foversta : December 9th, 2012-14:43
I hope you will be able to see it soon. Fx

Thanks Fx for sharing the event..

 
 By: fernando : December 9th, 2012-20:18
with your excellent pics. and your wonderful first hand report of the Lumen. The Langes may come to us but Dresden is such a beautiful city and high on my list of places to visit one of these days. :) fernando

What a wonderful and detailed report

 
 By: Iceman : December 9th, 2012-22:04
Thk u sir for working so hard to share with us this excelent report. I thing your fotos shows the real essence of the watch. I think the LUMEN will to a hit. Best Iceman

Thanks Fernando!

 
 By: foversta : December 10th, 2012-11:30
You are right: Lange is even better when seen in Saxony! ;) Fx

Thanks for the report and wonderful pics.

 
 By: ianny : December 10th, 2012-05:19
I am a little unsure of the horological significane of this piece. But I can't wait to see the full range of SIHH 2013. I am hoping for a larger size Annual Calendar from Lange. :) Regards, iAn

Thanks Ianny.

 
 By: foversta : December 10th, 2012-11:29
Like you, I can't wait to discover the full 2013 collection! It will arrive very quickly now! ;) Fx

Comprehensive just got new meaning

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : December 10th, 2012-07:15
Thank you very much for the amazing job you did to transfer the atmosphere of event to all of us I especially like your inscription in guest book :) Cordially Damjan ...  

Thanks Damjan!

 
 By: foversta : December 10th, 2012-11:28
It was very tempting to sign this guestbook with a ball-point pen! ;) Fx

Almost as good as being there!

 
 By: Gary G : December 10th, 2012-13:53
Thanks for the wonderful report, FX! Great perspectives on what looks to be a great new watch from Lange. I particularly liked how you were able to capture the watch in different light conditions, and the direct comparison with the Zeitwerk Luminous. Than... 

Thanks Gary!

 
 By: foversta : December 10th, 2012-15:12
The most difficult was to find someone wearing a Zeitwerk Luminous to manage to do the picture! ;) Fx

Fantastic report FX,well done!

 
 By: moc : December 11th, 2012-23:38
I was only in Dresden a few weeks ago,what a beautiful city. Lange can surely organise an event ,their attention to detail and their hospitality is second to none. On the watch though,even if I am a huge fan of the ZW Luminous,I am not 100%convinced of it... 

Thanks a lot Mo!

 
 By: foversta : December 12th, 2012-11:35
I hope that you enjoyed your stay there with your english group! Fx