A.Lange & Söhne

Feel of hand winding the Datograph
May 13 2008,16:59 PM

Gurus, please enlighten me quickly!

I went to the Lange boutique with the intention of buying the Datograph after spending much time hunting and researching for it, ready to part my cash. I finally played with it, the size, weight, finishing of the platinum and of course the lovely movment are all too perfect on my wrist. However when I was hand winding it, the feel is gone! There's no feeling, it's dead silient abeit smooth, there's no 'tickingly' sweet sound and sensation like hand winding the RL (yes I played with this too yesterday) and I know it'd be mad to compare experience with my humble omega speedmaster, but somehow it's totallly unlike what my speedy can offer! Am I mad? or did I have the entirely wrong impression/expectations of Datograph (in that matter, all hand wind watches) to have a feel like winding an automatic watch? The feel I got is comparable to winding my jaeger world geographic, and some of the automatic watches. Please correct/enlighten me if I'm wrong? I need to be re-educated again before I can get back to like the Dato. Please help.

Troubled Mech.

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Mech, Mech, Mech
May 13 2008,17:07 PM

Go back and buy it!!! LOL

The winding of a Dato is smooth, how to say it.... Polite, well educated? LOLOL

This is a noble mech..anism! LOL

A bir like a V8 instead of a 4 cylinder...

Come on, you can't compare the feeling of winding even a Reverso 8 Days with a Datograph...

Man, take a glass, sit down, have a nice cigar, sit just close a nice and beautiful girl, and you'll recover your mind! LMAO.

Come on, I want to see your pics of your very next Dato, my friend...

Best.

Nicolas

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I'm mad
May 13 2008,17:23 PM

Nic, thanks to your calm assurance to very 'disturbed' would-be Dato guy hahaha. No amount of other 'temptations' is going to help at this stage, perhaps time can.

Hahaha

Mech.

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You are mad
May 14 2008,00:16 AM

Buy it!

- SJX

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Hand Winding Feel of all Hand Wind Lange
May 13 2008,17:31 PM

Hi

Still on this topic, can all the kind souls share with me your personal experience, likings and dislike alike (heh) hand winding all your Lange Hand wind watches? I know this is a Lange forum and expect some bias for (hopefully not too much), but they will serve as good company on my 'recovery path' (haha). So far I like hand winding the RL, but not is size and design.

Thanks.
Mech.

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Mech....different people different feel.
May 15 2008,09:40 AM

Hi Mech,

I like the winding experince alot too.More often i use the "feel" to justify the fines of the mechansim/movement of the watch.(this is just my feel)

To me,if you have tested the RL then it is(the feel) would be better if you compare next to next with Dato.Its just simply different movement by nature and Dato's winding experince are not as fine as RL to me.The sensational feel you have with RL definately would persuade you to buy it after all their made the watch in comparison with PD's quality on a industrial scale.

Of course,one buy watches simply cant rely on the winding experince alone.RL's three hands with this price tag is definately one of those on the highest benchmark watches.And Dato's classic wellknown beautifull backcase with Date module and stunning integrated chrono movement simply the best of best chrono known to mankind.LOLOLO......

May be you should compare chrono to chrono,say lemania,Minerva,venus,Valjoux's winding experince to Dato's then it makes more sense.

Well,in the end,i would strongly ask you to listen to the others' proposal...."just go and get it" its a piece of no regret!

Regards,

BHK9

 

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Nicely put, BHK9, can't agree more!
May 15 2008,12:46 PM

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I did a the controversial comparison
May 15 2008,18:17 PM

Hi BH

I did that controversial comparison and mentioned in my first post, chrono to chrono, Dato to Lemania (speedy) and guess what, I prefer Lemania! (for now that is). I won't buy the RL simply it has a better winding experience to me, but RL doesn't speak to me because of it's size and movement design, sorry.

However, I did receive a promising respond saying not all Dato winds silently (some would say it's creamy, not me), a sample do have that elusive audible and tactile feedback which I very much like, so I'm not giving up yet. Sorry I won't settle for 2nd best (in my own personal judgement of a watch), Lange publicity and actual watch experience have brought me this far to owning the Dato, sadly stopped short of parting the cash with doubts on its winding experience.

Still there's hope, I could grow to like it, else I will continue on my hunting journey (which is the best part of this hobby) to find the ultimate sample. Time will tell. I'm very sure when the day comes and I post my Dato pictures, you guys will rejoice with me that all these pain/trouble/time/doubts taken to finally own my grail watch(es) is all worth the effort. Agree?

Wish me luck.

Mech.
This message has been edited by Mech on 2008-05-15 18:38:34 This message has been edited by Mech on 2008-05-15 18:40:03

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It is called "creamy".
May 14 2008,17:59 PM

You will get used to it and will not regret.

Regards

Ling

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Strange.. I love the feel of the wind on my Datograph
May 17 2008,21:25 PM

Of all my Lange's I think the Datograph has one of the most best winds. Smooth but calculated. The perfect balance between silent and click. Plus when you reach the end there is a lock that prevents you from over winding. I'm surprised by your reaction... all I can say is try another one.. find a friend, visit another AD, and I'm certain you will enjoy winding the Dato as much as me. No go buy it already!

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I did
May 19 2008,07:30 AM

the hunt together with Mech, the sensation feel on winding RL is not there with Dato. where RL you can feel the "clicking" and Dato just smooth like an automatic (sorry no offend here), this is what Mech meant.

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