Please Help Me Choose (A. Lange vs. Rolex)

[MrTourbillon]

To preface, I'm a new lawyer looking to celebrate passing the bar/new job/graduating by getting my first nice watch. I've narrowed it down to these three options, loved all of them, but can only afford one. Which would you choose?

A. Lange Saxonia 37 Thin ($11600)
Rolex Submariner ($7100)
Rolex GMT [BLNR, couldn't try one on in person, so I tried the LN for size/feel] ($8950)

(I didn't see the button to post a poll, so sorry about that)

[SirOmario]

Als.

[enjoythemusic]

The Lange is really nice, yet more formal jewelry wear than daily wear IMHO. As for Rolex, I personally love the visual of the Sub no date. BLNR could be useful if you time zone travel quite a bit.

[tifosi]

What else is in your collection? That will help.

If you already have a sports watch, the ALS is a no brainer.

[MrTourbillon]

Originally Posted by tifosi

What else is in your collection? That will help.

If you already have a sports watch, the ALS is a no brainer.

I don't have a sports watch yet, this would be the first watch of my collection. I'm trying to figure out which watch would be best for most situations.

Thanks everyone for the replies so far.

[Rt0203]

Originally Posted by MrTourbillon

I don't have a sports watch yet, this would be the first watch of my collection. I'm trying to figure out which watch would be best for most situations.

Thanks everyone for the replies so far.

In that case, sub or BLNR. Either would fill all roles needed!

[SirOmario]

In that case I'd get the Sub or GMT. Either would be a more versatile watch than the ALS, which is exclusively dress.

[ap1]

Originally Posted by MrTourbillon

I don't have a sports watch yet, this would be the first watch of my collection. I'm trying to figure out which watch would be best for most situations.

Thanks everyone for the replies so far.

Gmt then - serious enough with pcls and can handle everything else too

[KrismanX]

Originally Posted by MrTourbillon

I don't have a sports watch yet, this would be the first watch of my collection. I'm trying to figure out which watch would be best for most situations.

Thanks everyone for the replies so far.

OoOO, first watch hunt!

This is the fun part, my friend. From the wide spectrum you laid out, I assume you are open to suggestion and advice. My best advice is TAKE YOUR TIME. This is a momentous occassion! Take the time to hit a few different AD's and try on all of the quintessential models and makes.

You've got a wide mix of potential choices, so think about what features will be most useful/enjoyable to you during the course of your workdays, weekends, vacations and go from there. You will be surprised at what you find. I didn't do enough research on my first purchase, so I need to buy a second lol... But hey, maybe a little self-enabling is allowed on this forum.

Have fun, enjoy yourself, and POST PICTURES.

[mato123]

Originally Posted by MrTourbillon

I don't have a sports watch yet, this would be the first watch of my collection. I'm trying to figure out which watch would be best for most situations.

Thanks everyone for the replies so far.

Of the three you listed GMT, but I'd choose LN (all black bezel) over BLNR.

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by tifosi

What else is in your collection? That will help.

If you already have a sports watch, the ALS is a no brainer.

[CLTRolex]

You're comparing apples to oranges.
You need to decide if you want something more or less formal

[Gaetano]

Originally Posted by CLTRolex

You're comparing apples to oranges.
You need to decide if you want something more or less formal

you right..

[Hollister]

Of the OP's choices, I'd choose the Lange.

But what I would actually get is the Journe Chronometre Bleu or Chronometre Souverain. More exclusive than Lange, with an output annually of <1000 watches, also a nicer design, IMO. Another one to look at might be the VC Patrimony.

[MrTourbillon]

Originally Posted by Hollister

Of the OP's choices, I'd choose the Lange.

But what I would actually get is the Journe Chronometre Bleu or Chronometre Souverain. More exclusive than Lange, with an output annually of <1000 watches, also a nicer design, IMO. Another one to look at might be the VC Patrimony.

I would've loved a Chrono Blue, but unfortunately that's beyond my budget. I tried on a VC Patrimony that the AD was willing to negotiate on, and it did not look good on my wrists.

Thanks for the advice everyone so far -- currently leaning towards the BLNR or the Sub based on what's been said.

[Amex4711]

I prefer the GMT, Lange isn't my first choice because I don't like their style

[WJGESQ]

Originally Posted by Amex4711

I prefer the GMT, Lange isn't my first choice because I don't like their style

Correct. Simply not exciting.

[SirOmario]

I think the understated elegance of the ALS would be ideal in an office environment, especially if you will be wearing suits/jackets to work.

[AK797]

I'd go for the Sub now, work really hard and add a Datograph one day.

[Maybelline]

Sub C

[Quailhunter]

I worked in a senior management position for many years and wore a Rolex DayDate and never felt it was out of place. I have a GMT and I think it would be perfectly suitable in a suit environment. The Lange seems to be a dressy only watch. The Rolex can go both ways. It's a very durable watch as well.

[Timesurfer]

Originally Posted by Quailhunter

I worked in a senior management position for many years and wore a Rolex DayDate and never felt it was out of place. I have a GMT and I think it would be perfectly suitable in a suit environment. The Lange seems to be a dressy only watch. The Rolex can go both ways. It's a very durable watch as well.

This...

I would do the SubC ND, its a classic that can be dressed up or down, build from there...

[vman]

Lange hands down.

Look, this is a Rolex forum and most people biased towards Rolex... But Lange is out of this world. This is the watch you will wear, love and pass on to your kids. Oh and it flies under the radar.

[Le Chef]

By the sound of it you do not yet have a nice watch. If that's the case I would go for a GMT LN or BLNR. At some point you will likely travel for work and the GMT offers a useful function, unless you're inspecting deep sea rigs. A GMT will also be very versatile in that it can be worn with jeans or a business suit.

Lange produces somewhere around 3000 watches a year vs. Rolex's 1 million watches, if exclusivity matters at all to you. There are more iconic Lange's to consider later, like the Lange 1, Datograph, and Zeitwerk but all are significantly more expensive than a Rolex. There is a myth usually promoted by people who have never handled one or owned one that these are purely dress watches. Not so: the Zeitwerk is anything but a dress watch, as is the Datograph.

Before pulling the trigger make sure you spend a good amount of time trying on different watches - who knows you may end up making an entirely different choice from the ones you're currently considering.

[PJ S]

Originally Posted by Le Chef

...At some point you will likely travel for work and the GMT offers a useful function, unless you're inspecting deep sea rigs.

And so does an iPhone! (Other mobiles are also available, apparently)

AL&S produce pretty much double the figure you mentioned, and Rolex did indicate they produced 1M watches 3-4 years ago, iirc, but were cutting back – the last COSC data revealed circa 800K were tested by them.

[Le Chef]

Originally Posted by PJ S

And so does an iPhone! (Other mobiles are also available, apparently)

AL&S produce pretty much double the figure you mentioned, and Rolex did indicate they produced 1M watches 3-4 years ago, iirc, but were cutting back – the last COSC data revealed circa 800K were tested by them.

The number was mentioned at the factory, so will take their figures over any other estimates, thanks.

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by PJ S

...Rolex did indicate they produced 1M watches 3-4 years ago....

Do you have a citation for that?

[PJ S]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

Do you have a citation for that?

Let me re-phrase…Rolex acknowledged that they produced too many in one particular year.
Still trying to find it, but something I recall seeing.

In the meantime...http://www.forbes.com/sites/jackfors...ognized-watch/

And COSC report for 2014, showing a reduction on the previous year’s numbers.

https://monochrome-watches.com/busin...ustry-in-2014/
http://www.europastar.com/news/10040...e-in-2011.html
http://www.watch-insider.com/news/sw...-cosc-players/

Some discrepancy about the magic 1M number, but I mentioned to the local AD the 800K, and he quickly replied with “And the rest.”, adding that estimates are that Rolex do produce 1M pieces – something still considered to be the case...http://www.0024watchworld.com/visiti...om-the-oyster/

Irrespective of exact number, the main point to take away from the remark is that one is mass produced (and then some), the other not even close.

[aekdb]

Sub no date is my vote

[dbluevette]

Als