For me, I’d be supporting Rexhep Rexhepi at Akrivia. I love his work.

I agree with you to an extent regarding Journe’s design, but I feel like what Lange offers is tremendous build quality and a certain engineering prowess, especially their Richard Lange line.

 

Could you describe what seemed cheap about the hands? I could use something to assuage my regret at not buying one a year ago.

 

They almost seemed plastic. I didn't like the cream color. But I am kind of particular about hands.. One reason I just don't like the zenith a386 vs the a3817....

 

Actually no. It doesnt appeal to me.

I ordered a RG zeitwerk. Still hasnt arrived.

 

Had a chance to see the Journe Rattrapante at my local AD today. Here are a few pics...

 

You can’t go wrong with either

 

FP Journe “He invented it and made it”
The market has spoken - look at FPJ resale values vs AL&S. He is a maverick with radical designs and horological innovations. He has strong opinions on discounting and depreciation if you read interviews. Buying a piece right now is like buying a piece made by Ferdinand Lange in the 19th century.

 

Maybe so, but as long as he uses that hand design, I'll never buy one of his watches....can't stand them...

 

Im not so sure. Describing his designs as hypermodern is what worries me that they will not stand up to the test of time. The appeal of something that is hypermodern is very fleeting since a modern aesthetic is of the moment.

I like a lot of Journes early work. His new stuff doesn’t appeal to me at all. It’s also interesting to read descriptions and reviews of the Chronometre Bleu from a few years ago. There was definitely not universal acclaim. For me, that just proves how mercurial tastes are in regards to his work.

I believe Chronoswiss was also a very hot brand at one point in time...

Some may look at Lange Sohne and see a boring design language. I see a time tested language with more permanence.

 

I am also in the camp that loved fpj early designs but have no interest in the current lineup. I doubt however early now discontinued fpj values will ever go down.. They are now classics and if anything will go up further

 

I agree that the older lineup feels much more timeless, at least to me.

 

For me the resonance and possibly the tourbillon (both 38mm versions) will just always be all time classic original designs. I don't think anything journe has done is close to those.

And it seems like the market has caught on.. These are now way above original msrp

I do wish I had gotten around to buying a tourbillon or a ruthenium dial variant because those are now completely out of reach.

 

An impressive collection sir.

Seems like both Lange and Journe are a win-win unless you are trying to buy an investment watch. Almost sounds like two different watch buying strategies and we are expecting them to reach a similar result. If the money aspect is that important, then Journe could be the better decision, if the market holds, but daytonas were "cheap" watches at one time...

 

I don't need my watches to appreciate.

What I do need from a modern company that sells watches that are as expensive as cars or even houses is some idea of how to protect secondary market value

Lange (and many others) either don't know or don't care. And with Lange in particular that was not always the case

 

The FP Journe Resonance is high on the list. I love the movement. Lange has taken some time but has grown on me as well though. Not that I can afford either.

 

The way I get over this is by assuming that anything I spend on a watch is lost money, and never losing more than what I’m comfortable with.

 

I agree. Plus, secondary market value should be irrelevant if you like the watch.

 

I agree that the new stuff is kind a departure from his early work and certainly the industry, but sometimes the risk takers like Urwerk, Vianney Halter, UN Freak, and MB&F find an early loyal customer base and get rewarded (even if unintentionally) with terrific investments at best and watches that sparked a movement at worst.

Let’s not forget how unsettled people were 40-50 years ago about a 6239 PN, or tri color register A386, or AP royal oak.

Good discussion and I’ll leave you with this beautiful design. As recognizable and praised as a Patek in 200 years? Possibly..

 

Possibly and again, I'm someone that loves that watch, but do you think it will be remembered and loved more for it's aesthetic qualities or it movement that combined historical horology with a ground-breaking form factor? I personally don't love the look of it because I gravitate toward more symmetrical dial design and don't love the text on the dial. I'd venture that's more the average person's view as well. But I think the movement will keep it praised for quite a long time.

That said, I'd gladly own one and look at it admiringly every day if I ever could.

 

I think they will be remembered for both (to your valid point, feels like asymmetry is part of his design ethos) and yes, I would gladly take the Resonance or any other piece