which lange 1815 would you offer on?

[vitalsigns]

Originally Posted by Russell996

Lange publish a full pricelist on their website. 1815 complete service of the movement is £1100 and a complete service of the case and movement is £1700. It’s fairly pricy but certainly not buyer beware since it is a known cost.

Caution is warranted here, especially with very poor condition pieces. A Lange owner posted his story of a huge service quote from Lange for a watch in apparent good condition that was previously serviced by a third party. Lange wanted to charge ~$10K (IIRC) to service the piece, and without providing any details on what was wrong with the piece to warrant a $10K charge. It does look like it turned out Ok for the owner, but proceed with caution nevertheless.

The prices on the website are standard prices but not an immutable quote.

Here's the beginning and end of the saga:

BEGINNING:

"Yesterday afternoon I was chatting with a fellow PuristS member what Lange he / I could buy next when at the same time I've got a mail vom Lange service center I've been waiting for. Six weeks ago I went to a Lange Boutique and dropped my beloved Lange 1 for a service request. I own this rare piece for about 10 years. The watch runs well, keeps time, no scrateches, perfect hands and dial (in my eyes) - just one of the date disks was not centered for 1/2 millimeter so I thought that a service will be a good idea.

So I got the estimate of service costs and was falling from chair. At first I thought there was a mistake but unfortunately it wasn't. Service and repair 8.300,- Euro (incl. tax) and optional case polish and change dial additional 1.900,- Euro (incl. tax) thats complete 10.200,- Euros... for a service of a "simple" Lange 1. If there is a real reason for this efford I expect that this will be explained but I didn't find anything on the Lange papers. I have no idea why I should change the dial... I asked the staff @ boutique but they can't tell me and confirmed, that this is no mistake.

Don't get me wrong: the watch works fine, great condition no water issue... 10 grand for a simple service??? I'm out. I'm completely scared of service costs of my complicated Lange watches. Sorry guys, I know that a Lange watch is a high end product, mostly handmade but I never ever justifies this amount. Lange is dead - for me! I will sell my Lange watches asap. and I will never again buy a Lange... sorry guys!"

THE OWNER'S FINAL POST:

"I still owe you an answer, with which I would like to end this topic. It seems that service topics are of great interest and this post probably tops the Watchprosite annual charts smile

I have now returned the watch. Initially it came back from Lange as I had handed it in. Then I took it to Wempe, as Wempe is currently still a certified service center of ALS and also receives spare parts. The cost estimate was 1925 euros including case refurbishment. After about 9 weeks I got the watch back. There was another small issue, so it had to go back to Wempe. After another 3 weeks, I now have the watch back and it looks very good. I paid exactly the amount of the estimate: 1925 euros. They also changed the mainspring barrel. The minimal traces of processing can still be seen under a 15x magnifying glass. But you can't see them with the naked eye. That's why it doesn't bother me.

I have learned a lot in that time. I have gotten great feedback from the forum, many PMs. If you exceed the recommended service interval more than twice, ALS does not treat it as a "service" but as a "repair" and the repair price list applies. So if 5 years is recommended and you bring the watch in for service within 10 years, it will be "cheaper".

Is there a happy ending now? I don't know. I've come to the realization that I'm not the kind of customer that ALS imagines. I can no longer do anything with the new sales policy. The emotions I had for this brand have grown cold. I have not yet decided whether I will sell all my watches. I will think about it for a while.

Thank you for your sympathy. Have a wonderful Christmas!"