Buying Direct from an A. Lange & Söhne Boutique

[llngoc]

Originally Posted by ButtButt

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It is a Little Lange One moonphase with aventurine dial. I originally ordered this with an AD with a modest discount as soon as it was announced. About 9 months in, the AD informed me that he was not able to get the watch from Lange anymore. Worse yet, by that time, Lange has stopped taking in new orders due to production issue. So I contacted SCP Lange and they took my name and contacted me just back in January when ordering resumed. If I had gone to the boutique directly, we would have the watch for over a year already and avoided the two price hikes. The boutique told me if I want to avoid he March 19 price hike, I will need to pay in full before then.

[ButtButt]

Originally Posted by llngoc

It is a Little Lange One moonphase with aventurine dial. I originally ordered this with an AD with a modest discount as soon as it was announced. About 9 months in, the AD informed me that he was not able to get the watch from Lange anymore. Worse yet, by that time, Lange has stopped taking in new orders due to production issue. So I contacted SCP Lange and they took my name and contacted me just back in January when ordering resumed. If I had gone to the boutique directly, we would have the watch for over a year already and avoided the two price hikes. The boutique told me if I want to avoid he March 19 price hike, I will need to pay in full before then.

That will be really nice, I love those dials.

These price hikes are getting ridiculous, I wouldn’t be surprised if the difference would be enough to buy a new Rolex

[Bearxj86]

Originally Posted by Russell996

Not sure how cutting production, raising prices and a no discount policy will negatively effect the secondary!

Been asking awhile of my Lange folks what production is and they keep saying 4000 to 5000 a year. Haven't heard of any production cuts, can you elaborate?

[Russell996]

Originally Posted by Bearxj86

Been asking awhile of my Lange folks what production is and they keep saying 4000 to 5000 a year. Haven't heard of any production cuts, can you elaborate?

Well production pre-covid was 5500 and dropped as I understand during COVID to approx 3000.

[bondtoys]

Originally Posted by Russell996

Not sure how cutting production, raising prices and a no discount policy will negatively effect the secondary!

It will negatively effect secondary prices as their watches will become even more expensive

[RolexSimon]

Originally Posted by bondtoys

It will negatively effect secondary prices as their watches will become even more expensive

Expense bears no relation to secondary prices which are based on supply and demand. Less available - more wanting - prices increase.

[CFR]

Originally Posted by HAPConst

Who cares about the experience and going to boutiques and all this other nonsense. Find a grey dealer selling what you want, wire them the money, and have the watch 2 days later. Waiting months to be “pampered” is insane….wanted to be pampered is almost as insane.

Are there reputable grey dealers selling new Langes these days? They existed years ago but I think not so much lately, especially since Lange is moving to a boutique-only model.

Originally Posted by Russell996

Well production pre-covid was 5500 and dropped as I understand during COVID to approx 3000.

Production temporarily dropped to a bit more than 3000 during the pandemic but is now back up to normal, about 5000 (or 5500?) watches/year I believe. A Lange employee asked me the other day, "Why am I getting these phone calls asking if production is being cut? What's that all about?" He didn't know it was caused by some random YouTube video.

[Russell996]

Originally Posted by CFR

Production temporarily dropped to a bit more than 3000 during the pandemic but is now back up to normal, about 5000 (or 5500?) watches/year I believe. A Lange employee asked me the other day, "Why am I getting these phone calls asking if production is being cut? What's that all about?" He didn't know it was caused by some random YouTube video.

Pretty sure the reason the Lange employee will be getting calls is because if you go to some Boutiques they have virtually zero stock with empty windows and delivery times on client pieces have been slipping quite drastically. Now possibly the empty windows are due to the level of sales increasing (I have no evidence of this except secondary prices have firmed up considerably) but with the closure of AD's and the Boutique only model I would of thought boutiques would at least have a window display. I also understand that German watch production was hit harder than Swiss production due to COVID restrictions so I guess with all this anecdotal evidence people have come to a conclusion about current production levels. Even if production is unchanged there appears to be pent up demand causing a lack of pieces for sale either in store or pre-ordered.

[Russell996]

Originally Posted by RolexSimon

Expense bears no relation to secondary prices which are based on supply and demand. Less available - more wanting - prices increase.

You are both correct and incorrect. Supply and demand is clearly key. As MSRP increases some clients who were looking to buy new are tempted to look to buy on the secondary rather than pay the increasing new cost, other new used buyers also come into the market as suddenly the used pieces start to look great value compared to the increased MSRP. This increasing secondary demand ramps up used prices as supply decreases due to stock being sold. This in turn means some clients look again at the new market as the price gap closes and so the cycle continues. Increasing MSRP always drives prices on the secondary unless there is no demand.

[Bikerider]

Don't know what to do...reached out to a US Boutique for a certain ALS model, they said "it's available for order" I'd need to place a deposit then it's 6-8 months. I'm concerned it will be a longer timeframe than promised and the deposit is "non-refundable". Essentially, ALS will have my money with no obligation to deliver. Putting watches aside, it seems like an unfair arrangement for the customer. Any experiences and advise would be appreciated.

[lkluk]

Originally Posted by Bikerider

Don't know what to do...reached out to a US Boutique for a certain ALS model, they said "it's available for order" I'd need to place a deposit then it's 6-8 months. I'm concerned it will be a longer timeframe than promised and the deposit in "non-refundable". Essentially, ALS will have my money with no time-frame oblg. to deliver...putting watches aside for a minute, it just seem like an unfair business arrangement to the customer. Any experiences and advise would be appreciated.

If you really like a certain model, there is no harm to pay deposit or full to lock the price, as ALS has increased MSRP in recent years on an annual basis. I placed deposit for a Lange 1 (191.032) in July 2022 and it came within two months. I think nowadays it will be difficult to purchase stock pieces in BT as they only displayed exhibition pieces and would like you to commit before letting you take the desired piece.

[joli160]

Originally Posted by Bikerider

Don't know what to do...reached out to a US Boutique for a certain ALS model, they said "it's available for order" I'd need to place a deposit then it's 6-8 months. I'm concerned it will be a longer timeframe than promised and the deposit is "non-refundable". Essentially, ALS will have my money with no obligation to deliver. Putting watches aside, it seems like an unfair arrangement for the customer. Any experiences and advise would be appreciated.

Personally I’d never do that. Many things can happen in 8 months.
Just go grey and have it tomorrow

[SoylentGreenChi]

I would talk with the team at Burdeens in Chicago (the Lange and Vacheron boutique) because they can advise on both the boutique and grey paths. Ask for Aaron - he is usually at the Vacheron Boutique location and he’s great, super knowledgeable and he will shoot you straight.

[windingmybusiness]

Originally Posted by Bikerider

Don't know what to do...reached out to a US Boutique for a certain ALS model, they said "it's available for order" I'd need to place a deposit then it's 6-8 months. I'm concerned it will be a longer timeframe than promised and the deposit is "non-refundable". Essentially, ALS will have my money with no obligation to deliver. Putting watches aside, it seems like an unfair arrangement for the customer. Any experiences and advise would be appreciated.

I was quoted 8-12 months and they delivered in 10. Most models are available today used for under retail. That wasn’t true for the piece I ordered at the time I ordered it. If it was, I would have bought used. But I’ll never be a big fish for Lange so “relationship” wasn’t a priority for me.

[Calatrava r]

I bought a few pieces from the boutique this year. Great service and experience both times.

[hgg43c]

I placed a 30% deposit last September and was told that it would be at least a 12 month time frame for delivery - turned out it was aprox 8 months before I got my Datograph on my wrist at the end of May. It was the first time that I actually gave a deposit to a AD so I did have my reservations.

The overall experience was stellar - no complaints - plus my SA called me to let me know that there was a price increase coming earlier this year - gave me the option of paying off the watch at the 2023 price - good communication/good people.

The other option would be to go grey - and get it on your wrist now.

[DTNSS]

They are pretty good from my experience. No bs.


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[JR16]

I wouldn’t worry about a deposit w a company owned boutique - if the boutique is owned by an AD then I would have concerns


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[CFR]

Originally Posted by Bikerider

Don't know what to do...reached out to a US Boutique for a certain ALS model, they said "it's available for order" I'd need to place a deposit then it's 6-8 months. I'm concerned it will be a longer timeframe than promised and the deposit is "non-refundable". Essentially, ALS will have my money with no obligation to deliver. Putting watches aside, it seems like an unfair arrangement for the customer. Any experiences and advise would be appreciated.

Unfortunately this is the only way to get a new Lange from a boutique now. As others have said, putting down a deposit with a corporate-owned boutique is annoying but not especially risky, and full deposit locks in final price.

Re the suggestion to "go grey": The grey-market pipeline for Lange was robust 20 years ago but is now ancient history.

Re the suggestion to use Burdeen's: Burdeen's is great for advice but will no longer be a Lange boutique soon (if they still are right now). Burdeen's are/were a "partner boutique." Lange has 4 partner boutiques in the US: Aspen (Meridian), Chicago (Burdeen's), Houston (Zadok), and Las Vegas (Bellusso). The other US boutiques are corporate-owned. I wouldn't buy a new Lange from Burdeen's -- a non-corporate boutique that'll soon not be a boutique at all -- unless (a) I got a discount or (b) they had the watch in stock and I was nearly 100% certain that I wouldn't be getting a hard-to-get Lange in the future and therefore wouldn't need to establish an enduring relationship with a boutique.