Credits: Article and images by Martin Green @ Quill & Pad. See the original article here - https://quillandpad.com/2023/08/14/lang-1943-field-watch-edition-one-competitively-priced-and-approaching-perfection/
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If you doubt that the link between the legacy of Gerd-Rüdiger Lang and this new watch brand is only the use of his name, think again. Lang not only supplied his name to this new endeavor in the final chapter of his life but also supported it with his stock of vintage watch movements, in particular those of Marvin. This once esteemed Swiss brand went out of business during the quartz crisis, and Lang acquired their remaining stock of thousands of fine movements in the 1980s. This combined forms the basis of the Field Watch Edition One, the first watch of Lang 1943, and unfortunately, Gerd-Rüdiger Lang’s last watch before he died. But his legacy lives on.
Lang 1943 Field Watch Edition One
Trouble in paradise
The Field Watch Edition One is posing quite a dilemma for me, as I like to examine watches with a critical eye. However, this Lang 1943 is made with such care that, quite frankly, the only critical note that I have is the name. While it makes sense to add Lang’s year of birth, 1943, to the brand name as a tribute, it can be confused by some not familiar with the story that this is the year of the brand’s founding.
Combined with the vintage-inspired design and the historic movement, that is not far-fetched.
Lang 1943 Field Watch Edition One
With this minor remark, we are getting to the good stuff, and that is a field watch honoring what was quintessential the first tool watch in history. However, the Lang 1943 is not a homage, it stands its own ground and can best be summarized as a beautiful tool.
Lang 1943 Field Watch Edition One caseband and crown
The first thing that the team at Lang 1943 got right was the proportions. A diameter of 39mm is spot on, particularly when the thickness is just 8.40 mm. This results in a timepiece that is comfortable to wear, large enough to be easy to read, but not overly bulky that it hinders movements.
The three-piece case is well made, with relatively short lugs, and a brushed finish on every surface. The watch could have outlined its shape more by polishing some angles on the case and lugs, like Cartier does with the Santos, but that would take away from what a field watch stands for – it’s a tool.
Also the size of the strap, at 20mm wide it makes for a beautiful proportioned watch. The crown is slightly oversized but not thick. Thanks to deep grooves, it is easy to operate. This is also the only part where we see some polishing. A contemporary touch is the ‘L43’ abbreviation of the Lang logo decorating the crown.
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Credits: Article and images by Martin Green @ Quill & Pad. See the original article here - https://quillandpad.com/2023/08/14/lang-1943-field-watch-edition-one-competitively-priced-and-approaching-perfection/
