Both brands manufacture in Glashütte, Germany. Both make exceptional watches with German precision. But Lange occupies the ultra-luxury tier while GO offers accessible German haute horlogerie. Here's how they compare.
Quick Overview
Glashütte Original
- Founded: 1994 (GDR heritage)
- Owner: Swatch Group
- Range: $5,000 - $50,000
- Entry: Senator Excellence ~$8,000
- Position: Accessible German luxury
A. Lange & Söhne
- Founded: 1845 / 1990 revival
- Owner: Richemont
- Range: $25,000 - $500,000+
- Entry: Saxonia ~$18,000
- Position: Ultra-luxury, Holy Grail tier
Movement Finishing
Glashütte Original finishes to excellent standards—three-quarter plates, blued screws, hand-engraved balance cocks. Quality rivals Swiss brands at higher prices.
A. Lange & Söhne is legendary. Double assembly (entirely built twice), hand-engraved, hand-finished to standards few match. Among the finest movement finishing anywhere.
Who Should Buy GO?
- Those wanting German haute horlogerie at accessible prices
- Buyers seeking value—GO underpriced vs comparable Swiss
- Collectors wanting variety in their collection origin
- Those who appreciate German engineering without Lange budget
Who Should Buy Lange?
- Collectors seeking the pinnacle of finishing
- Those wanting ultimate German watchmaking
- Buyers for whom budget is secondary to excellence
- Collectors building museum-grade collections
Final Verdict
Buy Glashütte Original for exceptional German watchmaking at 30-50% of Lange pricing. The PanoMaticLunar is outstanding value.
Buy A. Lange & Söhne when only the absolute best will do. The Lange 1 is a modern icon; the finishing is unparalleled.
GO is the rational choice. Lange is the emotional one. Both are exceptional.