Brand comparisons usually run on opinion. This one runs on settled transactions: 5,871 recorded sales of Patek Philippe and 119 of A. Lange & Söhne, all in US dollars so the figures are directly comparable.
What each one actually costs
The median Patek Philippe result is $20,480. The median A. Lange & Söhne result is $40,640. On typical examples, A. Lange & Söhne carries roughly 2.0 times the price of Patek Philippe at auction.
Half of all Patek Philippe sales land between $8,320 and $56,250. For A. Lange & Söhne the middle half runs $19,250 to $60,960.
Which one surprises the specialists
46% of Patek Philippe lots beat their high estimate, against 57% for A. Lange & Söhne. That gap says the trade is more often caught out by A. Lange & Söhne, which is a sign of demand outrunning the published guide.
Breadth of the record
Our archive covers 1,662 distinct Patek Philippe references and 91 for A. Lange & Söhne, with results going back to 2001 and 2010 respectively. The top recorded result is $5,202,000 for Patek Philippe and $736,600 for A. Lange & Söhne.
What this does not tell you
A median is not a verdict. These brands overlap heavily at the edges, and a well chosen example of the cheaper one will outrun a poor example of the dearer one. Condition, completeness and model matter more than the badge on the dial.
