Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Nov 13, 2016

LOT 211

A. LANGE & SÖHNE REF. 701.001 TOURBILLON YELLOW GOLD A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte I/SA., Tourbillon Pour le Mérite, movement No. 340, No. 58/150, case No. 110308, Ref. 701.001. Made in a limited edition of 150 pieces in 1996. Extremely fine and very rare, 18K yellow gold wristwatch with visible one-minute tourbillon regulator, 36-hour power reserve indication and an 18K yellow gold A. Lange & Söhne buckle. Accompanied by an A. Lange & Sohne proof of origin and Lange box.

CHF 150,000 - 250,000

HKD 1,200,000 - 2,000,000 / USD 153,000 - 255,000

Sold: CHF 187,500

Three-body, solid, polished and brushed, curved straight lugs, transparent case back with 6 screws, sapphire crystals. Matte silver with painted Arabic numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary dials for the seconds at 9 and the power reserve indication at 3, aperture with polished steel bridge to view the tourbillon cage at 6. Blued steel alpha hands. Cal. L 902.0, Glashütte 3/4 plate, fausses cotes and oeil-de-perdrix decoration, 29 jewels including 5 in screwmounted gold chatons, power equalization with chain and fusée maintaining power and stepped planetary gearing, tourbillon cage bearing 2 diamond end stones, lateral lever escapement with one-minute tourbillon regulator with equidistant polished steel three-arm carriage, Glucydur balance with screws adjusted to 5 positions, shock absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance spring, hand engraved balance bridge.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

Dial, case and movement signed. DIAM. 38 mm. THICKNESS 10 mm. The Tourbillon POUR LE MÉRITE was produced in limited editions of 150 pieces in 18K gold, 50 in platinum and 1 in stainless steel. Of the 50 platinum examples, 10 had a link bracelet. Of the 150 in 18K gold, 15 were produced in white gold and 15 in pink gold. A unique example was made in stainless style for Pisa, Milan. This tourbillon Chronometer is without exception the most prestigious of all wristwatches produced by A. LANGE & SÖHNE. It represents the culmination of over 150 years of experience in the production of high quality precision timepieces. As far as we know, this and only one other model (Lange's Pour Le Mérite Tourbograph) is produced today utilizing power equalization with chain and fusée. Only 12.3 mm. in diameter, the tourbillon itself comprises 76 components, weighing less than half a gram. The planetary transmission gear, compensating for the decreasing power of the mainspring, is built into a miniature cone, measuring only 10 mm. in diameter at its base, yet it comprises 38 separate parts. Besides these impressive technical features, the extraordinary esthetic appeal, flawless execution, and superb craftsmanship stand on their own.