Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

New York, Dec 07, 2005

LOT 44

?Lange 1 Tourbillon? A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte i. Sachsen, "Lange 1 Tourbillon", No. 246/250. Made in a limited edition of 250 examples in 18K pink gold and 150 in platinum. Extremely fine and rare, 18K pink gold gentleman's wristwatch with visible one-minute tourbillon regulator, offcenter hour dial, oversized date, power-reserve and an 18K pink gold A. Lange & Söhne buckle. Accompanied by a fitted box and a certificate.

USD 80,000 - 100,000

EUR 66,000 - 83,000

Sold: USD 80,500

C. Three-body, solid, polished and brushed, rounded bezel, transparent case back with 6 screws, push button on the band to correct the date, sapphire crystals. D. Satiné, solid silver, subsidiary off-center hour dial with applied pink gold Roman numerals and dart indexes, outer minute divisions, subsidiary seconds dial at 9, sector for the up-and-down indication at 3, apertures for the oversized date at 1 and for the tourbillon regulator under a polished steel bridge at 5. Pink gold luminous "alpha" hands. M. Cal. L 9611, Glashütte 3/4 plate, maillechort, "fausses côtes" decoration, 49 jewels including 7 in screwmounted gold châtons, 2 diamond endstones in screw-mounted gold châtons, lateral lever escapement with one-minute tourbillon regulator, cage with 3 equidistant polished steel arms, monometallic balance adjusted to 5 positions, shock-absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance spring, hand-engraved balance bridge. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 38 mm. Thickness 10 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 1

As new
Dial: 1-01

As new

HANDS Original

Notes

?Lange 1 Tourbillon? At the 1900 Paris World Exhibition, Emil Lange presented a pocket watch with one-minute tourbillon regulator to the assembled panel of experts. He was determined to enter the new century with an outstanding horological masterpiece. One hundred years later, the same spirit inspired Lange & Söhne to greet the 21st century in the same manner, when they launched the new Lange 1 Tourbillon. These watches were produced in a limited edition of 250 in pink gold, and 150 in platinum, between 2000 and 2003. The Tourbillon assembly consists of 72 parts and is held in place by two diamond endstones, a feature of the firm?s earlier 1A quality pocket watches. The movement, which demonstrates the oustanding abilities and cumulative knowledge of the A. Lange & Söhne watchmakers, is composed of a total of 378 impeccably finished parts, and can truly be considered one of the masterpieces of 21st century watchmaking.