Important Collectors' Watches, Pocket...
Geneva, Mar 16, 2008
LOT 242
Pour le Mérite A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte i. SA., Tourbillon "Pour le Mérite", movement No. 412, case No. 110343, Ref. 701.001. No. 93 of a limited edition of 150 examples. Made in 1996. Extremely fine and very rare, 18K yellow gold wristwatch with visible one-minute tourbillon regulator, 36-hour power reserve and an 18K yellow gold A. Lange & Söhne buckle. Accompanied by a fitted box, guarantee, and instruction booklet.
CHF 160,000 - 180,000
USD 145,000 - 160,000 / EUR 100,000 - 110,000
C. Three-body, solid, polished and brushed, curved straight lugs, transparent case back with 6 screws to view the movement, sapphire crystals. D. Matte silver with painted Arabic numerals, subsidiary sunk silver dials for the seconds and the up and down indication, aperture with polished steel bridge to view the tourbillon cage. Blued steel Alpha hands. M. Cal. L 902.0, Glashütte 3/4 plate, maillechort, fausses cotes decoration, 29 jewels including 5 in screw-mounted gold chatons, power equalization with chain and fusée maintaining power and stepped planetary gearing, tourbillon cage bearing 2 diamond endstones, lateral lever escapement with one-minute tourbillon regulator with equidistant polished steel three-arm carriage, Glucydur balance with screws adjusted to 5 positions, Nivarox balance-spring with Strasser overcoil, shock-absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance-spring, hand engraved balance bridge. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 38 mm. Thickness 11 mm.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: |
|
Case: 2 |
Very good |
Movement: 1 |
As new |
Dial: 1-01 |
As new HANDS Original |
Notes
Was produced in limited editions of 150 pieces in 18K gold, 50 in platinum and 1 in stainless steel. Out of the 50 platinum examples, 10 were produced with a link bracelet. Out 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 is the only model 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 only. 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 esthetical appeal, flawless execution and craftsmanship stand on their own.