Important Collectors' Watches, Pocket...
Geneva, Mar 16, 2008
LOT 243
Pour le Mérite A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte I. SA., Tourbillon "Pour le Mérite", movement No. 336, case No. 110444, Ref. 701.005. No. 44 of a limited edition of 50 examples. Made in 1996. Extremely fine and rare platinum wristwatch with one-minute tourbillon regulator, and 36-hour power reserve. Accompanied by fitted box, guarantee, and instruction booklet.
CHF 250,000 - 300,000
USD 225,000 - 270,000 / EUR 155,000 - 190,000
Sold: CHF 249,800
C. Three-body, solid, polished and brushed, transparent case back with 6 screws for viewing the movement, sapphire crystals. D. Solid satiné silver with painted Arabic numerals, sunk subsidiary guilloché dials for the seconds and the up and down indication, aperture with polished steel bridge for viewing the tourbillon. Blued steel Alpha hands. M. Cal. L 902.0 - No. 336, Glashütte 3/4 plate, nickel-silver, hand decorated and engraved movement, fausses cotes decoration, 29 jewels including 5 in screw-mounted gold chatons, tourbillon cage bearing 2 diamond endstones, lateral lever escapement with one-minute tourbillon regulator with polished steel equidistant three-arm carriage, Glucydur balance with screws, adjusted to 5 positions, Nivarox balance-spring with Strasser overcoil, power equalization with chain and fusée, maintaining power and stepped planetary gearing, shock-absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance-spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 38 mm. Thickness 10.5 mm.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: |
|
Case: 2 |
Very good |
Movement: 2 |
Very good |
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. Of the 50 platinum examples, 10 were produced with 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 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 esthetic appeal, flawless execution and craftsmanship stand on their own.