Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Mar 17, 2013

LOT 541

LANGE & SÖHNE POUR LE MÉRITE TOURBILLON LIMITED EDITION ? WHITE GOLD ? THE FIRST EXAMPLE IN WHITE GOLD AT AUCTION A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte I/SA., Tourbillon ?Pour le Mérite,? movement No. 409, No. 133/150, case No. 110383, Ref. 701.001. Made circa 1996 in a limited edition of 150 examples ? 15 in white gold. Extremely fine and equally rare, 18K white gold wristwatch with visible one-minute tourbillon regulator, 36-hour power reserve and an 18K white gold A. Lange & Söhne buckle. Accompanied by a Lange & Sohne proof of origin.

CHF 180,000 - 280,000

USD 195,000 - 300,000 / EUR 145,000 - 225,000

Sold: CHF 338,500

C. Three-body, solid, polished and brushed, curved straight lugs, transparent case back with 6 screws, sapphire crystals. D. Blued with painted Arabic numerals and dot indexes on the 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. White gold alpha hands. M. Cal. L 902.0, Glashütte 3/4 plate, maillechort, fausses cotes decoration, 29 ruby 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. 38.5 mm. THICKNESS 10 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 1*

As new

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 1-01

As new

HANDS Original

Notes

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.