Important Limited Edition & Modern Co...

Grand Havana Room, New York, Sep 25, 2002

LOT 424

A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte I. SA., Tourbillon "Pour le Mérite", No. 5/50, Ref. 701.005. Produced in a limi-ted edition of 50 examples in the 1990's. Out of this edition, only 10 examples were produced on a platinum bracelet, the remaining 40 were produced with a leather strap. Extremely fine and rare, platinum gentleman's wristwatch with one minute tourbillon regu-lator, 36 hours power reserve and an integrated, platinum A. Lange & Söhne articulated link bracelet.

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Sold: USD 217,000

C. three-body, solid, polished and brushed, transparent case back with 6 screws to view the movement, sapphire crystals. D. solid satiné silver with painted Arabic numerals, auxiliary sunk guilloché dials for the seconds and the up-and-down indication, aperture with polished steel bridge to view the tourbillon. ""Alpha"" blued steel hands. M. Cal. L 902.0 - No. 354, Glashütte three-quarter plate, nickel-silver, movement decorated and engraved by hand, ""fausses-côtes"" decoration, 29 jewels including 5 in screw-mounted gold châtons, 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 overcoil invented by Prof. Strasser, 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. Approx. overall length: 195 mm.


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Case: 1

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Dial: 1 - 01

Notes

The "Pour le Merite" was produced in limited editions of 150 pieces in gold, 50 in platinum and 1 in stainless steel. Out of the 50 platinum examples, only 10 were produced with a link bracelet. 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 precise 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.