Collector's Pocket Watches, Wristwatc...

New York, Grand Havana Room, May 21, 2003

LOT 41

A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte i. SA., Tourbillon "Pour le Mérite", No. 107/150,Ref. 701.011. Produced in a limited edition of 150 examples in 18K gold in the 1990's, with only 15 produced in 18K pink gold. Sold on March 3, 1999. Production of this reference started in 1994.Extremely fine and very rare, 18K pink gold gentleman's wristwatch with visible one-minute tourbillon regulator, 36 hours power reserve and an 18K pink gold A. Lange & Söhne buckle. Accompanied by a leather fitted box, certificate and an extra 18K pink gold deployant clasp.

C. three-body, solid, polished and brushed, curved straight lugs, transparent case back with 6 screws to view the movement, sapphire crystals. D. black with applied pink gold indexes, auxiliary sunk guilloché silver dials for the seconds and the up-and-down indication, aperture with polished steel bridge to view the tourbillon. "Alpha" pink gold hands. M. Cal. L 902.0-No. 432, Glashütte three-quarter plate, nickel-silver, movement decorated and engraved by hand, ""fausses côtes"" decoration, 29jewels 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.The Tourbillon "Pour le Mérite"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, only 15 were produced in white gold and only 15 in pink gold. 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, flawlesexecution and craftsmanship stand on their own.