Important Collector's Wristwatches, P...

Grand Havana Room, May 26, 2004

LOT 295

A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte i. SA., Tourbillon "Pour le Mérite", No. 120/150, Ref. 701.011. Produced in a limited edition of 150 examples in 18K gold in the 1990s, with only 15 produced in 18K pink gold. 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 and certificate.

USD 130,000 - 160,000

EUR 110,000 - 135,000

Sold: USD 142,200

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, subsidiary sunk guilloché silver dials for the seconds and the up-and-down indication, aperture with polished steel bridge to view the tourbillon. Pink gold "alpha" hands. M. Cal. L 902.0-No. 410, Glashütte three-quarter plate, nickel-silver, movement decorated and engraved by hand,"fausses côtes" decoration, 29 jwels including 5 in screw-mounted gold châtons, 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 polished-steel equidistant three-arm carriage, glucydur balance with screws adjusted to 5 positions, Nivarox balance-spring with overcoil invented by Prof. Strasser, shock-absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance-spring.Dial, case and movement signed.Diam. 38 mm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 1

As new
Dial: 1 - 01

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. 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.