Important Collector's Wristwatches, P...

Grand Havana Room, May 26, 2004

LOT 296

A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte I. SA., Tourbillon "Pour le Mérite", No. 41/150, Ref. 701.001. Produced in a limited edition of 150 pieces in 1996, sold in May 1996. Extremely fine and very rare, 18K yellow gold gentleman's wristwatch with visible one-minute tourbillon regulator, 36-hour power reserve and an 18K yellow gold A. Lange & Söhne bracelet and deployant clasp. Accompanied by a leather fitted box and certificate.

USD 120,000 - 150,000

EUR 100,000 - 126,000

C. Three-body, solid, polished and brushed, curved straight lugs, transparent case back with 6 screws to view the movement, sapphire crystals. D. Matte silver with Arabic numerals, subsidliary sunk guilloché silver dials for the seconds and the up-and-down indication, aperture with polished steel bridge to view the tourbillon cage. Blued steel "alpha" hands. M. Cal. L 902.0, Glashütte three-quarter plate, nickel-silver, movement decorated and engraved by hand,"fausses côtes" decoration, 29 jewes 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 equidistant polished steel 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.


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Grade:
Case: 1

As new
Movement: 1

As new
Dial: 1 - 01

Notes

The Tourbillon "Pour le Mérite" was produced in limited editions of 150 examples in 18K gold, 50 in platinum and 1 in stainless steel. 10 of the 50 platinum examples were produced with a link bracelet. 15 of the 150 examples in 18K gold were produced in white gold and 15 in pink gold. This tourbillon chronometer is undoubtedly 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. To the best of our knowledge, this is the only model produced today featuring power equalization with chain and fusée. Only 12.3 mm. in diameter, the tourbillon itself comprises 76 components, and weighs 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. Aside from these impressive technical features, the esthetic appeal, flawless execution and craftsmanship are outstanding.