Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...

New York, Jun 15, 2005

LOT 281

"Pour le Mérite" A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte I. SA., Tourbillon "Pour le Mérite", No. 28/50, movement No. 318, Ref. 701.005. Produced in a limited edition of 50 examples in the 1990s. Extremely fine and rare, platinum gentleman's wristwatch with one minute tourbillon regulator, and 36-hour power reserve.

USD 100,000 - 130,000

EUR 75,000 - 100,000

Sold: USD 203,000

C. Three-body, solid, polished and brushed, transparent case back with 6 screws to view the movement, sapphire crystals. D. Solid satinésilver with painted Arabic numerals, auxiliary sunk guilloché dials for the seconds and the up-and-down indication, aperture withpolished 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 equidis-tantthree-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-compen-satingBreguet balance-spring.Dial, case and movement signed.Diam. 38 mm. Thickness 10.5 mm.


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Case: 1

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Movement: 1

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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 steel 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.