Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...

Hong Kong, Jul 10, 2005

LOT 399

"Pour le Mérite" A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte I. SA., Tourbillon "Pour le Mérite", No. 107/150, Ref. 701.001. Made in a limited edition of 15 examples in pink gold in 1996. Extremely fine and very rare, 18K pink gold gentleman's wristwatch with visible one-minute tourbillon regulator, 36-hour power reserve and an 18K pink gold A. Lange & Söhne deployant clasp. Accompanied by original Lange & Söhne boxes and certificate and extra bracelet with 18K pink gold Lange & Söhne buckle.

HKD 850,000 - 1,100,000

EUR 90,000 - 110,000 / USD 110,000 - 140,000

Sold: HKD 1,470,000

C. Three-body, solid, polished, curved straight lugs, transparent case backsecured by 6 screws, sapphire crystals. D. Matte black withapplied gold lozenge-shaped indexes, subsidliary silvered guilloché dialsfor the seconds and the power reserve indication, aperturewith polished steel bridge to view the tourbillon cage. Pink gold "alpha"hands. M. Cal. L 902.0, Glashütte three-quarter plate,nickel-silver, movement decorated and engraved by hand, "fausses côtes"decoration, 29 jewels including 5 inscrew-mounted gold châtons, power equalization with chain and fusee,maintaining power and stepped planetary gearing,tourbillon cage bearing 2 diamond endstones, lateral lever escapement withone-minute tourbillon regulator withequidistant polished steel three-arm carriage, glucydur balance with screwsadjusted to 5 positions, Nivarox balancespringwith overcoil invented by Prof. Strasser, shock-absorber, self-compensatingBreguet balance-spring.Dial, case and movement signed.Diam. 38.5 mm. Thickness 10.5 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 2

Very good
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. 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. To the best of our knowledge, this is the only model produced today utilizing power equalization with chain and fusee. Only 12.3 mm. in diameter, the tourbillon itself comprises 76 components, weighing 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. In addition to these impressive technical features, the esthetical appeal, flawless execution and craftsmanship stand on their own.