A. Lange & Söhne - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XVI Hong Kong Wednesday, May 24, 2023 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: A. Lange & Söhne
    Year: Circa 2016
    Reference No: 730.048F
    Movement No: 181’521
    Case No: 222’673, 23/30
    Model Name: 1815 Tourbillon Handwerkskunst
    Material: 18K pink gold
    Calibre: Manual, cal. L102.1, 20 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile
    Clasp/Buckle: 18K pink gold A. Lange & Söhne deployant clasp
    Dimensions: 39.5mm diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by A. Lange & Söhne guarantee stamped A. Lange & Söhne Hong Kong dated 24th May 2016, instruction manual, product literature, leather folio, slipcase, fitted presentation box and outer packaging.

  • Catalogue Essay

    Since its relaunch in 1994, A. Lange & Söhne has wooed the horological world with its impeccable watchmaking and superlative movement finish. The 1815 Tourbillon Handwerkskunst is the celebration of the brand’s 200th anniversary of the birth of F.A. Lange. The result, is nothing less but a breath-taking creation of artisanal excellence. Only endowed on limited edition models since 2011, the 1815 Tourbillon Handwerkskunst is presented with 30 pieces only.

    Taking translation as artisanship from the German word, all details falls on the captivating granular dial finished in a grey shade against the warmth of its pink gold counterparts. Elaborately finished to a new level of excellence, the appearance of the dial undergoes an intensive process that make use of additional finishing and decoration techniques such as the elegant tremblage engraving. The engraver would sculpt the material with a crafted lining burin to achieve the uniform, refined granular surface. The A. Lange & Söhne logo and the numerals are further hand cut in relief and then mirror polished. It takes a full two weeks of painstaking focus to engrave just one dial.

    Following across the periphery is the highlight of the large one-minute tourbillon with an aperture that sees through to the movement side of the timepiece. Powered by the manually wounded L.102.1 calibre under the ¾ frosted plate with a total of 262 parts, the tourbillon provided zero reset functionality and is furthermore finessed with the brand’s signature engraving and diamond endstone.

    Executed with perfection to the smallest detail, it is not to surprise that the German brand has garnered increasing attention from collectors internationally. Numbered 23 from the limited edition of 30 pieces, the present example is not only ultra-rare but also preserved in pristine condition and accompanied with its full set of accessories.

  • Artist Biography

    A. Lange & Söhne

    German • 1845

    Originally founded in 1845 by Ferdinand Adolph Lange in Glashütte, Dresden, Germany, the firm established an entire watchmaking culture and industry in Glashütte. The brand quickly became Germany's finest watchmaker, first creating dependable, easy-to-repair watches before going on to produce some of the world's finest complicated pocket watches, including Grande Sonnerie watches, tourbillon watches and Grande Complications.

    On the final day of World War II, their factories were destroyed by Russian bombers, and in 1948 the brand was confiscated by the Soviet Union. Following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1990, Ferdinand's great grandson Walter Lange re-established the brand with the objective to once again produce top-quality luxury watches. Now part of the Richemont Group, its original vintage and modern creations are highly coveted by collectors. Key models from the modern era include the Lange 1, Pour Le Mérite Tourbillon and the Zeitwerk.

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Σ828

Ref. 730.048F
An impressive, rare and “like-new” limited edition pink gold tourbillon wristwatch with hand engraved dial, zero-reset mechanism, guarantee and presentation box, numbered 23 of a limited edition of 30 pieces

Circa 2016
39.5mm diameter
Case, dial, movement and clasp signed

Estimate
HK$1,000,000 - 2,500,000 
€117,000-292,000
$128,000-321,000

Sold for HK$1,778,000

Contact Specialist

Thomas Perazzi
Head of Watches, Asia
+852 2318 2001
WatchesHK@phillips.com

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XVI

Hong Kong Auction 24 - 25 May 2023