A. Lange & Söhne - The New York Watch Auction: XI New York Saturday, December 7, 2024 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: A. Lange & Söhne
    Year: Circa 1995
    Reference No: 701.001
    Movement No: No. 402
    Case No: 110’265; No. 15/150
    Model Name: Tourbillon Pour Le Mérite
    Material: 18K yellow gold
    Calibre: Manual, cal. L902.0, 29 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold A. Lange & Söhne buckle
    Dimensions: 38.5mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement, and buckle signed.
    Accessories: Accompanied by A. Lange & Söhne presentation box and Pour Le Mérite by Peter Chong book.

  • Catalogue Essay

    Taking the tourbillon to new heights, the Pour le Mérite was the first wristwatch to feature the most precious fusée-and-chain transmission, a refined constant-force mechanism that was developed together with Renaud & Papi at the time. Used to equalize the mainspring’s power, a fusée and chain was used on all 12 historic Lange tourbillon pocket watches produced since the founding of the brand in 1845. This complication optimizes the rate accuracy of the watch. The most famous of these twelve tourbillons, the reference 41000 “Jahrhundertourbillon” was exhibited at the Paris World Exhibition in 1900. The Pour Le Mérite Tourbillon is a direct descendent of the 41000, both technically and aesthetically, with the same finely constructed tourbillon carriage.

    Exceedingly rare and important, the present ref. 701.001 is numbered 15 of the 150 timepieces made in yellow gold. A complete work of art, the Tourbillon Pour le Mérite from circa 1995 of the earliest batch appears not to have aged at all in the intervening nearly three decades since its production. Featuring a gorgeous, symmetrical two register dial surrounded by elegant Arabic numerals and railway track, the arched signature draws your eye to the elegant tourbillon aperture at 6 o’clock. The diamond capped steel tourbillon bridge contrasts harmoniously with the gold tourbillon carriage. Proudly marked “Made in Germany” to represent fine Saxon watchmaking, the inscription is in a sans serif typeface that are only found on early models from the brand, latter designs were later changed to the serif font Engravers MT that is similar to the brand’s logo.

    Coming from the collection of an important collector of the brand, the present number 15 of 150 Tourbillon Pour Le Mérite is accompanied by Peter Chong’s “A. Lange & Söhne: The Pour Le Mérite Collection” tome, in undisputedly excellent condition.

  • 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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Ref. 701.001
An early and extremely rare limited edition yellow gold tourbillon wristwatch with fusée chain mechanism, power reserve indication, and presentation box, numbered 15 of a limited edition of 150 pieces

Circa 1995
38.5mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement, and buckle signed.

Estimate
$120,000 - 240,000 
CHF106,000-211,000
€112,000-225,000
HK$933,000-1,870,000

Sold for $196,850

Contact Specialist

Paul Boutros
Deputy Chairman, Watches, Head of Watches, Americas
+1 (212) 940-1293
watchesny@phillips.com

Isabella Proia
Head of Sale, New York
+1 (212) 940 1285
iproia@phillips.com

The New York Watch Auction: XI

New York Auction 7 - 8 December 2024