Headquartered in Dresden, Germany, the independent brand Lang & Heyne was founded in 2001 by talented watchmakers Marco Lang and Mirko Heyne. After Heyne departed in the early years, Marco Lang continued to lead the brand until 2019, and the manufacture remains renowned today for its exceptional craftsmanship and distinctive designs. The Moritz was first created in 2005, Numbered 53, the present Moritz made in 2015, was produced under Marco Lang’s leadership and comes with his personally signed certificate and the 2015 hang tags. This piece transcends the typical calendar watch, standing as a remarkable creation in its own right.
At first glance, the colorful enameled sub-dial captures the eye, illustrating a view of Earth from the perspective of Europe and Africa. The watch features a unique complication that reflects the Earth’s relationship with the sun. While the Earth rotates around the sun once per year, it also spins 365 times on its own axis. Due to the Earth’s axial tilt of 23 degrees, the sun’s rays strike at varying angles throughout the year. During the Spring and Fall equinoxes on March 21 and September 21, the Earth’s equatorial line aligns precisely with the center mark of the scale. As we approach the Summer solstice in June, the disc tilts to its extreme left position, aligning the equator with the 23-degree mark, indicating the longest day and shortest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Conversely, in December, the disc inclines to the right, reflecting the Southern Hemisphere receiving the sun’s most direct energy.
This intricate mechanism is powered by the manually wound Caliber III, which incorporates unique features and exquisite finishing techniques, based on a movement construction similar to Caliber I. The hand-engraved signature, beautifully crafted balance cock, snailing on the ratchet wheel, and diamond endstone are truly captivating. The watch also includes a stop-seconds function, allowing for precise time setting, while turning the crown in the second position enables forward or backward adjustments of the date, with the Earth’s disc tilting accordingly. The design is exceptionally legible, featuring elegant moon phases at 6 o’clock, while the day aperture is user-friendly, facilitating easy date reading.
Adding to its uniqueness, this watch having been originally created with a silvered dial, boasts a special salmon dial and purple hands, designed for this project celebrating the 11th anniversary of The Lavish Attic. This marks the first time a salmon dial has been produced in the Moritz collection, allowing the owner to switch dials at their pleasure. This presents a unique opportunity to own an exclusive piece from the Marco Lang era, and we are delighted to showcase this monumental collection for the first time in the history of Phillips.
Please note that a portion of the proceeds of the sale of the present watch will be given by the Consignor to Albert Hausammann Foundation. The foundation provides financial support to eligible students from regions in Asia for the purpose of training or advancing their skills in the art of watchmaking.
