A. Lange & Söhne - The Geneva Watch Auction: XI Geneva Sunday, June 28, 2020 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: A. Lange & Söhne
    Year: 2003
    Reference No: 119.032
    Movement No: Pink gold: 39'135
    White gold: 39'035

    Case No: Pink gold: 152'308
    White gold: 152'508
    Both stamped 8/101

    Model Name: Grand Lange 1 Luna Mundi
    Material: 18K white gold and 18K pink gold
    Calibre: Manual, cal. L901.8 and L901.7 , 54 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: 18K white gold and 18K pink gold Lange pin buckles
    Dimensions: 41mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed

  • Catalogue Essay

    Even though A. Lange & Söhne is renowned for its technical mastery and highly engineered watches it manages to infuse its creations with a dash of poetry like the present set of Lange 1 Luna Mundi originally launched in 2003 as a limited edition of 101 pieces of which the present set is number 8.

    Each watch correctly indicates the moon’s position as seen from different hemispheres, the white gold model features the UrsaMajor (or Big Dipper) constellation on the dial and depicts the phases of the moon as seen in the Northern Hemisphere whereas the pink gold model features the Southern Cross and depicts the phases of the moon in the Southern Hemisphere.

    The watchmakers and engineers at Lange devised a very accurate system for the indication of the moonphases that move continuously (as opposed to most common versions found where the moon jumps an increment once or twice a day) and are so accurate that they need to be set once every 122 years.

    The calibre L901.8 and L901.7 housed within features Lange’s superlative Technicolor finish. The Ursa Major model features 398 components, whereas Southern Cross’ cal L901.7, requires four more parts, including an additional wheel that reverses the rotation of the moon disc.

  • 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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8

Ref. 119.032
A rare and attractive set of two limited edition gold wristwatches with large date and moonphase display

2003
41mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and buckle signed

Estimate
CHF30,000 - 60,000 
€27,800-55,600
$32,800-65,600

Sold for CHF56,250

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Watches, Continental Europe and the Middle East

41 79 637 1724
aghotbi@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: XI

Geneva Auction 27 - 28 June 2020