Manufacturer: A. Lange & Söhne Year: 2016 Reference No: 730.048F Movement No: 181507 Case No: 222653; caseback further engraved n° 03/30 Model Name: 1815 Tourbillon Handwerkskunst Material: 18K pink gold Calibre: Manual, cal. L102.1, 20 jewels Bracelet/Strap: A. Lange & Söhne crocodile strap 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 March 02nd 2016, instruction manual, product literature, leather folio, 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. Since 2011, it has endowed an extra element of desire to a select number of models featuring incredible hand hammered dials that are a potent mix of masculine energy and delicate craftsmanship.
The present 30 piece limited edition 1815 Tourbillon Handwerkskunst (German for hand craftsmanship) is part of this elite category and was launched in 2015 in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of F.A. Lange. With the granular texture of the dial, Lange forged a new vision of art and craftsmanship. The rhodium plated pink gold dial is hand engraved by a special burin resulting in an effect called “tremblage”. 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 hand work to engrave just one dial.
The movement of this piece is also different to the regular 1815 tourbillon both in terms of implementation and finish. The ¾ plate has a frosted surface and certain elements such as the balance cock or the section above the barrel have been opened.
Technically, the 1815 Tourbillon Handwerkskunst is all that one can expect from Lange including a very original and novel zero reset whereby when the crown is pulled, the seconds hand immediately returns to zero enabling the setting of time to the seconds. Ultra-rare, incredibly beautiful and technically complex, the A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Tourbillon Handwerkskunst is a must have for the lover of fine modern collectible timepieces.
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.