A. Lange & Söhne - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XVII Hong Kong Friday, November 24, 2023 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: A. Lange & Söhne
    Year: Circa 2008
    Reference No: 703.025F
    Movement No: 60’209
    Case No: 170’028
    Model Name: Cabaret Tourbillon
    Material: Platinum
    Calibre: Manual, cal. L042.1, 45 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile
    Clasp/Buckle: Platinum A. Lange & Söhne deployant clasp
    Dimensions: 29.5mm width x 39.2mm length
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by A. Lange & Söhne guarantee stamped Sincere Haute Horlogerie, Singapore dated 19th October 2008, instruction manual, setting pin, cloth, fitted presentation box and outer packaging.

  • Catalogue Essay

    The watch market in the late 1920s to 1930s was flooded with a range of shaped watches as influenced by the Art Deco movement. A. Lange & Söhne was without exception a contender and has since established a tradition of rectangular wristwatches in their brand history. The heritage was revoked with the introduction of the Arkade collection in 1994, and then followed by the launch of the Cabaret in 1997 at Basel, which was influenced by Walter Lange’s partnership with Günter Blümlein who had also managed Jaeger-LeCoultre and was an industry leader that liked to remind us of the rectangular case as an incredible feat in watchmaking.

    Introduced in 2008, the Cabaret Tourbillon is equally revolutionary in being the first wristwatch with a patented stop-seconds mechanism which stops the balance-wheel in the carriage when the crown is pulled out. This means that time-setting can be performed with much greater accuracy. It was discontinued after 5 years in production, and it is estimated that no more than approximately 250 pieces were ever produced. They were only available in platinum or pink gold cases.

    The present watch is an early example that comes with a platinum three-body case, further refined by the stepped bezel and protruding lugs. The quiet grey dial features a balanced Art Deco style design and is embellished by the 4 o’clock power reserve indicator and 8 o’clock small seconds counter with delicate azurage. Through the sapphire case back, the wearer can admire in close the Maillechort plates and bridges decorated by the signature ribbing pattern, coupled with refined chamfering which polishes all the edges to the highest degree of fineness. The best part of it all is the unique hand-engraved bridges for the transmission wheel and the tourbillon carriage covered by the Lange signature floral pattern. A fusion of artisanship and technological prowess, this minimalistic tourbillon wristwatch is truly an epitome of elegance, and is the perfect timepiece for any watch aficionados who are searching for watchmaking excellence from the Glashütte tradition.

  • 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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Σ853

Ref. 703.025F
A fine and elegant platinum rectangular-shaped tourbillon wristwatch with date, power reserve indication, guarantee and presentation box

Circa 2008
29.5mm width x 39.2mm length
Case, dial, movement and clasp signed

Estimate
HK$400,000 - 800,000 
€48,400-96,900
$51,300-103,000

Sold for HK$609,600

Contact Specialist

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

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XVII

Hong Kong Auction 24-25 November 2023