A. Lange & Söhne - The New York Watch Auction: NINE New York Saturday, December 9, 2023 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: A. Lange & Söhne
    Year: Circa 2018
    Reference No: 297.022
    Movement No: 136’121
    Case No: 239’040
    Model Name: Homage to Walter Lange
    Material: 18K yellow gold
    Calibre: Manual, cal. L.1924, 36 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold A. Lange & Söhne pin buckle
    Dimensions: 40.5mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement, and buckle signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by A. Lange & Söhne guarantee dated November 30, 2018, and stamped A. Lange & Söhne Hong Kong, fitted wooden presentation box, leather envelope, polish cloth, product literature and outer packaging.

  • Catalogue Essay

    The passing of Walter Lange in early 2017 was not only a huge loss for the industry and the company, but even more so for the men and women who knew him personally. Colleagues and staff decided to pay homage to this great man by creating a timepiece that he had been thinking about for quite some time, a watch that was originally conceived by his great-grandfather who was granted one of Germany’s first patents in 1877. It was a timepiece with independently stoppable jumping center seconds and separate seconds sub dial.

    In less than one year, the watchmakers and engineers from Glashütte achieved the feat of creating a brand new movement with jumping seconds, and the “1815 Homage to Walter Lange” was born. The newly developed movement had a special caliber designation: L1924, referring to Walter’s birth year, while the first three digits of the reference number 297.XXX memorialized his birth date of July 29, 1924.

    Presented at Geneva’s Salon International de Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) in January 2018, the new model was offered in a limited edition of 145 pieces in white gold, 90 pieces in pink gold, 27 pieces in yellow gold, and a unique piece in stainless steel with black grand feu enamel dial.

    The present watch, number 5 of only 27 examples in yellow gold, is fresh to the market, consigned by its original owner. The wristwatch is alluring and seductive for both its classic design perspective and wonderfully complex movement. This presents a rare opportunity to own one of these very rare, limited edition timepieces.

    CONSIGNED BY THE ORIGINAL OWNER

  • 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.

    View More Works

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Ref. 297.022
A fine and attractive limited edition yellow gold wristwatch with jumping center seconds, with guarantee and presentation box, number 5 of 27

Circa 2018
40.5mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement, and buckle signed

Estimate
$15,000 - 30,000 
CHF13,500-27,000
€14,000-28,100
HK$117,000-234,000
S$20,400-40,700

Sold for $48,260

Contact Specialist

Paul Boutros
Deputy Chairman and 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: NINE

New York Auction 9 - 10 December 2023