This paragon of precision timekeeping is now being presented in a limited “Handwerkskunst” edition featuring extraordinary dial and movement decorations. Discover the watch and see detailed pictures …
The 1815 Tourbillon was the first A. Lange & Söhne watch being presented that combined a stop-seconds-device for the tourbillon and the Zero-Reset mechanism.
At the close of the anniversary year that commemorates the 200th birthday of Ferdinand Adolph Lange, it is being presented in a limited Handwerkskunst edition featuring extraordinary dial and movement decorations.
Handwerkskunst?
Handwerkskunst!
The German word for “artisanship”, is an attribute of distinction that A. Lange & Söhne has been using since 2011 to identify special limited-edition watches whose dials and movements are endowed with rare finissage and engraving techniques.
Some minutes ago today here in Dresden A. Lange & Söhne presented the 1815 Tourbillon Handwerkskunst.
The Zero-Reset-function launched in 1997 by A. Lange & Söhne is paired with the stop-seconds-device for the tourbillon that was introduced in 2008. Together, these mechanisms make it possible to stop and set the timepiece with one-second accuracy.
Limited to only 30 watches, the 1815 Tourbillon Handwerkskunst is available in a pink-gold case with a diameter of 39.5 millimetres.
A. Lange & Söhne’s fifth Handwerkskunst edition is a precious homage to Ferdinand Adolph Lange, the great Saxon watchmaking pioneer whose 200th birthday is being memorialized this year.
The main difference versus the model presented in 2014 is the dial.
It is made of black-rhodiumed pink gold and decorated with elegant tremblage engraving. The engraver who uses this technique sculpts the material with a specially crafted lining burin to achieve a uniform, fine granular structure. The relief elements on the dial, including the prominent arced brand logo and the numerals, are later polished to a mirror gloss and contrast prominently against the dark background. An aperture in the dial reveals the large one-minute tourbillon. The tourbillon bridge and the upper part of the cage are black-polished: this is one of the most elaborate and time-consuming finissage techniques.
Mechanical precision is reflected in every detail of the lavishly decorated L102.1 manufacture calibre.
The curved shape of the newly designed three-quarter plate is a special hallmark. Thanks to generous cutouts, the tourbillon with the patented stop mechanism is easily visible from the movement side as well, as are the spring barrel and parts of the wheel train. Historic pocket watches inspired the watchmakers to do the grained surface of the German silver plate. Bevel-polishing reentrant angles is a particular challenge. This task can only be performed manually with a sharp, specially designed tool. The fourth-wheel bridge is pierced to provide a better view of the tourbillon. Just like the plate and the case-back, it is endowed with artistic engravings. The diamond end-stone of the tourbillon vibrantly accentuates the movement decorations.
| 1815 TOURBILLON HANDWERKSKUNST Ref. 730.048F | |
| Movement | Lange manufacture calibre L102.1, manually wound, crafted to the most exacting Lange quality standards, decorated and assembled by hand; precision-adjusted in five positions; plates and bridges made of untreated German silver; three-quarter plate with granular surface and hand-engraved inscriptions; seconds bridge engraved by hand |
| Movement parts | 262 |
| Jewels | 21, including one diamond endstone |
| Screwed gold chatons | 5 |
| Escapement | Lever escapement |
| Oscillator | Shock-resistant screw balance; balance spring manufactured in-house, frequency 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour |
| Power reserve | 72 hours when fully wound |
| Functions | Time indicated in hours, minutes, and subsidiary seconds; one-minute tourbillon with patented stop seconds and patented ZERO-RESET mechanism |
| Operating elements | Crown for winding the watch, setting the time, and activating the ZERO-RESET mechanism |
| Case dimensions | Diameter: 39.5 millimetres; height: 11.1 millimetres |
| Movement dimensions | Diameter: 32.6 millimetres; height: 6.6 millimetres |
| Crystal and back | Sapphire crystal (Mohs hardness 9) |
| Limited Edition | 30 watches |
| Case | Pink gold, case back with hand-engraved inscriptions |
| Dial | Pink gold, black rhodiumed; with tremblage engraving |
| Hands | Hours and minutes in pink gold; seconds in blued steel |
| Strap | Hand-stitched alligator leather strap, reddish-brown |
| Buckle | Deployant buckle in pink gold |
The A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Tourbillon Handwerkskunst will be sold for 186.000 Euro including 19 % VAT.
Beautiful, but as someone has said, “We did because we can.” The tourbillon is not the fascination it once was an neither is rose gold. The metal should be platinum or white gold.
Having said that I do appreciate the grained surface and of course their excellent craftsmenship. Their marketing group just missed the mark on this one.
What is the price for this German lady.
186.000 €
A real masterpiece!!!!