A. Lange & Söhne Tourbillon Pour Le Mérite Vintage

holdemchamp1225 · 2024-03-30T15:41:55Z

Explore holdemchamp1225's A. Lange & Söhne Tourbillon Pour Le Mérite, 'The Progenitor.' Discover its historical significance, fusée & chain innovation, and collector insights.

holdemchamp1225

WPS member · A. Lange & Söhne forum

55 replies20177 views8 photos

holdemchamp1225's recent acquisition of the A. Lange & Söhne Tourbillon Pour Le Mérite offers a poignant reflection on the evolving motivations behind collecting. His journey, deeply influenced by personal loss and a desire for emotional and historical resonance, highlights how significant life events can redefine a collector's approach. This article delves into the profound historical importance of this specific reference, often dubbed 'The Progenitor,' and the unique circumstances that led it to holdemchamp1225's collection.

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First, hope everyone is having an amazing Easter holiday weekend !!

I am delighted to welcome in THE PROGENITOR to my humble collection ✨️ 🥰

Quick back story 😁

This was not even on my radar, to be honest, but circumstances were serendipitous 😉. Having lost my father recently has changed the dynamics of this passion and acquiring pieces, especially after inheriting a ridiculous amount of pieces from his collection.

I have been an accumulator of pieces for many years now, which has actually gotten out of hand 🙈🙊. So moving forward I truly thought about only adding pieces which move me emotionally, have historical significance, and/or connect with me on a sentimental level.

When a collector friend contacted me with this piece, I was already intrigued and tempted due to it's historical significance in the pantheon of important historical pieces, especially for Lange as the Tourbillon Pour Le Merite was the Flagship piece and showed Lange's capabilities as a brand at launch, way back in 1994 !! There has been much written about this model which is well-documented and can be found on the Langepedia website if anyone is interested 👍

I normally prefer white metal but knowing that Walter Lange himself chose and wore a yellow gold Tourbillon PLM daily made it all the more meaningful. How could I argue with Walter Lange 🤔🙄🤣

Another interesting tidbit is the fact that Renaud Papi helped develop this movement for Lange at the time. A truly groundbreaking achievement as the Tourbillon PLM was the FIRST EVER wristwatch to incorporate a fusée & chain with a Tourbillon !! All other pieces which followed from the likes of Breguet, Ferdinand Berthoud, other Lange PLM models, Zenith, etc...followed in it's footsteps...hence the moniker "The Progenitor."

Did you also know that the Grönefeld brothers were part of Renaud Papi back then and that Bart was part of the team responsible for this movement? That also hit me in the feels as I greatly respect the Grönefeld brothers and my admiration for their brand, especially the Gronograaf 🥰

What really made me pull the trigger, the "coup de grace", was the emotional and sentimental connection I felt as my collector friend was going through a similar family situation. The provenance of this particular piece being previously owned by a member of the Lange family was icing on the cake as well 😍🤩

I guess it was meant to be as now I am the happy caretaker of this magnificent Tourbillon PLM.

It came on this really cool Jean Rousseau matte chocolate gator with yellow gold stitching, but you might have already guessed that a few bespoke straps have been ordered to add that special "Don" touch 😉🤣

Forgot to say, a warm thank you to you my friend. Don't worry, I will take extra special care of this beauty 💕

Key Points from the Discussion

The yellow gold variant is considered the definitive metal for the Tourbillon Pour Le Mérite, a sentiment reinforced by Walter Lange himself, who wore YG Tourbillon PLM #1 daily and enthusiastically showcased its fusée and chain mechanism.
The Tourbillon Pour Le Mérite holds immense historical significance as the first-ever wristwatch to combine a fusée and chain transmission with a tourbillon, a groundbreaking horological achievement that set a precedent for subsequent high complications.
The involvement of Renaud Papi, and specifically Bart Grönefeld, in the development of this movement adds another layer of historical and horological importance, connecting it to the lineage of esteemed independent watchmakers.
While acknowledging the historical significance, some collectors express reservations about A. Lange & Söhne's service and overhaul costs for high-complication pieces, categorizing them as 'grail' watches to admire from afar.
The emotional and sentimental connection to a piece, often stemming from personal experiences or shared circumstances with fellow collectors, can be the ultimate deciding factor in acquiring a historically significant watch.
The provenance of a watch, particularly if it has a connection to the brand's founding family or other notable figures, significantly enhances its desirability and emotional value for collectors.

The Discussion

penfriend

Mar 30, 2024

I had my sax-o-mat on and we talked watches for the whole trip And I am very sorry to read about your father - wishing you and your family all the strength needed

Mar 30, 2024

Congrats. I love the matte alligator strap. Wish more watches would come with matte gator > shiny by default

Clueless_Collector

Mar 30, 2024

And what a NWA! This PLM Tourbillon is one of those grail that I can only admire from afar. I have no intention to get any more Lange past Category 6 with their POA on service and overhaul prices. Of course such a historic icon and important museum quality piece deserves special care. Your friend knows you are the most suitable person to be able to do that. Enjoy!!

GLau

Mar 30, 2024

congratulations on this amazing pieces ! Thanks for sharing your personal story 👍

TeutonicCarFan

Mar 30, 2024

Horologically I can't think of much more desirable than the top complication that helped relaunch ALS, and the first foray into tourbillon fuse chain pieces. Icing on the cake is the provenance for sure. I like that strap!

mdg

Mar 30, 2024

...I saw one of the originals many years ago from across the room of a crowded coffee shop and it just glowed. That is when I met in person (by accident) a long-time collector many of you would know. Lovely.

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A. Lange & Söhne Tourbillon Pour Le Mérite Vintage

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