Beyond the Superlative: RICHARD LANGE TOURBILLON “Pour le Mérite” HANDWERKSKUNST
In a honey-coloured gold case: RICHARD LANGE TOURBILLON “Pour le Mérite” HANDWERKSKUNST
It was only last January at the Watch Salon in Geneva that the Saxon manufactory showcased its RICHARD LANGE TOURBILLON with the distinction “Pour le Mérite”.
So far at Lange, this hallmark has been reserved for four exceptionally complicated watches endowed with the unique fusée-and-chain transmission. The ingenious mechanism assures that the going train is driven with a constant force across the entire power reserve duration, keeping the rate accuracy of the watch stable.
Inspired by a historic predecessor, this regulator takes horological artistry to a new level that merits the attribute “HANDWERKSKUNST”: With exquisite dial and movement decorations, the Saxon masters demonstrate impressive new facets of traditional craftsmanship. Concurrently, the case in honey-coloured gold stands for the brand’s firm resolve to leverage technological progress in the interest of the discerning owners of Lange watches. With a Vickers hardness of over 300 HV, the innovative gold alloy outclasses all other known gold blends with respect to durability.
Crafted from the same material, the dial is decorated with a so-called tremblage. This is the name of a traditional engraving technique in which a lining burin is guided over the material with an orbital motion in eight different directions. The result is a delicate granular texture that resembles a three-dimensional satin finish. Its complement is the radiant solarisation on the three-quarter plate made of untreated German silver, which can be admired through the sapphire-crystal caseback. Finally, the fourth-wheel bridge is embellished with an elaborate relief engraving. Contrary to the more common intaglio engraving, this technique is used to sculpt the motif out of the material, in effect raising it from the background.
The miniature masterpiece is subsequently crowned with a diamond endstone that functions as a bearing for the tourbillon. Its patented stop seconds mechanism allows the watch to be set with one-second accuracy. A round aperture in the regulator dial exposes the system, which revolves and oscillates at the same time. To prolong the duration of the delightful mechanical ballet for the observer, the adjacent hour dial features a cutaway portion. But precisely at 6 o’clock, the missing segment pivots into place and completes the hour ring until it instantly vanishes again exactly at 12 o’clock.
This extraordinary collector’s item is limited to 15 pieces that are available exclusively at the five A. Lange & Söhne boutiques in Dresden, Shanghai, Tokyo, Seoul, and Hong Kong.
Immaculate craftsmanship: The fourth-wheel bridge is embellished with an elaborate relief engraving.
Data sheet RICHARD LANGE TOURBILLON “Pour le Mérite” Ref. 760.050 |
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Movement |
Lange manufacture calibre L072.1, manually wound, fusée-and-chain transmission; crafted to the most exacting Lange quality standards and largely decorated and assembled by hand; precision-adjusted in five positions; three-quarter plate made of untreated German silver; fourth-wheel bridge engraved by hand |
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No. of movement parts |
351 (without chain); chain parts: 636 |
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Jewels |
32, of which one diamond endstone |
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Screwed gold chatons |
3 |
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Escapement |
Lever escapement |
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Oscillation system |
Shock-resistant Glucydur® screw balance*, superior-quality balance spring manufactured in-house, frequency 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour |
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Power reserve |
36 hours when fully wound |
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Functions |
Time display in hours, minutes, subsidiary seconds; one-minute tourbillon with patented stop seconds; pivoting dial segment |
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Operating elements |
Crown for winding the watch and setting the time |
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Case dimensions |
Diameter: 41.9 millimetres; height: 12.2 millimetres |
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Movement dimensions |
Diameter: 33.6 millimetres; height: 7.6 millimetres |
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Glass and caseback |
Sapphire crystal (hardness 9) |
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Edition |
15 watches |
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Case |
Honey-coloured gold |
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Dial |
Solid honey-coloured gold, engraved by hand |
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Hands |
Gold |
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Strap |
Hand-stitched crocodile strap, red-brown |
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Buckle |
Lange deployant buckle in solid honey-coloured gold |
This message has been edited by Kong on 2011-09-20 23:11:13
One of Lange's most beautiful creations! WOW! Many thanks for the post. Regards Moritz [nt]
As my lord said just above, a beauty.
I wonder what it looks like in the flesh but it seems clearly sumptuous !
Thanks Kong !
Best,
Mark
It will definitely be a visual impact.
Not my cup of tea, but one has to give credit to all the extra work going into the dial.
Which other manufacturer uses similar techniques for dial works?
Best,
Horo
The satin frost finishing but with 3D effect is what I like
Is there a Breguet with similar dial? I can't recall off the top of my head.
Best,
Horo
the frosted finishing is quite different
as usual, Lange is alot more "dramatic"...not sure if you agree?
best,
Horo
Agreed, Horo. A different expression for the Lange.
I wonder if I don't prefer the Breguet finish, here...
Best,
Nicolas.
As Lange is saying: State of the art tradition ...
It has become trendy to put geneva stripes on the dial and even screws.
A clever and consequent move from Lange therefore to put the finish of theire new rotor on the dial.
It looks all very traditional but it is actually a very new thing.
Just one more thought about this ... do not really know how to give it a proper, worthy name
!Regards
Moritz
That's true...I did a double take when I first saw the name
It almost sounded vulgar...I see hand and wurst , and it's oktoberfest
Best,
Horo
Perfect demonstration of the prowess of Lange
Indeed Lange is to be commended time after time.
Now, where is that Platinum dialed, platinum movement, platinum cased Lange?
Tschuss
Stephen
This one blew me away!
phhwooarrrr! What a dial ...
I noticed and liked this kind of finish on the rotor of the new auto movements like the Daymatic has got.
A genius idea to bring this on the dial, perfectly executed as Lange can only do.
Many thanks for the pictures from a real watch ... a Purist on the puls of time again!
Regards
Moritz
Thank you Fernando
seeing Press photo that do so little justice to watch
Best
Damjan
Not for me, sorry.
Not for my taste... I stay with the "classic" Richard Lange Tourbillon PLM.
Thanks a lot for the pictures!
Fx
So we are two partybreakers, Fx. I'm not impressed at all
On an aesthetical point of view.
Like you, I much prefer the RL PLM.
But I didn' like the original, I have to say.
Best,
Nicolas.
I understand what both of you are feeling but
I would say this watch is not to be compared with the regular Lange's production. This is more of are rare challenge, stytlistic composition : it is a mix between the Langes we usually see and fine jewlery crafting.
I would not wear it (I guess that in the flesh the gold is even more obvious). But this is a beautiful jewel to look at. A work that is, to my taste, much more beautiful than for example the silver dial layout (PT version) that I find bland and lifeness, in real ...
I find the balance between the dial's circle and the engravings well set.
Just my opinion on that matter
Best,
Mark
I understand your point of view Mark...
You can't find more full gold watch than this one and there is a lot of engraving work on the dial.
But... the watch managed to keep its initial coherence and despite its very flamboyant side, it remains elegant.
i don't feel the same with this LE of the RL Tourbillon: the watch lacks of simplicity imho.
Fx
This message has been edited by foversta on 2011-09-16 15:38:59
Surely: not a simple watch but ...
A RL T PLM can not look more "baroque", more period and timeless at the same time like this edition.
The regular RL T PLM in RG is already a stunner by looks and top notch by complications, but with this new dial: not from this world anymore.
The Lange 1 A imho is a bit "tacky" ( A BIG SORRY TO ALL OWNERS!!! ) looking and not really for me ... overloaded with decoration.
Regards
Moritz
A. Lange & Soehne Richard Lange Tourbillion "Pour le Merite" Handwerkunst
Quite a mouthful!
Makes this watch many times more appealing to me
I quite disliked the original -- seemed to be acres of nothingness on the dial. This new version is just right, and actually makes me like the watch a lot!
Best,
Gary