A. Lange & Söhne. A very fine and rare 18K gold limited edition tourbillon wristwatch with chain fusée and power reserve, original certificate and box

The present watch is number 94 of a strictly limited edition of 150 examples of the Tourbillon "Pour le Mérite" model in gold, in production from 1994 until 1998. The series comprised 19 examples in white gold, 15 in pink gold and 116 in yellow gold.

Preserved in excellent overall condition and an epitome of true skill, design and sheer elegance, the present "Pour le Mérite" tourbillon is a highlight for the collector of exclusive timepieces.

The Tourbillon "Pour le Mérite", another example of A. Lange & Söhne's complex and exclusive timepieces, incorporates a number of fascinating technical details never seen before in a wristwatch, most notably the going train driven with a chain fusée. This complicated mechanism optimizes the rate accuracy of the watch and is visible through an aperture in the movement plate. A highly sophisticated planetary gearing system keeps the power to the going train steady even while the watch is being wound. The tourbillon mechanism also serves the purpose of improving rate accuracy by offsetting the disruptive effect of gravity. The rotating cage is suspended by two pivots between two diamond endstones. It turns around its own axis once a minute and can be precisely balanced with small counterweights. All parts of the watch are finished by hand and every surface is decorated. Consequently, the completion of each of these masterpieces requires several months.

It is commonly believed that the Tourbillon "Pour le Mérite" is one of only two wristwatches known to date fitted with a chain and fusée for the power equalization.