A. LANGE & SÖHNE. AN EXTREMELY FINE AND VERY RARE PLATINUM LIMITED EDITION SPLIT SECONDS CHRONOGRAPH TOURBILLON WRISTWATCH WITH POWER RESERVE INDICATION AND CHAIN FUSÉE

On 7 December 2005, A. Lange & Söhne commemorated the 15th anniversary of its reinstated manufacture with an imitable expression of micromechanical virtuosity and watchmaking ingenuity. Testing the boundaries of physics and mechanical possiblities, for the very first time in the history of horology, the manufacture united three marvels from the realm of grand complications: a fusée-and-chain transmission, a tourbillon, and a rattrapante chronograph mechanism in a single wristwatch. This very special opus is the Tourbograph "Pour le Mérite".
Echoing the Tourbillon "Pour le Mérite" that was presented in 1994, the Tourbograph once again unites the two most complex mechanisms dedicated to enhancing long-term rate accuracy, but Lange goes the further mile by integrating a timekeeping mechanism that allows lap times to be measured, as suggested by the name Tourbograph.

The Tourbograph is the second Lange creation with the attribute "Pour le Mérite", an accolade for the superb horological skills of Lange's master watchmakers. The name alludes to the most prestigious order of merit inspired by Alexander von Humboldt, sponsored by King Frederick William IV in 1842, for outstanding, predominantly scientific accomplishments.

The hand-crafted manually wound L903.0 calibre is composed of no less than 1,000 individual components. The tourbillon alone consists of 84 parts yet weighs a scant 0.5 grams. Just the finishing process of the bridge requires two days to complete.
The Tourbograph was crafted in a limited edition of 101 examples out of which 51 were made in platinum such as the present lot and is no longer in production.