RECENTLY SOLD
701.005
A. Lange & Söhne Tourbillon Pour le Mérite Platinum “Piece Unique” 701.005
Year
1996
Reference
701.005
Case Material
Platinum
Case Size
38.5 × 10 mm
Movement
L901.0
Dial
Pink Gold
Condition
Like New
Notes
Piece unique
Price
-
Tourbillon Pour le Mérite “Piece Unique” — 701.005
“We are not Swiss. No one expects a watchmaker from former Eastern Germany to come up to the market and say, hey, we are also making expensive watches. Thus, we must give our 200% to become and stay relevant.” These are the words of Günter Blümlein, from his days of launching modern A. Lange & Söhne in 1990 to his passing in 2001. It is a culture still very much relevant today, as Tony de Haas also echoed recently.
The Tourbillon Pour le Mérite of 1994 is A. Lange & Söhne’s 200% in material. Arguably the brand’s most important collection from a historical, watchmaking, or whichever angle you look at it, it signalled what A. Lange & Söhne would become in the coming years, and why a collector should invest interest in this legendary house. It is the world’s first wristwatch with a fusée and chain mechanism combined with a tourbillon. A horizon in watchmaking, realized by a team of greats from Blümlein to Meis to Renaud & Papi and many others.
The collection was made in platinum, pink gold, yellow gold, white gold and stainless steel. Among each metal, there is at least one piece unique. The whole line comprises 200 pieces in total, and in platinum there are two piece uniques. One is in 36 mm with a full black dial, and the other is this gem right here, in 38.5 mm with the brand’s first ever pink gold dial, first sold in 1996.
Arguably one of the most important A. Lange & Söhne watches ever made, this example with the pink gold dial was made on a custom order. Following its public stunt at Sotheby’s in 2013, it disappeared from public view for the next 13 years, until the owner finally contacted me to discover a possible sale of this exquisite piece. Thanks to the gracious owner and a great friend who entrustred me to handle the tranasction for this once in a lifetime piece of art, now it resides in a tremendous collection.
The reference 701.005 with piece unique pink gold dial is now sold at Langepedia.com.
