With a limited 218-watch edition of the Richard Lange “Pour le Mérite”, A. Lange & Söhne revives the concept of the uncompromisingly precise timekeeping instrument. The new version in white gold with a black dial had its debut at the company's international dealer convention in Dresden on 22 September 2016. Its fusée-and-chain transmission ensures constant torque and superb rate accuracy.
Since the inaugural collection of the new era was showcased in the autumn of 1994, the exclusive timepieces with the attribute "Pour le Mérite" have represented the technological avantgarde at A. Lange & Söhne. Each of the four models launched so far is endowed with a fusée-and-chain mechanism. The Richard Lange "Pour le Mérite", first introduced in 2009, exemplifies an ambitious tribute to precision in its purest form: the sole objective of its complication, discernible only on the movement side, is to improve rate accuracy. The pink-gold and platinum versions, now sold out, are now being complemented with a limited white-gold edition featuring a black dial.
The solid white-gold case of the new edition has a diameter of 40.5 millimetres. White Roman numerals and the rhodiumed gold hands contrast well against the black silver dial. Small Arabic numerals in red for 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes add handsome nuances of colour to the underlying black-and-white design. A hand-stitched black alligator leather strap with solid white-gold buckle underscores the stylistic clarity of the Richard Lange "Pour le Mérite".
Movement | : | Lange manufacture calibre L044.1 Manually wound, fusée-and-chain transmission Crafted to the most exacting Lange quality standards Decorated and assembled by hand Precision-adjusted in five positions Three-quarter plate made of untreated German silver Balance cock as well as escape-wheel and fourth-wheel cock engraved by hand |
Movement parts without chain | : | 279 |
Movement parts with chain | : | 636 |
Jewels | : | 33 |
Screwed gold chatons | : | 2 |
Escapement | : | Lever escapement |
Oscillator | : | Shock-resistant screw balance with poising screws Balance spring manufactured in-house Frequency 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour Precision beat-adjustment system with lateral setscrew and whiplash spring |
Power reserve | : | 36 hours when fully wound |
Functions | : | Time indicated in hours, minutes, and subsidiary seconds with stop seconds |
Operating elements | : | Crown for winding the watch and setting the time |
Case dimensions | ||
Diameter | : | 40.5 millimetres |
Height | : | 10.5 millimetres |
Movement dimensions | ||
Diameter | : | 31.6 millimetres |
Height | : | 6.0 millimetres |
Crystal and back | : | Sapphire crystal (Mohs hardness 9) |
Case | : | White gold |
Dial | : | Solid silver, black |
Hands | : | Rhodiumed gold |
Strap | : | Hand-stitched alligator leather, black |
Buckle | : | White-gold prong buckle |
Limited edition | : | 218 watches, edition engraving on caseback |