A. Lange & Söhne

Launched in 2007, the Lange 31 Day power reserve is a technical tour de force. A relatively simple dial layout, with the distinctive oversized date windows, paying tribute to the Five-Minute Clock of the Semper Opera House in Dresden, time and small running seconds display are complimented by a power reserve calibrated to a remarkable 31 days. To achieve this, the hand wound caliber L034.1 featuring 62 jewels contains two mainsprings, one housed on top of the other that are both 1850 millimeters, 10 times longer than what is found in watches with conventions power reserves. Winding these mainsprings is not done via the crown as one would have expected, instead, the watch is supplied with a ratcheting winding key that connects to a port in the case back to manually wind the barrels. To ensure the smooth application of this astonishing power is a patented ‘constant force’ escapement with remontoire spring that ensure the uniform levels of torque are delivered.

This piece, however, is not any Lange & Sohne 31. This unique piece was delivered in 2016. It is lavishly decorated with 234 diamonds: 233 baquette diamonds and 1 brilliant for the crown, for a total of 17.9 carats. This exceptional work of setting decorates the bezel and the band of the case, including between the lugs, the front and side of the four lugs as well as the side and top of the crown. As always, Lange & Sohne paid the highest attention to details, for example with the superb rail-setting effect to the main case. They even went further with a thin line of horizontal baguette diamonds to ensure a smooth transition between the bezel and the band. The rendered effect is incredibly impressive. 

Diamond-set Lange & Sohne watches are extremely rare as they represent only a tiny fraction of the total production, which is limited already. Most of these pieces only have their bezel and sometimes the top part of the lugs decorated with either brilliant or baguette diamonds.

This present lot belongs to another category. The work of setting present on this watch goes well beyond these other pieces. In fact, this lot might only know one other Lange & Sohne watch with a higher (mainly due to the diamond-set bracelet) level of precious decoration: the Tourbograph Pour le Merite delivered to Paris based retailer Dubai in 2009, a unique piece that retailed for 1.750.000 USD at the time.

Displaying superior quality both inside and outside, this unique piece is one of the most important Lange & Sohne ever produced.