A. Lange & Söhne

The A. Lange & Söhne Tourbograph "Pour le Mérite" is an extraordinary timepiece that epitomizes the pinnacle of precision and craftsmanship in German watchmaking. Introduced in 2005, this watch is part of A. Lange & Söhne's prestigious "Pour le Mérite" series, which is renowned for incorporating some of the most challenging horological complications.

Upon its launch, the Tourbograph "Pour le Mérite" became the world’s first one-minute tourbillon to feature both a fusée-and-chain transmission and a split-seconds chronograph. Each of these features demands an exceptional level of precision, making the integration of all three into a single watch an astounding achievement that underscores A. Lange & Söhne's technical mastery.

The idea for this groundbreaking timepiece was first conceived in the early 1990s by Günter Blümlein, a pivotal figure in the revival of the A. Lange & Söhne brand. Originally intended to be introduced alongside the Lange 1, the Saxonia, the Arkade, and the Tourbillon "Pour le Mérite" during the brand’s reintroduction in 1994, the complexity of the Tourbograph, coupled with the limited resources of the newly re-established company, led to the project being postponed.

The heart of the Tourbograph "Pour le Mérite" is the calibre L903.0, a true testament to Lange’s commitment to precision and craftsmanship. Comprising more than 1,065 components, this movement is a marvel of engineering. The fusée-and-chain transmission, a key feature of the watch, includes a chain made up of over 600 individual parts. This chain, measuring 15 cm in length and weighing only 0.12 grams, is strong enough to lift a 2 kg load, ensuring consistent force delivery to the movement, thereby enhancing the watch's accuracy over time, regardless of the tension in the mainspring.

Additionally, the movement is entirely assembled and decorated by hand, with each movement requiring 30 days to complete. The tourbillon, designed to counteract the effects of gravity on the watch's accuracy by rotating the escapement and balance wheel, further exemplifies the precision and sophistication of this timepiece.

In total, A. Lange & Söhne produced only 101 examples of the Tourbograph "Pour le Mérite"—51 in platinum and 50 in gold. Due to the complexity of the watch, only 12 pieces could be crafted each year, making it a rare and highly sought-after collector's item.